Tips for setting up a backyard movie night
How to make it as easy breezy as it looks on Pinterest
Producing a backyard movie night is a little more work than the images on Pinterest might let on. There's lots to consider before you settle into your lawn chair to watch your favourite film under the stars. But if you've got the bug spray, you're almost there. Here are other logistics to consider for hosting your own screenings this summer.
The screen
While you can order a variety of outdoor projector screens, including large inflatables and lightweight metal frames (the latter of which you'll need to add weight to in order to keep it from blowing over), this is where you can really save money by using a plain white sheet. Nail or pin the sheet, nice and taught, to a fence or other outside wall for a low-fuss projection surface.
The projector
This is where you'll get your picture quality — and where it might be worth splurging a little, especially if you plan to use it a lot. A very lightweight and powerful option in the $250 range is the VANKYO Leisure 1080P Projector, which projects an image size of up to 200 inches from up to 21 feet away. You'll need to connect to other media, like your laptop, for streaming, and you may want to connect additional speakers for better sound quality, too.
For a truly simple and quality setup in the $1000 range, the Epson EF-100 Mini-Laser Streaming Projector with Android TV delivers. In addition to a high quality image, the integrated speakers are powerful and you can directly stream apps like Netflix, YouTube (and CBC Gem!). The brightness of the image projection also allows you to get the show started a little earlier, before it's fully dark, which is nice if there are kids in the mix.
The movie
We talked to two professional film programmers about how to pick movies for your backyard screenings. Emily Reid, the artistic and executive director of Toronto Outdoor Picture Show and Andrew Murphy, the director of programming at Inside Out, Canada's largest 2SLGBTQ film festival, shared their best advice and picks by genre.
An important tech tip: Reid recommends that no matter what you decide to screen, you should download your content ahead of time. Or, if you're streaming, test your wifi to make sure it works well outdoors. "That will make or break your night if you're planning to stream something and you find it buffering or you don't have the right access outside," said Reid.
The pre-show
A little bit of ceremony always adds to the fun! "The benefit of having these smaller screens in the backyard," Reid said, "is that you can actually see them often a good hour before sunset so it does allow the opportunity to get started quite a bit earlier in the evening while there's still light out."
A pre-show introduction to the film by the person who chose it is a great way to get everyone excited about what they're about to watch.
The setting
If you don't have enough comfortable outdoor chairs, ask people to bring their own. If you're layering blankets and pillows on the ground, consider putting yoga mats underneath, especially if you're on anything other than grass. If you really want to up the ante: blowup mattresses! Add dreamy bedding for an affair to remember.
The neighbours
The thing about backyard screenings is that you're subjecting your uninvited neighbours to the audio content of your film selections. So, be considerate. Murphy suggests giving next-door neighbours a heads up ahead of your evening outdoors.
Then, think about the volume, the language little ears might hear, what time people might be having their dinner outside, whether it's a weeknight — and check your local bylaws regarding noise.
The rain
If you can't situate your projection equipment in a covered spot, then it would be prudent to have some heavy duty plastic tarp on hand to throw over your setup in case of rain. Also make sure any extension cords you use are made for outdoors.
