How to Set Up an Outdoor Inflatable Movie Screen

Inflatable Outdoor Movie Screen

Why limit yourself to just watching movies on a TV set or at the cinema?
A really enjoyable way to watch movies with friends and neighbors is on an inflatable outdoor movie screen. Yes, you can make your own screen (check out other articles on eHow), but here is a not too expensive way to set this backyard movie theatre up in minutes!

Things You'll Need

• Inflatable Movie Screen
• A friend to hold screen while you tie it down
• Long power cord
• Power Strip
• Sturdy Card Table
• Laptop Computer with DVD drive
• Projector and cables to connect to computer
• Portable speakers, at least 2, 5 is awesome!
• A big lawn or driveway area
• Lawn chairs or blankets
• A DVD movie
• A nice Spring, Summer or Fall Evening
• Some popcorn
• Audience

Instructions

1. 

   After researching and researching how to best show a movie outdoors at night, I settled on BUYING an inflatable "blow-up" screen. It is an investment, but after comparing the cost of renting, the trouble of building one, and transporting that self-built screen, I found one for $200 online at walmart.com. two summers ago. After just checking to see if they still carried it, I was happy to see two models for even less than what I paid. $169 for a 12' x 12' screen and $193 for a Disney 12' x 12' screen.

2. 

   Clear a 20' area and make sure there are no rocks, twigs or branches or sharp objects near or under where you are planning on setting up the screen. Take screen out of tote bag and place front facing downward on the ground or lawn. You can always unfold it on an old sheet which you spread out below it. Make sure there are no twists in the outside frame before plugging in it to activate blowers.

3. 

   Attach the screen itself to the back of the inflatable frame. Clips on in 20 seconds all the way around the screen. The wrinkles from folding and storing will NOT be noticeable once it gets dark and the projector is shining light on it. Hard to believe, but true for us. When you are ready to go, plug it in and watch the whole thing inflate in literally seconds.

4. 

   There are tie down cords and stakes that come in the bag that easily clip to loops on the sides, top and bottom. Tie around trees or fences or hammer a stake into the ground so the wind doesn't topple this BIG SCREEN! It's not heavy, but it is large. This is the part where you need a friend's help in holding the screen while you attach and secure the tie down cords.

5. 

   Set a table up a a distance of 12-15 feet in front of screen. Place projector and computer on table and plug everything into power strip. Connect the two electronics with appropriate cords that comes with projector. Adjust monitor settings on computer for external display.

6. 

   Set up speakers, placing two in front at the right and left corners, two in back at the right and left sides, and one in the center front. You may need some extra sound wires, which are very inexpensive at Radio Shack. Plug wires into colored inputs on the sub woofer and then one final wire into the input sound jack on the computer. I put tarps over the speaker wires on the ground so people won't trip on them in the dark. You can also tape the wires down with duct tape on a driveway or patio.

7. 

   Check sound, picture (put DVD into DVD drive) and focus the projector before guests arrive. You may have to adjust the height of the projector by placing a small book or object under the front of it.

8. 

   Set up short lawn chairs, blankets, sleeping bags, whatever you want to sit or lie on for watching the movie. We do a kids cartoon night and all the kids wear their pajamas to our screenings! Make popcorn, put it in BIG bowls and wait until it's nice and dark. Let the show begin.

Tips & Warnings

• It is best to wait until it's nice and dark for best screening results.

• You will be very popular, by owning this screen!

• The sound of the blower will be continual, but frankly with the sound cranked up, you hardly notice it.

• Picking the right movie may be difficult. Popular titles like "Finding Nemo" or "Cars" are favorites with all ages.

• It does take about 30 minutes or so to get everything set up, but breakdown is much quicker for some reason.

• Have one place for all cords, wires, plugs, etc. and you can set up quickly the for the next movie night.

Resources

• Anne Z on the Web
• Backyard Theatre at Home