With summer coming to an end, now is the perfect time to set up your own outdoor movie theater. With a little bit of creativity and elbow grease, you can turn your backyard into the ultimate drive-in experience. Here’s what you’ll need to get started:
How to start – Set Up Your Own Outdoor Movie Theater
A DIY drive-in movie theater can be set up in any large backyard or open space. All you need is a projector, a screen (or a white wall), some speakers, and a DVD player. You can even invite your neighbors to join in on the fun!
Here’s what you’ll need to get started:
-A projector and screen (or a white wall)
-Speakers
-A DVD player
-Chairs or blankets for seating
How many people are you planning for?
When it comes to planning for your own drive-in theater, the first step is to decide how many people you want to be able to accommodate. This will determine the size of the screen you need and how far away from it everyone will need to park. If you’re only planning for a few close friends, you could get away with a smaller screen and having everyone park fairly close to it. But if you’re planning for a larger group, you’ll need a bigger screen and everyone will need to park further back. You should also make sure that there is plenty of space for people to move around and that there are no obstacles in the way that could block someone’s view.
Once you’ve decided on the size of your screen and the layout of your parking area, you’ll need to gather some supplies. For the screen itself, you can use anything from a white bedsheet to a professional projector screen. If you’re using a bedsheet, you’ll just need to hang it up somewhere sturdy where it won’t blow away in the wind. If you’re using a projector screen, you’ll need to set it up according to the instructions that come with it.
Next, you’ll need something to project your movie onto the screen with. If you have a laptop or tablet with an HDMI port, you can use that by connecting it directly to your projector with an HDMI cable. Alternatively, if you have a Blu-ray player or gaming console, you can connect that to your projector using an HDMI cable as well. Finally, if you want to go old-school, you can always just use a regular DVD player and connect that to your projector with an RCA cable.
Now that everything is set up, all that’s left is choosing what movie or movies you want to watch!
How much space do you have?
movie theater In order to choose the right movie screen for your drive-in, you need to consider how much space you have to work with. If you have a large backyard or even an empty parking lot, you can go with a full-size movie screen. These typically range in size from 16 feet to 30 feet wide.
For smaller spaces, there are also inflatable screens that can be set up on patios or decks. These are a great option if you don’t have a lot of space to work with but still want to enjoy the drive-in experience.
How portable do you want it to be?
“One of the key decisions you’ll make when setting up your drive-in is how portable you want it to be. Our first setup was very portable — we used an inflatable screen and projector that we could easily move and store. But after a couple of years, we decided we wanted something a little more permanent, so we built a wooden frame to hold the screen and installed lights around the perimeter.
If you’re planning on having your drive-in mostly in one place, like your backyard, then a semi-permanent or permanent setup might be best for you. But if you want to be able to take your show on the road — to the park, the beach, or even your neighbor’s house — then a portable setup might be better.”
Step 1: Buy your projector
Unless you already have a projector, this is obviously the most important step. The type of projector you’ll need depends on a few things:
- How big do you want the screen to be? The bigger the screen, the more powerful (and expensive) the projector will need to be.
- Are you projecting onto a wall or a screen? If you’re just using a wall, any old projector will do. But if you want a really crisp picture, you’ll need a short throw projector, which is designed to project at close range.
- How much light will there be? If you’re projecting in complete darkness, any projector will work. But if there’s even a little bit of light, you’ll need an LCD projector, which is designed for use in well-lit rooms.
Once you’ve decided on the right projector for your needs, it’s time to buy it. You can find projectors for sale online or at your local electronics store.
Step 2: Set up your sound
You have a few options when it comes to sound. You could go the traditional route and use a stereo system with speakers, or you could invest in a digital projector that has built-in speakers. If you want to go all out, you could even get a professional grade sound system. Whichever route you choose, make sure that your sound is set up so that it won’t disturb your neighbors.
Step 3: Buy or make your screen
The size of your screen is determined by the number of people you want to accommodate and how far away they will be sitting from the screen. A general guideline is that each person needs about four square feet (0.37 square meters) of screen [source: projectioncalculator.com].
You can purchase a pre-made screen, or you can make one yourself. If you’re handy, you can build a frame and stretch fabric over it, or rig up a hinged system that will allow you to take the screen down when you’re not using it. You can also purchase a portable screen that’s easy to set up and take down.
Step 4: Figure out your content
The fourth and final step to setting up your own outdoor movie theater is figuring out what content you’ll actually be playing. If you want to show recent releases, you’ll need to Rights Holders for the film. You can find contact information for most major studios on the IMDB Pro website. Otherwise, there are plenty of ways to get hold of older movies and TV shows.
Step 5: Give it power
To projection system will need a power source. An extension cord will work if the projector is close enough to an outlet, but if not you’ll have to get a little creative. If you’re projecting on a side of a building, you can run an extension cord through a window or door. Just make sure to seal up any gaps around the cord so mosquitoes can’t get in. You could also use a portable generator, but be considerate of your neighbors and keep the noise to a minimum.
