Outdoor Movie Nights - 2010 version! - Page 2

We're doing Avatar tomorrow night! I've got the 22' all laid out and ready. I've redone our backyard and, with some work, installed an inground sub and improved the fronts/rears. I ended up running bury wire setup the points for stands.

Tonight sucks, too much rain. But it's supposed to be pretty either tomorrow or Sunday, so that's the plan!

This year I am doubling up on my subwoofers and amplifiers, running a new underground 220V power line to better supply the amps and upgrading the projector to a new BenQ W6000 for higher lumens.

Did the show go on? Just watched Avatar on BR on the PJ inside. Rarely get to show grownup movies outside. May try to squeeze this on in once kids are in bed. Will have to unhook the BR player and take outside. DVD won't do it justice.

How did the inground subs work? First season in a new house. Once I figure out how to arrange the yard I may bury the wires.

Like a charm. We had a blast, and lots of neighbors attended. Good fun by all, did a full cookout with steaks, dogs, and I even grilled together some sandwich meat for some kids. Fun.

The inground sub was the best idea. I grabbed two, ran underground wire and buried. They have an external vent, of course, but the effect is solid; while not incredibly loud, you can "feel" the effect.

We're trying to come up with one this weekend for our son coming home.

While I'm not really a "back yarder" for movies (our two seasons are snow and mosquito) I might suggest Where the Wild Things Are as a good night time movie for the kids. A large part of the show takes place out in a forest lit by campfires, which would probably be cool to watch while sitting outdoors.

-Suntan

sorry, but one vote against "Where the Wild Things Are" - not for kids

Second vote against it! I'd rather show Ghandi to kids...

ok i don't know about that one...

anyway, I should work on building a giant screen and find a super bright projector for outdoors. Do y'all think the HD66 would be ideal? Is 2500 enough lumens?

We did Pixar Shorts for a starter, and an oldie but a good one for our main: Disney's "Sword in the Stone" (animated). Kids loved it.

Memorial Day Weekend and the weather was perfect Saturday night for the big opening party. Had over 100 people in the back yard. Paid my 17 year old and his friends to cook and serve 60 burgers, 40 dogs, and 28 brats. The two kegs and 4 batches of rum drinks certainly helped to keep the heat from bothering us. A small change in schedule due the the Blackhawks game, but an outdoor 20' screen is the best place to watch the Hawk's win! This year I decided to go with an 80s film that I remember loving when I was younger... JOHNNY DANGEROUSLY. It was a huge hit with all the kids and their parents!

How To Eat Fried Worms is a good movie for kids, and Holes is an older one, but still good. We did Percy Jackson last weekend, but it's geared for slightly older kids... probably 12+. How To Train Your Dragon should be out mid-summer and should be everyone's feature the first weekend after. Best animated movie I've seen, and great for all ages (we love it as do our 2 year old son and my 11 year old niece).

On the mosquito prevention front we spread some pellets around our patio that apparently confuse them with strong botanical oils. So far they've worked surprisingly well. Not saying we had no mosquitos, but I definitely noticed a large difference when I walked away from the patio.

excellent movie!!!

first time we sent invitations out and actually planned an event. We screened Up. About 30 people came with their kids of all ages. We obtained giant bags (trash bags, really) of popcorn from a local theater, weather was perfect despite some afternoon rain.

worked out quite well.

FINALLY set up and fired up the deck theater. July 4th was the first decent weather night that we've been home to enjoy a movie on the deck. Only adults were watching so we ran The Hangover. Very funny.

Double Feature this weekend, Cars and Iron Man. Weather looks perfect - can't wait!!!!

Had another decent Saturday night. Double feature: Wanted and New in Town.

We were out there until amost 1:00am. Good thing the neighbors were there! Also just wanted to note that WANTED had great surround.

Steve - Love the tickets. Is that template available? I would love to make some up for when family comes to visit.

Got AVATAR in this weekend.

Did our first a couple weeks ago for some out of town family members. My brother in law has the video stuff (14' wide screen/ pj) and I have the audio stuff.

We did this setup cold turkey and now that we've done it once, I see how we can improve some things. It also has me inspired to maybe get several more stacks of these speakers and see if we can pull off a total surround sound event with some killer sound.

Yes, those are real cinema seats and a real concession cart The red carpet was a nice touch.

I am looking forward to my first outdoor event - just been travelling so much that I haven't had time to do it on a weekend once the weather got better.

I worry I bit off more than I can chew - went with a 7.1 audio system and a screen so big I cannot lift the bag by myself.

Maybe I can get an impromptu showing this weekend and post some pics next week.

Brilliant on the seating attacked to a trailer. I like that a lot.

More pictures and commentary to the actual event

http://forums.klipsch.com/forums/p/1...3.aspx#1392173

Having done this, I've been thinking about trying to acquire more of these speakers and create a 5.1 outdoor system. It would be stunning. I live in the middle of 250 acres surrounded by another 500/700 acres of woods....surrounded there by lake on 3 sides... so I don't have much to worry about with neighbors and can let-r-rip.

Regarding lifting the bag, I cheated with Brutus. Is your screen an inflatable? We used a 'fast fold' by Da-lite. The box (seen in the pictures on the other forum) is probably too much for a single person to easily carry but it has wheels on one edge of the bottom.

Once I slid it out of my car I was able to just take the parts out and get with assembling it.

I suggest you do it as soon as you can... well...maybe cancel that comment. Cancel the comment because once you do this (and have nice weather) you will absolutely KICK yourself in the hiney for not having done it sooner and you will daydream all day while at work (don't ask me how I know ) about how you can improve your next event.

Well, the screen I use is an inflatable 24' wide 16x9 screen. With the support pillars on the side, it is about 18" wider than my back yard is deep unless I take out a tree.

I will be getting a platform dolly to move it into place. I have a regular dolly to move speakers into place. I am using Yamaha Club series speakers. I have 3 of the S215V with dual 15" woofers for mains. At 104lbs each, I had to use a dolly to move them. The sub is an SW218 at 144lbs with dual 18" woofers. I then have 4 of the S115V with tripod mounts for the surrounds. They are 65lbs but have to be lifted onto the poles so they really need two people or they are just too combersome.

All my components are in a 16u rack sitting on a rolling platform with 4" casters. I am using 4 of the QSC GX5 amps and a Lexicon processor. For the source, I am using a Kaleidescape so I can script my intros together and include previews for movies for the next event. The projector is a 3-chip DLP putting out 4500 ANSI lumens. I do not use an outboard scaler or anamorphic lens for my outdoor system right now.

The biggest issue is really getting somebody to help me set up and more importantly, tear down, since I don't want to be there all night.

That is such a cool sounding setup!

That is very nice! Would you be willing to send to others?

Ya I'd love that ticket template too. gerardkrem@gmail.com

Nice job on the tickets!

Can you send me the file also? Thanks Steve.