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battery), and there will be food trucks onsite. Masks are required at food trucks and bathrooms. Learn more at hub.configio.com/ pd/1357/2021-drive-in-movie-nights. Epic Events handles several outdoor movie nights throughout Washington. It also rents outdoor movie screens for your own pop-up drive-in movie theater. This includes all equipment, such as an outdoor movie screen, projection, audio
SUMMER PLUS is a supplement to The Spokesman-Review • Wednesday, May 26, 2021
Learn more about FunFlick rentals at www.funflicks.com/projector-screenrental-spokane/.
Do-It-Yourself Outdoor Movies
If you want a more intimate experience for just close family and friends, you can create your own outdoor movie experience.
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with speakers and FM transmission, as well as technical assistance. Plan your next party or outdoor function at the movies! Learn more at www.epiceap.com/ outdoor-cinema-services/. FunFlicks handles drive-in outdoor movie theaters and claims to be the largest outdoor movie event provider in the state. Focusing on the “nostalgia of the classic drive-in movie,” movies are simulcast over FM radio and broadcast through speakers while projected on a 55-foot screen. This summer they will be showing movies every other Tuesday from June through August in North Spokane (Joe Albi) and every other Wednesday at the Spokane County Raceway. Learn more at www.facebook.com/ OutdoorMoviesSpokane/.
To get you started, here are a few essentials: ELECTRICITY: Make sure you have easy access to power and beware running extension cords anywhere that someone might trip. CHECK THE WEATHER: Unless you have a covered gazebo with a state-ofthe-art sound system, no one wants to do movie night in the rain. SPACE MATTERS: Find a level place for setting up any sort of screen. If you are using a projector, you’ll need up to 15 feet of distance between it and your screen. You will also want some distance to your seating situation, and make sure everyone has a clear view. ELIMINATE LIGHT: Since you will most likely be screening
your movie in the dark, try to avoid bright light sources, such as streetlights or car headlights, which can make the picture harder to see. EQUIPMENT: Moving your TV outside is an option (remember that extension cord), but for the full outdoor theater setup, you’ll need a projector, external speakers, a screen, and the movie player of your choice, such as a DVD or Blu-ray player, Amazon Fire Stick, or laptop. Projectors run anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, but there are several options under $200 that work great. Key things to look for are the lumen rating (about 2,500 lumens work well), and adjustments that let you correct the image dimension and angle. Options that include access to apps like Netflix and Hulu, and Bluetooth connectivity for pairing with speakers, are also a plus. For sound, you can likely get away with listening to your projector’s built-in speakers, but Bluetooth speakers with some bass really amp up the experience. Screens with a reflective surface dedicated for outdoor movies work best and can be found for under $200, either fixed frame or inflatable. Or you could keep it simple and project your movie
onto a light-colored wall or sheet. SEATING: Blankets can get uncomfortable after the first half hour, so if you really want to relax, drag out your sofa, grab camping chairs, or make socially distanced environments of cardboard boxes for the kids. Or better yet, tell folks to bring their own! REFRESHMENTS: No movie is complete with snacks, but best to avoid anything that will attract bugs or end up in someone’s lap. Stick to traditional options like popcorn, canned or bottled beverages, and candy. BE COURTEOUS OF YOUR NEIGHBORS: Check noise ordinances in your neighborhood and finish up before it gets too late. And keep your screening is as family-friendly as possible by avoiding genres like horror or anything with an R rating. And according to the Motion Picture Licensing Corporation, your group needs to be limited to “a normal circle of a family and its social acquaintances” to do right by U.S. copyright law.