DIY Drive-In Movie Theater
Dec 4th, 2008 | By James Lewin | Category: General, Strange, Video 
Open Air Cinema has announced the availability of its new 16ft x 9ft Open Air Home Screen, a giant inflatable movie screen.
Open Air Cinema sells the 16-foot screen for $999. The company offers two other sizes of its inflatable movie screens for home use. The 12ft x 7ft version is priced at $599 and the 9-foot version is priced at $449.
The screen is available by itself or as part of the CineBox Home Backyard Theater package, which includes projection, sound, and all cables needed to operate a backyard theater.
This thing looks like a little slice of guerrilla drive-in awesomeness.
Here are the specs:
- 220″ Diagonal Projection Surface
- Matte white, wrinkle-resistant ripstop nylon projection surface
- Black-backed projection surface blocks lights from behind, improves contrast ratio
- Ultra lightweight — weighs less than 20 pounds when deflated and fits inside a duffle bag
- Air blower provides constant inflation
- Heavy duty PVC carrying bag for screen, air blower, ropes, stakes etc.
- 20 MPH wind rating
“The 16-foot screen is the largest screen available for backyard use on the market,†said Stuart Farmer, president of Open Air Cinema. “This new size truly converts your backyard into a huge cinematic experience.â€
Nice – think I need one of these!
Don’t know what this has to do with podcasting?
One thing that is not talked about here is film rights. You HAVE TO pay for them if you have a “party” or large crowd. (Read the FBI warning in front of that DVD)
I work for a place that rents these out with the equipment ( http://www.backyardfilmparties.com)
We have these screens plus those that are twice this size so Mr. Farmer is wrong about the 16 foot being the largest.
Last weekend we made the rounds showing Football games on the big screens.
Another note is you have to have a decent projector for these and that can run you few thousand.
Sorry the website is http://www.backyardmovieparties.com
They also will buy film rights so you can show the movies legally.
Final Taxi – I’m interested in the larger idea of individuals being in control of media.
IE – with a set up like this, you could do a guerrilla theater with Creative Commons licensed Internet videos and route around the mainstream studio system. And not need to buy film rights.
Or you could just put it in your backyard, get some DVDs and have a cool barbecue.
Eight (4’X6′) white plastic tablecloths from the dollar store: $8.
Dollar store (duct) tape to fasten them together: $2. (Maybe a little more.)
16’X12′ screen (2X4 array) for about $10. (Bigger than the thousand dollar model.) And it’s waterproof.
Cost of wooden tomato-steak (1’X1′) framework not included, for those who want it standalone. (Or you could just duct-tape it to the back wall of your house.)
Now THAT’S gorilla theatre!