8mm Forum: Outdoor Presentation: A First Experiment

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Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on May 29, 2010, 08:42 PM:

So in a couple of weeks Toy Story 3 is coming out. What better way to celebrate than have a couple of friends over and see Toy Story the Original out on the patio, but I've never shown films outside before...what would it be like? It was time for a test run: just one projector and a tripod screen

First of all, setting up a movie projector without walls and ceiling is just a little odd; it just feels out of place. I was concerned about the acoustics, but they worked out just fine. The sound bounced nicely off the back wall of the house and was good everywhere on the patio. I started projecting maybe 20 minutes before it got really dark, the image brightness was good even with a 100W bulb. If I did it for real I'd use my ST-1200 for the opening reel and run the bulb at full brightness

-so far, so good!

Problems:

Just around real sunset a swarm of mosquitoes joined the show. Based on this episode:

The Drive-In Experience

-I guess I should have suspected no less.

Oh...and it started to rain. Just a gentle spritz now and then to start, but then the patio brick started to darken and I realized it was time to man the boats. I stopped the machine, grabbed it and the films and dove inside. The screen was on the second trip. (I rescued it from my neighbor's garbage; it's pretty low on the food chain next to a good projector and two films!)

So this is a promising idea, but I guess it needs some more thought.

Posted by Barrie Didham (Member # 1741) on May 30, 2010, 01:28 AM:

I have shown many features this way,to me it much more fun as there is space for everyone,and the kids that show up that you have never seen before are just amazed.

I have to run and hide behind the projector to avoid the hundreds of question they have up thier sleeves.

I too had a problem at one time with moths and drizzle,but my fix was an easyone.

I got a large cardboard box from a PC store,i cut out the whole side so i could get to the controls and load up the spools,i then had a roll of clear plastic with vent holes taped to the top so i could drop it down if needed,but never did.
I made a second cut about the size of the air intake grill on the other side and taped some lace from the shed window over it to stop rain or bugs being sucked in,then i cut one for the lens and placed some clear plastic over it,later on i found glass worked better,I then taped clingfilm(gladwrap)to the top of the box to water proof it,I then used afew bricks and even a small stone to hold the flapps of the box down over the projector so it couldnt be blown off.

Since then i have now made one from thin plywood and take the projector out every summer.

Important note:Never use your girlfriends hair dryer to dry off any water that may fall on the projector if you get caught in a few seconds of drizzle,i have never lived that one down since,and even though we are no longer together,when ever i see her and her friends she always tells them to hide thier hairdryers and anything else thats related to makeup,like thier eyeliner pencils,they make great temp markers for editing [Smile]

Posted by Bill Phelps (Member # 1431) on May 30, 2010, 07:10 AM:

Nice...well at least that stuff is useful for something! [Smile]

Bill

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