SPECIAL SECTION: OUTDOOR & GARDEN
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RAISING THE BAR
When planning an outdoor movie night, go all out! Send printed invitations to guests and tuck pretend movie tickets inside. Your guests can show them when they arrive, and the invitation becomes a memento for the evening. Choose a colour palette to match the movie.( Think black and white if you’ re showing The Artist, or gold for 007 flicks.)
And don’ t forget a red carpet on the driveway or deck. Snap some pictures of your guests as they arrive.
On the technical side
If you think hosting movie nights will be an ongoing affair, today’ s outdoor projectors offer picture quality only dreamed of a few years ago, with ultra-high resolution and lumens, or brightness. Many allow you to stream content wirelessly using your smartphone, laptop or tablet; some have Netflix and other apps preloaded to stream directly from the projector. If you have a smaller yard, look for equipment that uses a short-throw lens so you can place the projector closer to your screen while still creating a two-metre-plus picture.
Speaking of the screen, there are so many options to consider. To get started, it’ s perfectly acceptable to go the DIY route and hang a crisp white sheet, but keep in mind that a high-quality screen offers consistently good, wrinkle-free viewing. New projector screens are lightweight and fold up so they can be easily stored and brought out as needed. Or embrace the wow factor and go big with a massive inflatable screen – an option if you want a big picture and don’ t mind a little fan noise.
Listen up
Although projectors have built-in speakers, the sound often needs a boost, especially if people are not close to the source. A pair of wireless outdoor speakers will solve the problem, or have moviegoers use bluetooth headphones or earbuds.
Ultimately, autumn movie nights are about watching the show and enjoying time outdoors before the cold sets in.“ After a couple of years having to stay inside so much and being isolated, it’ s nice to have the option to be outside and see friends,” Rosling says.“ That’ s the ingredient for the perfect movie night.”
Kira Vermond is a freelance journalist based in Ontario, Canada.
COSTCO CONNECTION
Warehouses and Costco. com. au carry projectors, snacks, beverages, outdoor furniture, blankets and almost anything else you’ ll need to host an outdoor movie night.
34 | MAY / JUN 2023 COSTCO CONNECTION