It’s a new outdoor adventure and venue for our little church in farm country. We’ve done drive-in movies in our parking lot a few times. We have an inflatable screen that measures 27 feet in diameter. But, drive-in has limitations … sound delay if we radio broadcast it, loud noise from the air compressor for the screen, and neighborhood noise and light (roosters, cows, cars, and tractors; not to mention the trains that pass by not too far away.) This event would not be a drive-in but a walk-up, outdoor, courtyard, community movie night.
So I got to move forward on one of my dreams – make the courtyard a community theater.
I delegated out the means to raise the screen on the brick wall … I delegated it out for I am mechanically challenged.
The huge screen is loose for it is applied by Velcro to the inflatable, so now we can just use the screen. I set up the speakers, sound mixer, the projector, and obtained the DVD/digital copy for my MacBook.
The movie … The Lion King (original version)! To the OCD out there, yes, we did check that our CVLI covers the viewing under these conditions.
The 3-sided courtyard makes a great acoustic setting. The rain ended the day before, the sun had dried the grass which was freshly cut, and it was a cool evening perfect for sitting on a lawn chair or blanket. Outdoor lights were retimed or turned off. And, the teen girl’s mission group (Acteens) had the concession area prepped, stocked and manned. Donations were taken for the local Pregnancy Support Center.
About 50 showed up, many parents with kids. And dozens of fireflies showed up too, so cool.
It doesn’t take much to get outside. This was a community movie night filled with laughs of a warthog and meerkat, tears at the loss of a father, and anxiety when Pride Rock was set ablaze.
Could be a TV on the porch. Or maybe a a commercial drive-in (yes they still exist.) Your imagination is the limit. Bottom line – a great way to get outside.
And I think there is a benefit to sharing your outdoor experience. What a joy to laugh together, to share the moment, and to be under the stars and among the fireflies on a beautiful Friday night.
One last benefit. With the screen down, sound system replaced to original location, outdoor lights re-engaged, and all the cords stored snuggly in tubs or drawers … we now have the ability to do this again, we can get ‘outside’ again. What a great benefit.
Soooo … get outside and spend time with others there.
Muddy Shoes by Todd 
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