Outdoor viewing fresh take on entertainment

Another weekend is rolling around and, once again, you're fresh out of entertainment ideas.

A getaway would be fantastic, but the tight economy is keeping you close to home this year. Could this be an opportunity to experience something familiar in a whole new way?

When it comes to entertaining family and friends, there's one activity that can appeal to all ages. It's movie viewing made more dramatic by the simple act of taking it outdoors, into your backyard, under the stars.

Backyard theaters have become so popular, there's a Web site, http://backyardtheater.com, which has several forums, facts about equipment and a marketplace. It also recently made "Fade In" magazine's Top 100 Coolest Film Sites on the Net. It can accommodate the new backyard theater aficionado and the more advanced one, too.

Gathering with familiar people to enjoy a classic or newly released film can be a low-cost, low-stress way to have a fun and memorable evening. Such an event also can feature travel films of distant places you want to learn about or plan to visit someday.

Forget that the economy went south while your dream home theater was still in the planning stage. Take advantage of a free weekend, birthday or the upcoming Labor Day holiday to host a backyard movie party. It does not have to cost very much to be a success.

The essential components for a backyard theater party are a DVD player, video projector, speaker and screens, which you might already have. Add hot dogs, licorice, popcorn, pretzels, nachos and a few popular beverages

to complete the setting.

"If you don't have a standalone DVD player that you'd like to disconnect and bring outside, perhaps your laptop would do the job," says Steven Brown, rental manager at Fox AV Rentals in North Charleston. Those who have neither can purchase a DVD player for around $30.

When it comes to the screen, there are a number of choices, Brown says. Hosts can purchase a blow-up screen that self-inflates, has tie-downs and is designed to take the wind. But a sheet draped across a privacy fence or a smooth light-colored exterior wall is sufficient, he says.

Don't choose a tripod screen because it won't take very much wind to topple it.

While you may not have a digital projector around the house, they can be rented for about $50 for a weekend, Brown says. In addition, a small powered speaker with built-in amplification can be rented for $25.

Your backyard theater on a shoestring might not be the best quality, but the idea is to have a temporary and functional one, not to compete with the professional outdoor theaters such as those sometimes at public events.

Just don't forget to have comfortable seating so guests can relax. And to keep the sound at a level that does not disturb the neighbors.

Reach Wevonneda Minis at 937-5705 or wminis@postandcourier.com.