Set up an awesome backyard cinema this summer

Get cosy under a blanket of stars with your own moonlight movie night with our easy guide to setting up an awesome backyard cinema this summer.

On paper, switching your fancy new OLED screen for a projector and an old sheet should be a hard sell. But while technology comes and goes, movies in the moonlight are forever.

So gather your friends, scatter some cushions, fill the coolers and make the most of warmer nights with a backyard cinema experience everyone can enjoy.

Measure up

First up, assess the space you’ve got to work with. Make sure your backyard has enough room between the projector and screen to display the correct size, otherwise known as ‘throw distance’. If space is tight, look for a projector with a short throw distance. Where possible, choose a spot with power nearby to limit trip hazards from trailing power cords.

Suss your screen

Now you’ll need something to project your movies onto. The cheapest screen option is a blank exterior wall or a white sheet pegged to the clothesline. You can buy a purpose-built fabric screen that can be stretched to different sizes, or a fancier option would be an inflatable screen. These are easy to set up, but the fan that keeps it upright can be noisy.

Pick a projector

Like the lens in your camera, the quality of the projector has a big impact on what you’ll see on your screen. You’ll need a projector with enough light output for outdoor use, at a cinematic size. Assuming you don’t want to huddle around a small projection, and you’d like to have the option for daytime and twilight screenings, go for at least 2,000 lumens. For after dark viewing only, 500 lumens would be a rough starting point. Remember to account for ambient lighting from neighbouring buildings, the moon and your own festoon party lights.

Next, make sure the image is the right shape when it’s projected at an angle. Check you can adjust for “keystone” and “lens shift” to make sure the image is centred and not a weird shape. And lastly, check the inputs match the device you’re using to play the movie.

Sound solutions

Let’s have a look at how you can add some aural magic to your backyard movie night. You’ve got two speaker options – wired or wireless. If your projector supports Bluetooth (and most of the latest ones will), a wireless sound bar will eliminate some cables and give you more flexibility to position speakers. Be mindful of volume though if you have neighbours close by, or better yet, invite them over!

Press play

Although the convenience of streaming has well and truly eclipsed the disc, backyard movie night is the perfect time to dig out your Blu-ray collection. Your video source could also be your laptop, or a media player (think Chromecast or Apple TV) as a convenient way to have all your streaming apps ready to go. With an Optus Sport subscription you can watch premier league and cricket live during your next barbecue.

Finishing touches

You don’t have to have a swanky outdoor entertainment area with its own alfresco bar and pizza oven. Make it cosy with rugs and beanbags, add some Hollywood magic with strings of bud lights and lanterns and have your pals bring their favourite picnic food to share. Keep the bugs at bay with a insect repellent candle or two, and don’t forget to do some final sound and video checks to make sure your backyard cinema is working properly before everyone arrives.

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