The Lawn Party Movie Screen

I’ve always wanted to show a movie outside, so this party seemed like the perfect opportunity.  I just needed a sheet, a projector and presto…an instant movie theater.  The more I thought about it  -  a sheet just didn’t seem substantial enough, so I decided a painters dropcloth would be the best solution.  They come in multiple sizes and they’re white, or so I thought.  Five stores later, I found the perfect dropcloth.  Turns out they are not all white- most of them are more of a tan color and I thought it would be hard to get the picture to show up if the screen was too dark.

The best option I found was a PVC coated drop cloth that is almost white and has a smooth slick side that seemed perfect to show a movie.  It is also heavy so it doesn’t blow easily if there’s a breeze and the bottom stays still without tying it down.

The original plan was to add grommets to the top of the dropcloth in order to hang it easily from the hooks that were already in place on the roof of the porch.  However, first I tried tying the corners with twine and looping the twine around the hooks.  That plan worked great and was easy to adjust as needed, so I decided against the grommets, although I do think putting them across the top of the dropcloth and hanging on several hooks measured accordingly would make the “screen” hang without draping in the middle.

In the end, the dropcloth made a great impromptu movie screen.  It was the perfect size, easy to hang, inexpensive and surprisingly it has come in handy for multiple other things (not painting) since then!

For more details on our outdoor movie night, don’t miss Prairie Hive Mag, Issue One, complete with popcorn recipes, snacks and decorating ideas to make the perfect retro movie night on your lawn!

For more outdoor party ideas, don’t miss Issue Two (Summer Pool Party), Issue Three (Autumn Farm Dinner), Issue Six (Fiesta!), and Issue Seven (Picnic Under the Stars).

LisaW

Lisa is a mother of three who works as a fashion and wardrobe consultant. As a former French and Latin teacher, the time she spent living in France has an ongoing influence on her style, both in fashion and interiors (she has the most comprehensive collection of plain white shirts you’ve ever seen!). She considers shopping a true hobby, a skill which was put to good use as she recently completed an addition and remodel of her family’s 1958 home in Midtown Tulsa. Throughout her home, you can recognize her emphasis on comfort with a few quirky touches that make it a true reflection of her family and their collective style. Lisa is old school and has yet to latch on to this whole “social media” phenomena

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