Your crowd already takes photos at your event and posts them to social media. How do you see and leverage that Social Media? With a Hashtag Printer.

What is a Hashtag Printer?

It’s software that monitors Instagram for a # Hashtag, then prints and/or displays the image on a screen.

How does it work?

People attending your event are provided a unique hashtag. They take a photo, post it with the hashtag to Instagram. The software monitors for that hashtag, once it sees it the photo is displayed on screen and can be automatically printed.

Printed photos can be customized to include branding, logos, contact information.

Hashtag printer is a fun way to make use of social media at your next event. Great for Weddings, Parties, corporate functions and of course outdoor movies!

#funflicks @paultheoutdoormovieguy
Paul the Outdoor Movie Guy

For more than 12 years the Original Star Wars has not been available for public viewing.

August 1st 2016 the Original Star Wars will be available for licencing.  Being a HUGE Star Wars fan this is really exciting. I can’t wait to see it again on one of our MASSIVE FunFlicks outdoor movie screens.

Our friends at Criterion have both the original trilogy as well as the prequels. You can contact them at 1-800-890-9494.

At some point during the summer Star Wars The Force Awakens will be available. This will be licensed through Swank 1-800-876-5577 (They also license the 2008 animated movie Star Wars: The Clone Wars).

May the Force be with you
Paul the Outdoor Movie Guy

Another year of inspiration at the Alameda County Fair.  The County fair always has some great craft competitions.  My wife loves to look at the place settings for dinner party inspiration. This year, I was delighted to see even more movies, books and TV inspired place settings.

The Wizard of OZ

Wicked

Enjoy
Paul the Outdoor Movie Guy

Each year we get calls about showing sporting events on the big screen. If the event is at night we can connect most cable feeds to our projection equipment, but what if its in the day?

Unfortunately the sun is a lot brighter than a projector so there are a couple of choices.

Choice One – DVR and show it at night
Record the big game and show it at night. This was popular during the World Cup with the games being during the day. With social media and media coverage it can be extremely difficult to avoid the result (zip it Bryan). World Cup Spoilers

Choice Two – Find an Indoor Location
This could be a big barn, multipurpose room or other large venue.  If the room has windows that can be covered your image will be much brighter.

Choice Three – The Daytime Rear Projection Screen
These look like a large inflatable box, the projector goes inside the large inflatable. The image is projected on a surface viewable from the outside. From the screens I have seen in action these are large (with a fairly small viewable area) and the image seems a little washed out.

Choice four – LED Video Screens
Not the cheapest option but, as of now, the best option for your outdoor event. Multiple LED panels are connected together and, through a signal processor, your image is displayed on the screen.
Through our new friends at Digital Dynamite we now provide this option for Northern California and Southern Oregon (call 1 844 556 6843). Screen sizes start at 10 by 6 foot.  They can be scaled in size for your needs. Rental prices start at $2899 for a 10 by 6 foot video wall.

For all options above you need to avoid direct light/sunlight on the screen.

Thanks
Paul the Outdoor Movie Guy

An Outdoor Movie is an amazing experience. We often get asked about seating.  We have seen it all. From couches to mattresses, tents or children’s ride on toys, the list goes on.
Here are some common questions and answers and a few examples to help you choose the correct seating for your event.

Where should seating start for my Outdoor Movie?

What are they going to sit on at the Outdoor Movie?

This really depends on the type of event you are hosting. If its a casual affair have your guests bring their own seating or blankets (BYOC- Bring Your Own Chair). Our Film Festival friends rent chairs for their screenings.  Folding chairs can be rented at most party rental stores (and they deliver!). Looking for a more relaxed but stylish look, get some couches.

Blankets provided by a home owners association

Rental chairs are great for weddings and film festivals

High End Couches and Chairs with party planners “Oh So Inspired!”

We have a themed event

This is where fun and creativity takes place.  Here are some great examples from some outdoor movies. For more ideas check out our pinterest seating page.

Card board box drive-in

A casual affair

Dive-in Movie Night

Real movie Theater Seating

What if it’s a Drive-in?

Don’t worry, most cars or golf carts have seats!

My son recommends chairs that have built in tables and cup holders… for the snacks!
Paul the Outdoor Movie Guy

With an Outdoor Movie business winter is a little quieter so its a great time to travel.  This year my family visited England.  We visited a variety of  landmarks in London and had great fun remembering what films or TV programs in which they could be seen.

Next time you are traveling, have some fun and visit some movie landmarks.

The London Eye
The Eye and Big Ben have appeared in dozens of movies, including Thunderbirds, Rise of the Silver Surfer and can be seen flashing past in broom chase in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix .  Phineas and Ferb visit on vacation during their UK trip.(visited by “The Doctor”)

Millennium Bridge
My family call this the Harry Potter bridge, it can be seen being destroyed in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince when the Death Eaters attack London. The end of the Bridge leads right to St. Pauls “Feed the Birds, tuppence a bag”.
(visited by “The Doctor”)

The Shakespeare Globe
One of our highlights was a visit to the Shakespeare globe.  The Globe has the only thatched roof in London.  Shakespeare plays have been made into animated adaptations and films and continue to be performed in theaters around the globe.  (visited by “The Doctor”).

Dr Who and the Tardis
The BBC’s Dr Who is the worlds longest running TV SciFi. It started airing in 1963.

After traveling half way across London on the underground, we finally found the Tardis just outside of Earls Court station.  The Tardis (Time and Relative Dimension in Space) is the Space ship\time machine that “The Doctor” pilots.  The Doctor is constantly saving the worlds (often Earth) from destruction.

“Hang on, its a 10 hour flight, we took off at 12:30pm and landed a 3:30pm, that’s only 3 hours…  we time traveled!”  As reasoned by my son (12 years old).

What sights have you seen on your travels that remind you of the movies?

Paul the Outdoor Movie Guy

Drum roll please… the most popular film by far this year was Frozen.

My wonderful event day manager had the pleasure of watching it 3 nights in a row.  The vastly entertaining musical romp maybe the best animated movie Disney have produced for several years.  However he no longer wants to build a snowman.

The Lego movie came in a strong second.

Back to the Future and Ghostbusters were the most popular 80’s movie beating out The Goonies. We are now in 2015… where is my hoverboard!

With the tragic passing of Robin Williams many of his films showed prominently with Night at the Museum and Hook leading the way.  We will miss you Mr. Williams.

Jackie the house elf is back for another year of tomfoolery and festive fun.

Jet setting Jackie the house elf is back.  I wonder what trouble he will get up to this year #photoaday #project365 #ElfOnTheShelf #JackieTheHouseElf #ImBack #MandMs #BadElf

Jackie the house Elf loves to ride

Jackie the house Elf says “Would you like a Jelly Baby?”

Jackie the House Elf is Radagast

Jackie the House Elf likes a challenge, he walks the tightrope!

Jackie the house elf starts his game with a Yahtzee on the first roll

Jackie the House Elf completes the Cube  that nobody in the house could do! Clever The Elf on the Shelf

Jackie on a tree, that tricky Elf on the Shelf

Jackie the House Elf is a naughty boy! He copied his behind.  The Elf on the Shelf

Jackie gets held up by the Emperors Lego Imperial forces.  The Elf on the Shelf

Jackie the house elf on the WC. The Elf on the Shelf

Jackie the house elf caught in the candy mailbox.  #theElfOnTheShelf

Jackie taking photos of a local lady The Elf on the Shelf

Jackie and UK Barbie racing a cow and a gorilla. The Elf on the Shelf

Jackie the house Elf and friend discovers  Stonehenge made from videos

Jackie and UK Barbie racing a cow and a gorilla. The Elf on the Shelf

Jackie the house elf and Brit (yes she has a name) taking in the sights. The advantage of being as small as an elf is that binoculars work as a double telescope! The Elf on the Shelf

Jackie and Brit “Elfie!”

Jackie the House Elf and Brit decorate their tree. The Elf on the Shelf

Jackie the House Elf goes Tinsel Jumping

Jackie thinks that Santa is a Piñata!  The Elf on the Shelf

Ready to drive off into the sunset, Jackie gets ready to start his journey back to the North Pole, “Bye Brit, I’m off” #ElfOnTheShelf #SeeYouNextYear

See you next year!

The County fair always has some great craft competitions.  My wife loves to look at the place settings for dinner party inspiration. This year, I was delighted to see a number of very creative movie themed entries.

The Hobbit\Lord of the Rings

The Piano

Breakfast at Tiffany’s

The Wizard of OZ

This summer we will be having a “Big Night” themed dinner and a movie night with friends.  These settings really help inspire us for our party, I hope they inspire you!

Enjoy
Paul the Outdoor Movie Guy