Outback Filmhouse

Outback Filmhouse The backyard cinema combines outdoors with a love of movies By Shelley Sakala

I’d like to preface this month’s article by recognizing the difficulties endured by so many people in our state and around the world. Many Arizonans have been affected by the COVID-19 virus, be it physically, emotionally or financially. We realize we’re fortunate just to have food on the table, toilet paper in the bathroom, and good health throughout our household. But, like everyone else, we miss the little things, like coffee with friends, neighborhood birthday parties and Spring Training baseball.

There are plenty of media outlets providing a steady supply of healthrelated news. In this column, however, we want to provide a sense of normalcy by giving readers some ideas to enhance their enjoyment of life at home. If you’re someone who might welcome a few minutes’ break from the hard news of the world around us, then please read on!

There are a million things we’ve all missed over the past couple of months. And one of mine happens to be movies. I’m talking about the full movie theater experience—popcorn, a cold soda, a box of candy and a reclining seat. Everything from the previews to the closing credits (and the obligatory Easter egg). With those things off the table for a while, my family is doing what everyone else is doing lately: We’re parked on the sofa watching movies on demand. Nobody’s complaining, but we’re looking forward to someday returning to the theater for a big summer blockbuster.

In the meantime, here’s a cool concept that combines the love of movies with the love of backyard living: the outdoor movie projection system. For a starting price of about

$200, you can pick up an outdoor screen and projector that takes the cinema experience out back. Sure, it’s a luxury and a bit of a splurge, but it’s one that adds a muchappreciated dimension to a summer of home life. Watch a movie, pause a movie, jump in the pool, grab another cold drink—all from the comfort of your back patio.

Here are five systems worth considering for your backyard cinema: WSKY Projector—This portable movie projector features a 176-inch display, 50,000-hour LED lamp life, and plug-in compatibility with

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streaming devices and video game consoles (imagine a 14-foot game of Minecraft). It’s a good price and it has high reviews for brightness. However, there’s no Bluetooth. Projector bulb is not replaceable. Price: $139 on Amazon. JaeilPLM 2-in-1 Portable Projection

Screen—This 100-inch screen assembles on a stand (included) or hangs on a wall. Rolls up to become portable or for easy storage between uses. Great for indoor or outdoor uses. One pro is that it hangs with one single nail. However, it’s “only” 100 inches. $88 on Amazon. Indoor/Outdoor Theater Kit from Backyard Theatre Systems. There is almost no ceiling on what you can spend on home entertainment, and this system makes the jump to a fourfigure investment rather quickly. It does, however, come with everything you need, including a 9-foot weather-proof screen, super-powerful projector, smart Bluetooth player, 400- watt speakers, accessories, stand and gear bag. After the weekend showing of

“Frozen 2,” everything packs up nicely for use as a professional-grade system for work presentations (at a safe social distance, of course). $1,299 on Amazon. The Easy-Go 17-Inch Mega Movie Screen— This inflatable screen sets up nicely on your back lawn or pool deck. The massive screen size is perfect for dive-in movies or across-the-yard viewing. As with any inflatable screen, there will be noise from the air blower (which has to stay on to keep your screen inflated). But a good set of speakers will cut through that ambient noise. And keep in mind that outdoor movie watching isn’t about achieving acoustic perfection. $156 on Amazon. Excelvan Home Theater Projector—This value-priced projector delivers more than 10 feet of fun in the comfort of your backyard. Connects to Apple or Android devices (including your phone), or plug in a streaming stick and get the family party started. $70 at walmart.com.

If you’ve got the budget—or you’re looking to spend some of that stimulus check—you can’t go wrong these days by investing in home entertainment. Stay safe, my friends.