Thoughts to Consider Before Screening a Movie on a Giant Screen

If you want to screen a movie on a giant inflatable screen, you're probably already developing ideas for your special event. Whether you want to screen your movie as part of an independent movie festival, or for a special event such as a birthday party or wedding reception, chances are you already have some idea out what you are looking for in your event and your experience. However, besides your desires for creating a once-in-a-lifetime event, make sure that you consider the following before screening your film:

1) Appropriateness. You'll want to watch the movie yourself to ensure that it does not contain material that might offend your audience. You'll want to make sure, for example, that if children will be present at your event, that their parents would not mind them watching the particular film selection. One way to choose a film that is appropriate for your event is to consult movie almanacs. These generally give you ratings which tell you which themes the movie covers. You can then rent the films that are most appropriate for your event, and screen them yourself before the big day. Another option is to tell people who will be attending your event which movie will be screened. This way, people heading to your event can decide for themselves whether or not they want to see that particular film. When considering appropriateness, too, make sure that you consider the type of movie and the type of venture or hosting. Often, you can match your events and the theme of the movie closely. If you are screening films as part of a wedding reception, for example, you may wish to choose romantic comedies or classic romances.

2) Environment. With an outdoor screen, you can match a film to your environment, which can add some additional fun to your event. For example, if your screening will be close to the beach, you may wish to screen a movie that features beaches. Another fun thing to do is to find a movie that was shot in the same location many years previously. For example, if you will be screening your film in a part of San Francisco, look for a film that was filmed in San Francisco many years ago. Your audience will enjoy seeing the same scenes they are familiar with every day in a whole new light.

3) Availability. You ought to make sure that your film of choice is available for screening. Some films that were released many years ago may be rare and hard to find for screening. Other films have not yet be available for general release.

4) Licensing. Many people interested in screening a movie at a special event forget that movies are copyrighted and therefore require a special license to show. Any movie that is copyrighted -- and that includes generally any movie commercially made or made by someone other than yourself -- requires a public performance license in order for you to screen it at an event. Luckily, obtaining this license is generally fairly simple. You'll have to purchase a license yourself, as Hollywood Outdoor Movies cannot purchase the license for you. However, you can generally get your license by contacting two of the major licensing entities in the country. These are:

Swank - www.swank.com or call them at 1-800-876-5577

Criterion Pictures - www.criterionpic.com or call them at 1-800-890-9494