DIY Drive-In Theater [How To Make Your Own Outdoor Theater]

Drive-In Theaters Are Making A Comeback During The Coronavirus Pandemic.
The classic American experience of seeing movies at a drive-in theater is seeing a huge resurgence across the country. People who have been locked down in quarantine for months might be itching for an escape, but don’t want to risk being exposed to germs from others they encounter in public.
I show you a quick and in detail tutorial on how to set up your own drive-in movie theater.

[@jakestellar4600]

People like you man make me wish I had a dad. Thanks for the video, one day I’m going to do this. I figure if I start gathering everything along the way I should be able to be set in a few years

[@jabroski69]

Well it's qbout how you look at it. You probably had to grow up a lot quicker and become more resourceful in spite of it. If your watching this your already a lot better Dad then I have been.

[@sikaryawanpintar]

Thank you so much for making this video, I'm planning this for a school event!

[@misaelvargas4794]

U should make a vid on pricing of tools and links! Also is it profitable?

[@theadmiral460]

you Sir are the man! I have some access to family land that we use as a park and meet up spot for reunions and im gonna set this up for the next reunion for friday night after the meet & greet

[@mynameisprivate158]

Be very careful, any public showing of a Hollywood movie can get you some pretty hefty fines. Even if you do it at your own house but people can see you from a public area can get you in trouble.

[@BadTV1993]

@@mynameisprivate158 "U.S. Copyright law requires that all videos displayed outside of the home, or at any place where people are gathered who are NOT family members, such as in a school, library, auditorium, classroom or meeting room must have public performance rights..."but you should get a MPLC certification just to be safe

[@timothygardner2974]

This helped me tremendously thank you !

[@aenimatt]

I’m glad it did! I apologize I haven’t made anymore videos similar to this in a while!

[@doughnut103]

Very informative. Thank you

[@cryengine3459]

thanks man you're doing well

[@gwsecureparking]

Thank you for the awesome video! We are a one acre parking lot and we are considering starting a very intimate drive-in movie theater in our little town. I am wondering if there would be any way we could ask you a couple questions about appropriate screen size and projector? Thank you so much

[@michaelmcgee8543]

enjoyed!

[@jennerally_correct]

Now that you've done this for processionals. You should make a simple one for people do in their drive way or backyard

[@HomeNorth]

We made a video like that. Need a bit more land than a small backyard though

[@beatsbybri]

😅

[@jakestellar4600]

Whoaaa how do you have only 400 subs ?? You have everything to be a pro youtuber Perfect voice and face for radio

[@aenimatt]

I got busy with my day jobs, so I haven’t made a video in about a year. But don’t worry, I have a lot of much better gear, so my videos will be much higher quality, production value, and more frequent. So I might get more subs come soon.

[@jakestellar4600]

@@aenimatt oh man your videos are already awesome. Yeah I’m learning that balancing my attention seems to be the real secret to life that is never mentioned. Almost like out Attention and intention are our real currency, ya know. Hey have an awesome time no matter what you do. Jesus Christ is king

[@sirdevonhd]

what size is this screen?

[@g.coastal7575]

Im having an issue. How can I use an fm transmitter and speakers at the same time? Do I need a different sound board or mixer for this to work? When I look at your video, it seems like you have multiple inputs on one line.

[@pearlnava160]

Hi, what size was your screen and where did you purchase your projector? Finally, how did you rent the parking lot?

[@mindys.4632]

Thanks for your help.. I am thinking about doing this in my country where it's tropical. So rain is a must! How would I cover the screen etc? What do you recommend I buy or do in those cinario?

[@aenimatt]

The screen we used was inflatable, so I don’t think rain would be a problem, if you went that route. However, for all of the electrical equipment, you would need to make sure that is all covered. EZ-Up tents for the audio equipment, covers or cable trays for the power cables, some type of plastic jacket for the projector, etc.

[@patricknevin1765]

Do you need a broadcast license for commercial use

[@luigonzo555]

What projector did you use

[@richardhendricks1133]

Hello, sorry I'm late to conversation, but can you tell where to find all those items, prices of all, plus how did you go about finding a parking lot big enough and one that free ongoers can't watch????

[@ennvyz9031]

What screen is that and where can I buy one

[@lakeshadibblerealtor]

Can’t find the Ramsey Transmitter, can you recommend another one I can get by Friday? I want to make sure I set everything up correctly. So I have a mixer and will be using a DVD player that’s connected to my console already. I’ll run my hdmi from the DVD player to the projector. My speakers will be connected via XLR cords that’s also connected to the mixer already. Sound will be coming from speakers as well as inside cars, will I need any additional equipment?

[@aenimatt]

I apologize for not seeing this sooner! It sounds like you have everything you’ll need. You can try Best Buy or Amazon to find a transmitter. Just make sure the audio ports on the back match what cables you have.

[@tarellehoskins3168]

What's the size of your screen?

[@igivehappyendings4682]

We're u get the screen from

[@kelanreay7380]

Hi, I'm planning on doing a one day event and setting up a drive in theatre. I was wondering, whether you'd have flies or other insects obstructing the projector and how do you deal with that?

[@aenimatt]

I didn’t really have that problem. The projector bulb got so hot that its temperature did a good job keeping bugs away.

[@widgeniajean7208]

What size was your screen

[@jerryspann8713]

Why are you combining left and right stereo output from laptop to a mono input on the mixer.

[@aenimatt]

In the video I only had limited equipment. We only had one direct out to rcas for the transmitter, so I put the quarter inch into the line in. I could’ve put the quarter inch into two line in channels, but then only the left or right would be going to the transmitter.

[@brendens5961]

Very cool!!! the price of the projector?

[@faithsaurombe781]

where can l buy the transmitter and how big is yours

[@CoroaEntertainment]

He used the Ramsey FM30.

[@jameswalton8927]

where did you purchase the big screen and projector?

[@aenimatt]

We didn’t purchase them. They were loaned to us from one of our sister teams. Other people in the production world have been asking me where we got our screen, because they’re in short supply. But there are plenty of places to buy industrial projectors.

[@tiemposcoolfamilytoys6603]

what kind of fabric is used for the screen? Thanks

[@richardbryant3600]

That is a commercial screen. You can buy one from Airscreen.com or outdoor-movies.com

[@Ny_xo]

Hey quick question did you have to obtain a license to do this. Also please may you be specific in what type of transmitter to purchase😊 thank you for the video is was very helpful

[@CoroaEntertainment]

Yes, because it's a public showing. Example, as of 2021, in Canada the fee ranges from $150-$650 depending on the title and how new it is. If the movie has already been released to DVD/Bluray, it's usually between $200-$300. If it's a private showing, you don't need a permit. For the USA, it looks like movie licensing pricing can range from $300 to $2,000+ depending on a number of things. Some factors affecting the licensing price can include, the number of people in attendance, location, application, whether or not you charge admission (sell tickets), and the film title being displayed. Crowds of less than 200 people will be in the lower end of the price range, whereas crowds of 1,000+ people will be in the higher end. Either way a person would have to contact Criterion Pictures or Motion Picture Licensing Corporation, and they can help you obtain a public showing license for the movie/day you want.

[@NileFlame]

@Coroa My exact question thanks. this us is cool. i love projectors. i don't own a television lol. I'm researching for opening a movie theatre in my families hometown. This gave great ideas and the licensing was my biggest concern. Thanks for the tip

[@h2g93]

Do you have to use the speakers of you are setting up the FM station?

[@aenimatt]

No. If you are using the FM transmitter, that is enough for people to listen in their cars. I only used the speakers as well because some people didn’t want to sit in their cars.

[@Hello_Sofie20]

@@aenimatt I was getting heavy static coming through my speakers once the transmitter was turned on. How do I control that?

[@aenimatt]

@@Hello_Sofie20 have you tried moving the transmitter away? It might be interference. The other thought I have is that it’s a feedback loop. Make sure that everything is grounded (plugged in to a source with a ground).

[@g.coastal7575]

@@aenimatt Hey Matt , thanks for getting back to me so quickly!! I tried moving the transmitter away. I also tried other audio outputs like straight into my processor and mixer by passing the input to my lap top and STILL i get a horrible feedback through the speakers. You say it could be or most likely is a ground but I cant find anywhere to ground the system. There is NO ground output anywhere in the back of the processor or mixer. Its crazy!!

[@aenimatt]

@@g.coastal7575 oh wow! I’m assuming the transmitter does not have a ground, because most don’t, so the electrical interference could be coming from there. Is it just plugged into an extension cable, or are you using a surge protector?

[@Sadovaya56]

Hi! 2 questions How much is this screen? And how strong is to the wind, is the picture moving or it is stable?

[@aenimatt]

I’m not quite sure how much this screen costed originally. We borrowed it from one of our sister teams. But before loaning it to us, they were renting it out. I’ll ask. The wind got pretty strong on some days, so we would be on standby to take it down if necessary. We used ropes to hold it down to heavy barrels of water. If it got too windy, we would park a couple cars behind it to prevent the bottom from scooting and flipping over.

[@aenimatt]

Also, when it got windy, it wasn’t very noticeable. You could still watch the movie.

[@ripiteventsbigscreenflicks8814]

Alternatives to using water barrels to anchor ropes? Trying to come up with a logistically easier way to do this in a parking lot.

[@aenimatt]

Lol you could use four cars and tie the ropes to the rims.

[@patricknevin1765]

Does you need a broadcasting licence for part 15 transmitter in Ireland?

[@v4v4v33]

That's like the only thing I wannet to know when I searched this.

[@siriusxakanscaleguy7147]

Nice grammar

[@JustGardeningNC]

Where permits required ?

[@tianaheggins81]

Do you have to have a spider box or can you use a generator?

[@aenimatt]

You can absolutely use a generator.

[@tianaheggins81]

Thanks so much!

[@dwightwilliams5160]

Thank you, how much did you spend in totally on all the equipment? Is that your lot, and how much are you making in profit each month? I'm thinking of going to business myself.

[@aenimatt]

I work for a minor league baseball team. One of our sister teams owns the equipment and loaned it to us when baseball went on hiatus due to covid. We are still borrowing it, but I don’t know how much it originally costed. Yes, that is our lot.

[@dwightwilliams5160]

@@aenimatt thats good thank you for all you help

[@CoroaEntertainment]

The screen is made by Airscreen and is 52" wide (I counted the parking spots lol). If that was a new Airscreen, the 52' blower model sells for $40,000 US, but I doubt a minor league baseball team would of paid that much for a screen (but you never know). Anyway, from what I can see, the cheapest things in the setup, are the laptop, DVD player, and the FM transmitter. The Ramsey FM30 transistor can be found on eBay used for $250-$300. A decent digital FM transmitter (that is capable of doing a parking lot the size of the one seen in the video), starts around $100-$150 on Amazon, a used DVD player for $10-$20 at a local Goodwill, or use the one in your laptop of it has one. Of course, if you buy everything used (ie, amps, projector, speakers, screen, etc), the overall cost would be far cheaper. The biggest on going cost (to do it legally so you don't get fined), is the public movie licence fee (a private showings doesn't need one). If the movie is already out on DVD/Bluray, most of the time it's between $200-$300 for that public permit/license.

[@thelovefamilymilitarypod]

Do you need the mixer?

[@aenimatt]

Only if you are using both speakers and the transmitter. If you’re just using speakers or just using a transmitter, then you won’t need a mixer.

[@beitmenotyou]

What do you do if it rains

[@aenimatt]

If it is going to rain, then we cancel or postpone the event.

[@castro5023]

Question: What licensing company do you use?

[@CoroaEntertainment]

Probably Criterion Pictures or Motion Picture Licensing Corporation

[@mrshamilton6269]

Do you have to have a mixer? Can you use a streaming device instead of a laptop?

[@aenimatt]

No. I use the mixer because you need it to send the audio to both the speakers and the FM radio. You can just hook up the sound directly coming from your device to either the speakers or the FM transmitter. What type of streaming device are you talking about?

[@mrshamilton6269]

@@aenimatt I have a wayyy smaller version than what your video is describing. I just started this business and I keep getting asked for it to be heard in cars.

[@aenimatt]

@@mrshamilton6269 A smaller transmitter, or a smaller projector?

[@mrshamilton6269]

@@aenimatt I have a smaller projector but Idk which transmitter to get and how to have sound on the speakers and in the cars.

[@aenimatt]

@@mrshamilton6269 okay. And how are you playing movies/videos? Are you hooking anything up to the projector?

[@Supergringodftc]

Doesn’t peoples car batteries go dead?

[@ittakestimepodcast3894]

Did you need to get licensing to show the films in public?

[@aenimatt]

Depends on your audience. You need to obtain public performance rights, but if you are just hosting a private event, then you do not.

[@ittakestimepodcast3894]

@@aenimatt thanks for getting back to me!

[@christopherkerhin1438]

You need a license any time you show a movie outside your house, doesn't matter how many people. If you charge a ticket price than the licensing company gets 50 percent of the ticket sales unless your sales don't exceed the original price of the movie for a non ticket event.

[@Ok_hikeem]

How are you getting your film? Are you paying for it or downloading....Are you guys playing movies that are in theaters? Please get back to me thank you 😊 🙏

[@aenimatt]

I buy them from Amazon and download them. I obviously can’t play movies in that are theaters since they aren’t available yet.

[@Ok_hikeem]

Oh ok, so since you purchase the movies you don't have to pay a percentage to the filmmakers?

[@aenimatt]

@@Ok_hikeem I’m sure I should. But I was only showing to maybe 25 cars in a private lot. If I was running a business playing movies, then I would have to.

[@bluphix]

What movies did you guys play? Did you advertise? What movies did the best?

[@UNKNOWN-le2tu]

thats a baddass projector.

[@Lyrikaholmes]

what size is this screen?

[@CoroaEntertainment]

Airscreen 52' wide with blower motor. You should sit down before you go to their website for the price. (around the cost of a base model Tesla Model 3. Not kidding)

[@Lyrikaholmes]

@@CoroaEntertainment 🤑🤑🤑🤑🤑