Power-Point Presentation Turns Into Star-Studded Movie Night

“Next slide please!” 

I can’t tell if the presenter is speaking to their assistant operating the laptop or reading my mind. 

I’ve sat through hundreds of PowerPoint presentations through my career and feel as if I‘ve delivered just as many. 

Exaggerations aside, it’s at least enough to reach the conclusion that the evolution of the PowerPoint presentation is on par with toilet paper.  Ingenuity has reached its peak with this conveyor of pie charts, line graphs and occasional animation of text. 

Further improvement is just futile.  But on this day I notice something different. 

Somewhere between the opening slide and the eagerly awaited “Question and Answer” slide I notice something that I’ve never seen before.  After all of these years, how could I overlook it?  Are those RCA inputs in the back of that projector?  That means I can totally hook one of these things up to a DVD player.

Armed with my new discovery I come home from work like I just landed the Space Shuttle.  As I announce my epiphany to display movies in our backyard, my wife is quick to remind me that every Thursday this summer the City of Pleasanton hosts outdoor movie night at Amador Park.

Drat! Foiled again by those family friendly leaders at P-town Parks and Rec.

Never defeated, I push forward with the notion that I can bring an alfresco theatre to my very own backyard.  For those looking to follow suit, here are a few tips to make it a reality and a summer evening to be proud of.

The Audio: 

You must have speakers somewhere, either left over from an old shelf stereo in the attic or in your garage (aka fortress of solitude.)  Trust me the time it takes to disconnect and reconnect them in your backyard will be worth it.  A stereo receiver may be another story. A few years ago, I purchased an additional receiver to put in
my garage for $35 on craigslist.  I’m sure you can find the same one with a broken remote control that will do the trick.

The Visual:

Any DVD device will work, this shouldn’t be too hard to find.  The projector is your biggest challenge since good ones sell for thousands of dollars.  Do not buy a cheap one found at toy stores.  I guarantee you and your family will not be satisfied with the quality. 

If you don’t have the ability to borrow a quality projector, there are two alternatives.  First, check Ebay to purchase a used one.

I was able to find a refurbished LCD projector for around $250. Since it probably saw its fair share of sales presentations in its previous life you should always check the hours on the bulb.  A new bulb costs about $100, so you’ll want to be sure you have enough life left to serve as your outdoor centerpiece.  If that’s not in the price range, and you’re not sure this will be more than a one night only performance you
can rent one for about $100  (Check www.projector123.com for rental info).  Considering a night out at the movies will cost nearly that much, it’s not a bad deal for a weekend experience.

The Screen:

This one is all yours to design as you see fit. Whether it’s a garage door, a hanging sheet or a PVC masterpiece, this is your opportunity to shine.

Put it all together, have your kids invite their friends and enjoy movie night under the stars.  While they may not admit it, the biggest star of the night is dad!

Win a Free T-Shirt in our Summer of fun photo contest. Deadline for entries is August 22nd.  For more details click

For more by That Dad don't forget to visit www.iamthatdad.com