Outdoor Movies at the Family Reunion

From Good Housekeeping "How to Host a Family Reunion"

FunFlicks was mentioned in the May 2013 issue of Good Housekeeping magazine!  A great article on "How to Host a Family Reunion".  
This got me thinking about some of the great family events we have hosted. A 50th wedding anniversary, rehearsal dinner, child's birthday and family reunions.  Some of the most memorable events involve family.  Here are some of my favorites:

• Family Talent Show - We have seen singing, dancing and short skits before a movie.  At one wonderful event a Grandma told stories of when she was young.  Everyone listened intently to the stories she told.  Make sure to have a video camera rolling.
• The Slide Show - A wedding anniversary is a great time to document a life together through photos.  When put to music, we have seen audiences laugh, cry, clap and cheer.
• Budding film maker in the house?  A short family made flick is a lot of fun to premiere at a reunion.
• Karaoke - Seeing the crazy uncle sing Dancing Queen is not to be missed!
• Family videos - Family videos are big hit at a reunion!
• Play a Classic Movie the whole family can enjoy.
• Looking for the ultimate family reunion video and don't have the hours needed to edit your own video?  Call in the professionals at Real Life Films. They take your videos and craft them into meaningful stories.  I love the footage comparison.  

For more great ideas, pick up the May 2013 issue of Good Housekeeping.  

Cheers
Paul the Outdoor Movie Guy

Party Idea - Golf Cart Drive-In

It's Master's week at Augusta, Tiger is going for his 5th green jacket, the azaleas are blooming and spring is here!  In keeping with the golfing theme, a really fun movie night idea is the Golf Cart Drive-In.  Whether it is a private club or local muni, the golf cart drive-in brings the community together.

What do you need?

• To give it a real Drive-In feel make sure to use a large screen
• Stagger all golf cart rows so all can see the screen
• Turn off any bright GPS screens
• Have the beer\beverage cart available
• Pair your drive-in with an after work golf tournament... The 19 hole is the drive-in!
• Gauge your audience and choose an appropriate movie

Here are 5 Great Golf Themed Movies

1. Caddyshack (R)
2. Tin Cup (R)
3. The Legend of Bagger Vance (PG-13)
4. The Greatest Game Ever Played (PG)
5. Happy Gilmore (PG-13)

And finally, you better leave room for Bubba's Hover at your Drive-In

 In the immortal words of Jean Paul Sartre, 'Au revoir, gopher'

Paul the Outdoor Movie Guy

Party Idea - How to Throw a Rock Band Party

A Rock Band Party is a rockin' good time!   Put on your favorite tunes and bring out your inner ROCK STAR.  Here are some great tips for your party:

The Game
Rock Band and Guitar Hero cover many different types of music.  From Beatles to Green Day, there is something for everyone, even Lego Rock Band!  Choose the version that is appropriate for your crowd.  RockBand can be found for Wii, PlayStation and Xbox.

Preparing the Stage
The big projection screen is a great place to start, these parties can often get crazy so its a great idea to rear project.  To give your party more STAR power try these awesome ideas:

• Create a stage area for the "Band" and viewing area for the "Crowd"
• Disco Lights make it feel like a concert
• Smoke machine
• Shape Huge wooden guitars out of plywood and spray paint......channeling the Hard Rock Cafe!
• Have guests dress up in their favorite rock star or groupie costume
• Pull out your old posters and plaster the party area

Party Favors

You can have a blast with the party favors, here are some ideas: 

• Guitar Picks
• Inflatable Guitars
• Crazy Rock-star Glasses
• Drum Sticks

Don't forget food

Try your hand at a stylish guitar cake.  For this cake we used Rollos for tuners, Twizzlers for strings and carved the guitar out of a flat sheet cake.  Serve your guests on Rocker inspired party plates, etc

And be sure to:

• Check Batteries (are they charged?) have extras on hand
• Check all wireless instruments before guests arrive
• Consider placement of any instruments that are connected via a cable

Cheers and party like a Rock-Star!
Paul the Outdoor Movie Guy

Party Idea - Gnomeo and Juliet

Gnomeo and Juliet Party

Here's a great idea from a double birthday party we threw for our daughter and her friend a few weeks ago. It was tremendous fun, the kids had a ball and the parents did too!   The movie is loosely based on Romeo and Juliet with some great music by Elton John.

Here are some great tips if you want Host a Gnomeo and Juliet themed party:

Are you a Red or a Blue?

Decorate with these two bright colors, hand out blue and red beads when each guest arrives (which will be used later for team games).  Take the theme throughout the party, 1/2 red and 1/2 blue table coverings, red and blue plates, napkins and cups, blueberries and strawberries, red and blue cupcake papers.....you get the idea!

Host a Lawn Mower Race!

Blue team and red team face off for the lawn mower relay.  Each Gnomeo and Juliet takes a turn at racing around the cone and back and passing the plastic lawn mower to the next guest.  It's a scream!  You can pick up these cheap mowers for around $14 each and spray paint them Red and Blue (make sure to use spray paint that is designed for plastic).

Quick shopping list:

CVS has Gnomeo and Juliet garden Gnomes

Plastic Flamingos
Plastic Mowers

Table cloths in Red and Blue

Cups in Red and Blue

Bead Necklaces in Red and Blue

Fun Balloons to decorate (red and blue of course!)

  

Another wonderful part of this movie is that it is only 84 minutes long!    

Cheers

Paul the Outdoor Movie Guy

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

We have just had the first couple of warm days this year.  Spring training is in progress and my son just started his little league practice.  Must be baseball season!  Thinking of baseball, I started to ponder my favorite baseball movie.   

From movie nights over the past few years, here are my TOP 5 Baseball Movies

Bull Durham

Field of dreams

Rookie of the year

The Rookie (the film I picked up for my son today)

The Sandlot (my wife's favorite) 

Here are some handy planning tips for your Baseball Movie Night:

When to have a Baseball movie night?

Want to start the season with a great social for your team, mid season family fun night or have an end of season All Star Game.  There is not a bad time to have your baseball themed movie night.

Sports movies are often inspiring and make us believe in team work, buddies and the church of baseball.

How to start the night

Create a super slide show of your team or league, its load of fun and the little league-rs love to see themselves on the big screen!

Food

"Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jacks," but don't forget the hot dogs, popcorn, pretzels, ice-cream, nachos and of course, candy!  Ballpark food is sticky and wonderful and can be a great fundraiser.

Where to Host

Nothing beats watching a baseball film on the diamond, it adds to the thrill and can even seem mystical.  If you host it, they will come!

Lets play ball!

Cheers
Paul the Outdoor Movie Guy

Top Tips for Adding Video to your Crab Feed

Crab Feeds can be great community building fundraisers.

Use video at your next Crab feed to;

• Show a Power Point
• Sell sponsorship space
• Highlight upcoming events for your organization
• Recognize event sponsors
• Have fun with crab humor and video
• Project winning numbers of raffles

If you are also having an auction along with your crab feed check out my auction tips video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoPaDTZ5S_Y

Cheers
Paul the Outdoor Movie Guy

12 Top Tips for a Spring Movie Night

According to Phil the Groundhog, Spring is in the air!  The weather has been mild and it is a perfect time for a Movie Night!  Even if the weather doesn't cooperate, a movie night can still be fun!  Some tips for the "cooler" nights of spring:

1. Have your party guests bring sleeping bags, warm jackets and hoodies
2. Have a basket of blankets that guests can grab (personalized blankets make a great gift for corporate events)
3. Place a large tarp on the ground to help guests stay dry
4. Blow up air matressess for kids to lounge on
5. Have a fire-pit or outdoor heater to warm your hands by
6. Put up a pop-up tent for guests to sit under and stay dry
7. Have hand warmers on "hand" HeatMax Hot Hands 2 Handwarmer (40 Pairs)
8. Have a basket full of inexpensive knit gloves
9. Have a basket of scarves.  Fleece scarves can be easily made by purchasing some fleece and cutting it in strips (try movie or sports themed fleece)
10. Plan on warming "comfort foods."  A crock-pot full of Chili, soup or stew, gooey mac and cheese or a baked potato bar with all the fixings.    
11. Skip the ice cream and roast marshmallows 
12. Have plenty of hot chocolate available (and maybe a hot toddy for the adults!)

Cheers
Paul