Making a Movie Screen

ragabashpup · Post by **ragabashpup** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 9:36 pm

Has anyone on here made a movie screen for a decent price? This isnt for BRC but I know everyone here is really brilliant and creative.

It would be indoors and hanging. I just would like to know what the best inexpensive material is and also if it would be best to frame it and hang it or to drape it.

Any help you guys could give me would be great.

janicels · Post by **janicels** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 7:58 am

yes i would a paint clothe like the ones u can get in homedepot

Token · Post by **Token** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 8:11 am

You ask a very vague question so I cover the basics...

What we need is desired size, screen aspect ratio, how much light in the room, desired screen gain if any, what is the video source, how far is the audience ...

... but even without that, you can get basic pull-down screens from Dalite or similar for less than $100.

The more fancy requirements you add, the more $$ it costs. So a ceiling recessed motorized tensioned screen with high gain silver screen may cost you $1000.

There are many great ways to make your own using various methods.

You can use blackout drapes, the thick white cheap fabric on the back side of curtains, to good effect in crafting your own screen.

You can paint the screen directly on the wall. There are detailed instructions on the prep, layers of paint and custom formulas at various DIY sites.

You can go to the art store and stretch canvas on a frame like so many starving painter artists do, then use that to paint a screen on.

Much fun.

ragabashpup · Post by **ragabashpup** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 9:50 am

Sorry I wasnt even sure of the questions to ask. Someone wanted me to check into it. What we are looking for is a 10'x10' screen maybe a bit larger. It is warehouse style florescent lighting that we have here.

Not sure about the screen gain. We will be using an infocus model #w240 projector. Projecting from either a DVD player or a laptop.

The audience will vary in distance away. This is a permanent (changing) art installation on a wall that we are trying to accomplish.

StevenGoodman · Post by **StevenGoodman** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 1:54 pm

The screen we use for Dance Dance Immolation is just made from 2x4s and plywood painted flat white. Works fine, and holds up on the playa!

Actually found a picture of it during the day!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rubin110/238683904/

Martini Steve

BitterDan · Post by **BitterDan** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 4:52 pm

Why does the screen seem so much bigger on the playa?

StevenGoodman · Post by **StevenGoodman** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 7:34 pm

When you stand the DDI screen up on edge it looks MUCH bigger than when it is laying on the ground. It is about 11 feet tall (and 12 feet wide).

Also, at night, when we run DDI it is dark, and therefore no perspective of scale.

ragabashpup · Post by **ragabashpup** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 9:50 pm

I think DDI was one of the greatest things I saw in 06. I may actually participate this year.

BitterDan · Post by **BitterDan** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 10:07 am

The closest I will get to participating in DDI is watching from the fenceline. First of all, i have 2 left feet and secondly, I want to keep my eyebrows.

Token · Post by **Token** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 4:59 pm

ragabashpup wrote:Sorry I wasnt even sure of the questions to ask. Someone wanted me to check into it. What we are looking for is a 10'x10' screen maybe a bit larger. It is warehouse style florescent lighting that we have here.

Not sure about the screen gain. We will be using an infocus model #w240 projector. Projecting from either a DVD player or a laptop.

The audience will vary in distance away. This is a permanent (changing) art installation on a wall that we are trying to accomplish.

OK, for an art project this is doable. For watching movies, this will be very washed out and dim. In order for this to work you will have to control the lights somehow to see anything.

The projector is a low resolution business unit, 800x600; 2000 lumen.

I would simply prep the wall, make it smooth by applying spackle and sanding where needed to fill holes or tape over seems. paint the following:

Undercoat: Behr ultra pure white with 2 Oz of pearlizing.
Topcoat: Behr premium plus ultra exterior in Satin Enamle style, UPW.

This should yield a good gain, maybee 1.5 to 2 which should help with the size of the image.

Most Home Depot stores have these paints. They are pricey.

It also helps to paint in a flat black border at the picture edge since that enhances the perception of contrast.

When prepping and painting, elbow grease goes a long way in terms of bang for your buck.

ragabashpup · Post by **ragabashpup** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 5:15 pm

Thanks so much for the info. I will let them know.