Ever considered the possibility of setting up your own big screen in nature?
By Clare Tinsley.
What is there not to love about camping? The fresh whip of air that hits your face as you open your tent to a glorious new day. That panoramic view of natural beauty, with varying degrees of greenery and the newly formed dew gently cleansing away all of life’s stresses. You cannot beat the feeling of utter freedom from the huge expanse of space before you from being amongst nature. Pure bliss, enriching the soul. Well, that is until the kids wake up.
Then chaos descends. They waste no time in starting the bickering. Moaning and whining about the limited options available for breakfast. Fighting with each other because they have suddenly been thrust into a bedroom far smaller than the grandeur they are accustomed to at home, and one has had their feet in the other ones face all night. Oh, the absolute joys! Any attempt at living your earthy outdoor woman dreams have been thwarted.
All you wanted to do was to create special memories and moments together. It is really hard work. It’s enough to make you want to pack up and leave. But then…just when you are about to abandon all hope…there’s a glimmer of everything you hoped this camping trip would be. The kids settle together for a moment of quiet. Comfortable in each others company, relaxed, peaceful.
You need to get ready for the day of adventure ahead, but you daren’t move in case you remind them they were enemies a short time ago. You hold your breath, unsure how long the ceasefire is going to last. A few moments more pass and you let out a deep breath. And bang! They start arguing over what to watch. In that instant the moment is gone. But, you saw it. You felt it, and you want more. That window of euphoria, no matter how fleeting, is what you are doing it for. It’s moments like those that makes the whole trip worthwhile.
As Clare Tinsley sat in her kitchen, hovering over her search for the best outdoor travel destinations, she started to reflect on these such moments. How can I get that throughout the trip? What would bring the family together, for this rare opportunity of spending time together, enjoyable? Perhaps some great outdoor activities would do the trick? That covers the daytime, but what about the evening?
As a mum of 3, these questions were challenging within themselves. How do you find something we can do together when you have different age groups and interests to accommodate for? It’s almost impossible.
It suddenly dawned on her, like an apple falling from a tree, attempting to cause concussion. We all love films. Whilst there can be some heated debates about what to watch, we love the cinema. The big screen, lighting up your face as you frantically soak in the intricate details of the scene.
The booming sound that vibrates through you and makes you feel like you are right there with the characters. The stories you’re told and the emotions your heart connects with. We love everything about what the cinema brings, the conversations it inspires as we discuss what we’ve just witnessed. It is just magical.
That’s it, Clare thought. That would be the perfect way to relax in the evenings. So, she did what most do and jumped onto Google. She spent hours sifting through the search results, collecting all of the bits she needed to get that cinema experience whilst off grid. As she flicked through the numerous items in her basket, she thought to herself ‘there must be a better way?’. As women who camp, you can appreciate that a family of 5 has a lot of stuff and it is usually up to us to make the lists to remember everything.
Clare then panicked. Where were all these items going to go? Am I going to remember all the ‘bits’, because once they were out of the postal packaging it would be a free for all? As well as all that, the equipment itself was either super complex or needed mains electricity to work. She quickly realised there wasn’t a grab and go solution. She needed something that came in one kit and was totally plug and play, no hassle.
That is when she realised, she needed to come up with the solution herself. And so, Suitcase Cinema was born. She set about researching what was needed to get as close to a cinema experience as possible. Quickly Clare realised this wasn’t an affordable way of making the kits. So, Clare set out to find a partner to help source the equivalent quality products direct from a factory. That is when she found Ketchup Communications to work with developing the kits.
After some months, it has now launched and is available for pre orders. The kit includes a 100” pop-up screen, made from quality fabric with a metal easy to assemble frame. Depending on where you are setting up there are securing ropes and water weights for added stability (if needed). No more crowding round a tiny iPad, fighting over the best view.
The projector is battery powered, with up to 2 hours of screen time. It is full HD, LED, DLP and is auto-focusing and levelling to give a perfect picture no matter where you are. There is a tripod too, should you need to fix it at an angle because there isn’t quite enough room to spread out too much. Whilst the projector has it’s own built in speaker, if you want to recreate that booming sound you get at the movies, there is a Bluetooth speaker thrown in. This has up to 12 hours of battery life.
Fancy watching a box set or the trilogy of Lord of the Rings? You absolutely can. There is a 100W power bank that will give you another 8 hours of screen time. It is also handy to charge anything else you need as it has USB A and C outputs, which we all know you cannot get enough of when camping.
Not only is there a remote control for easy scrolling, but it has a built-in keyboard to make entering any account details on your favourite streaming service, easy. When it comes to choosing what to watch there are so many options for you. The projector is preloaded with Netflix and Google Play, so you can download your favourite apps to stream through Wifi.
Totally off grid? You can still enjoy Suitcase Cinema when you want to get away from it all. There is a 32GB USB stick that is included in the kits, which you can download your movie or show to. All of this comes in one, compact, durable and waterproof case. You don’t need to remember a thousand different bits, just chuck it in the trunk and go.
Something Clare is passionate about, outside of camping, is film. She didn’t just want to create Suitcase Cinema as something for her family to do, she wanted it to bring the magic of the movies to everyone. No matter their circumstance. To achieve that, Clare will be donating kits to non-profit organisations, who work with communities that wouldn’t otherwise get the chance to experience the excitement of the big screen.
To find out more and pre-order yours, you can visit www.suitcasecinema.com.
Setting up a big screen in nature – what are your thoughts?
This is a new and innovative idea, especially at night near your tent, cabin, caravan or RV. Let us know your impressions via the comments below.
Clare Tinsley
Clare is a Visual Effects Producer, working in TV and film. As a huge fan of camping and with 3 children, Clare understands the magic of nature and the importance of fun activities to bring the family together during trips.
I absolutely love this idea of doing this for a movie night. I will definitely have to try this out soon for myself with my family and friends.
Thanks Jasmine. You can pre order yours via our website http://www.suitcasecinema.com and it will be with you just in time for the holidays.
Cinema suitcase is a great idea to enjoy movies outdoors. It’s a wonderful way to bring the family together and it can be carried anywhere. I loved the way you introduced the discovery. It reminds me of drive in theatre.
Thanks Puloma. I’m so glad you can see the value in the idea. You can pre order yours at http://www.suitcasecinema.com and you will get it just in time for the holidays.
I would never have thought of doing this, but if it’s not too hard to set up, I don’t see why not
I’m not the most technical, so when I set off on bringing my idea to life one thing it HAD to be was simple. The cables are colour coded, so you know what needs to go where. Just grab, click and go.
Yes too easy and in an all-in-one kit!! This is such a fun idea.
Thanks Rosey, so pleased you like it. You can pre orders yours now at http://www.suitcasecinema.com and you will get it just in time for the holidays.
This is SUCH a great idea!
Thanks Rachel. We want families to be able to enjoy their time together. You can pre order yours at http://www.suitcasecinema.com and you will get it just in time for the holidays.
I love watching movies on the big screen outside. It somehow feels very special and I love it even more. It doesn’t even have to be a good movie to enjoy it.
We feel the same Lyosha. It is about bringing VIP quality to experiences, and it doesn’t even have to be a movie. It could be your latest binge watch from Netflix or a big game you thought you might have to miss.
This is a great idea to use while camping and am sure will keep the kids entertained. I love watching movies outside on the big screen so why not do it while camping. Am sure it would also be a great way to get to know your neighbours on a campsite by providing movie night for all. Love it.
Absolutely Clare, you could share the experience with friends you make on the campsite OR if you didn’t think it was their thing, you could connect headphones to enjoy a silent movie. It is compatible with that, so you don’t disturb others with the awesome surround sound.
That is a great idea! We never had anything like this when my kids were growing up.
Neither did I, but I wish I had.
Love this so much and I absolutely love camping. It’s a great time with the family and it is just good for you to be out in the great outdoors… without your tech gadgets and such 😉
We do too Melissa. There is definitely a time and a place for tech, but it can be a great way to break up the trip if needed. We are all about shared experiences and making memories with loved ones.
I do like the idea of outdoor movies and have done it in the city. But I never thought of this as a great family activity if away camping. How great to find a complete kit to take the challenge out of finding everything to create an outdoor cinema experience. Then I would only have to worry about finding the movie snacks.
That was what we were aiming for Linda. When I searched for something suitable, there just wasn’t anything already available. It was all too complicated, would need a trailer to take it all or had to have mains electricity. I wanted something that would work off grid.
It is a great idea for movie night in the summer. This is something I have to try.
Thanks Laura, we are glad you like it. You can pre order yours via http://www.suitcasecinema.com and you will get it just in time for the holidays.
This is great stuff for summer camping with family and friends. Children like to sleep late and want to watch something after spending all day in nature. I think an adult-only camp trip will enjoy this Suitcase Cinema, too. I’m sure there’s a room in their RV/trailer for it.
It’s a great what to wind down after a busy day exploring and we agree, it would be perfect for adult only trips too. We have designed it to be as compact as possible and the case is waterproof, perfect for storing in any conditions.
What a fun way to enjoy the outdoors. This is such a great summer tradition to start. I would love to do an outdoor movie night!
Thanks Marysa. You can pre order yours at http://www.suitcasecinema.com and it will be with you just in time for the holidays.
I love this idea!! How fun would it be to watch a creepy or suspenseful movie while camping?! Although, I don’t know how much sleep I’d get, ha. I never thought about this before, but HOW FUN!
Thanks Jennifer. That would be great to do with friends, you can then take it in turns to stay awake to keep watch.
Suitcase Cinema sounds like a great idea. It’s a good way to get outdoors and to enjoy culture at the same time. I’m sold!
Thanks Lisa. You can pre order yours via http://www.suitcasecinema.com and it will be with you in time for the holidays.
Sounds like a great idea for different types of gatherings and not just camping especially for after eating and other fun activities but this would be the highlight for a movie / video experience to enjoy. I like the idea especially if you have room to carry it.
Thanks Noel. We agree, it doesn’t have to just be kept for camping. You could use it at home to show a festival, like Cochella, to enjoy with friends or host a Super Bowl party. There are so many different ways to enjoy it.
Oh my gosh this is such a fun idea! This makes me want to do it with my family! Or maybe I could even set it up in our local park for my boys and their friends!
You definitely could Chloe. You can pre order yours now at http://www.suitcasecinema.com and you will get it just in time for the holidays.
I love the idea of outdoor movie nights. However I feel it is nothing you should attempt on camp sites or in the nature, as it might disturb neighbors and/ or animals. It think you own garden or backyard would be perfect.
Thanks Natascha, but there is no need to worry. The kits are compatible with headphones, so you can enjoy the movie without disturbing others.
This is such a great idea, especially when you camp in a remote place. I like that the projector has an autonomy of two hours, that is plenty to watch a movie and have the children sleep by the end of it. It’s also great that the projector comes loaded with Netflix, that is fantastic for when you don’t have signal and can download the movies in advance.
Thanks Joanna. We wanted to make sure there was plenty of juice to allow you to watch whatever you wanted. The powerbank that is included is also useful for charging or powering other things you might use during camping. If you are really off grid, there is a USB included, so you have more than enough options to pre-download your movie or show of choice.
I think it would a blast! I loved camping with my family when I was younger, and an outdoor big screen would have been fabulous!
Thank you Kelly. You can pre order yours now via http://www.suitcasecinema.com and you will get it just in time for the holidays.
I like the idea, especially if it gets everyone in the family to settle down and stop fighting. But on the other hand, a visit to a natural space should be devoid of electronic distractions, when possible.
Thank you Bryan. We understand our kits won’t be for everyone, but it would allow you the choice, should you find yourself needing an activity to wind down after a long day exploring. There are also uses for it outside of camping, such as movie nights at home with friends or hosting a boys night watching the Super Bowl.
we have done some outdoor movies at friends houses and its so fun!
Thanks Neely, we agree they are so much fun and have so many different uses. You can pre order yours at http://www.suitcasecinema.com and it would arrive just in time for the holidays.
Hhhhmmm…I like the idea! Besides, I would love to use such a projector myself.
Thanks Ntensibe. The projector is high quality, you can find out all of the technical details on our website at http://www.suitcasecinema.com if you wanted to find out more.
This is so cool and it’s a big new change but two hours is short unless it’s for short stuff.
We agree Frank, two hours isn’t long enough these days. That is why we include a powerbank that has enough charge for 8 hours of screen time. The projector is battery operated with up to 2 hours of screen time, so combined you can get up to 10 hours of screen time.
What a lovely idea! This is the perfect way to spend the coming fall weekend evenings. Can’t wait to watch movies under the stars with my kids! <3
Thanks Beth. You can pre order yours now via http://www.suitcasecinema.com and it will arrive just in time for the holidays.
That’s such a fun idea. Things like this are so special. Family time like this is what we all remember for our entire lives.
We agree Leanne. Memories are made through what we feel, and time together sharing and enjoying experiences are how they last a lifetime.
That is so fun! I love the idea of an outdoor movie night. I have to get this for our family.
Thanks Beth. You can pre order yours via http://www.suitcasecinema.com and it will arrive just in time for the holidays.