Party Hero

Big Screen Hire

Pro
Pricing: From $1,000Category: AV HireLocation: Sydney-wide

4.9 stars from 87 Google reviews

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Highlights

  • Giant inflatable movie screens set up in backyards, parks and car parks
  • Outdoor cinema events from around $1,000, with crew, sound and projection
  • Daytime LED screens for events that cannot wait for sunset

About Big Screen Hire

Big Screen Hire runs outdoor cinema and big screen events out of Stanmore in Sydney's inner west. The core of it is a giant inflatable screen, a high-output digital projector and concert-grade sound, which the crew brings to a site, sets up, runs and packs down again. About 40 per cent of the outdoor cinema nights they do are school events, and the rest spans community movie nights, council carols, sporting telecasts, festivals, drive-ins, dive-in movies by the pool and backyard parties at home. Three formats cover most jobs. The inflatable screen package is the classic movie night: screen, digital projector, power, an FM transmitter if you want a drive-in, an audio mixer or PA system, and between one and four event production staff on site, with set-up and removal included. Daytime LED screens do the same job in full sun for a festival or a live game, with LED walls, rear projection and LED display options behind them. The backyard package is a scaled-down kit designed to be easy to move, set up and take down yourself, taking a feed from Netflix, a DVD player or a PlayStation, and it comes with travel cases and an instructional video. Bean bags can be hired alongside any of it, in colours or in cream to suit weddings. Set-up normally starts about three hours before the first frame, and anything under two hours is difficult. The screens go up almost anywhere with room for the audience, from car parks and parks to beaches, a barge or a rooftop. Standard 240 volt power is enough, with generators used where there is no supply nearby. Projectors can also be dry hired if you have your own crew.

Inclusions & amenities

Service

AV HireEvent Furniture Hire

Budget

$$$ (Higher)

Pricing

Big Screen Hire says an outdoor cinema event typically starts around $1,000, not including film licensing, and can go higher than $6,000 for large events. The price tracks audience size, because a bigger crowd calls for a bigger screen and higher quality equipment. The company says it tries to work within each client's budget, especially where the event is raising funds for a cause. If you charge admission, film distributors take between 40 and 70 per cent of the ticket price up to a set amount, and those charges vary with audience size and the film selected.

Equipment & Service Details

A standard outdoor cinema hire includes one inflatable movie screen, a digital projector, a power source, an FM transmitter where a drive-in set-up is wanted, an audio mixer or PA system, and between one and four event production staff, with set-up and removal of all equipment included. Projectors range from 1,000 lumens for small indoor presentations to 15,000 lumen units for the largest inflatable screens, drawn from Sanyo, Hitachi, Sony and Eiki, with audio mostly JBL, Mackie and KV. Projectors can be dry hired, or installed, tested and removed for you. Backyard packages include the inflatable screen sized to your audience, an HD projector, speakers, audio and video cables and travel cases, and accept a feed from Netflix, a DVD player or a console. Crew normally arrive about three hours before the event. Screens are secured with four foot stakes driven into the ground, or where that is not permitted, to street posts or a building, or with water ballast. Standard 240 volt power is enough, and generators are used where there is no supply nearby. The owner of the land needs to carry insurance; Big Screen Hire carries its own. Bean bags are available for hire alongside the screen, in a range of colours and in cream to suit weddings.

Frequently asked questions

What do you bring to an outdoor movie night?

A standard hire includes one inflatable movie screen, a digital projector, a power source, an FM transmitter where a drive-in set-up is wanted, an audio mixer or PA system, and between one and four event production staff. Set-up and removal of all equipment is part of the hire. Backyard packages add speakers, audio and video cables and travel cases.

What does it cost to hire a big screen?

Big Screen Hire says an outdoor cinema event typically starts around $1,000, not including film licensing, and can run past $6,000 for larger events. Cost tracks the audience, because a bigger crowd needs a bigger screen and more capable equipment. The company says it tries to work within each client's budget, particularly for fundraising events.

Which areas do you cover?

All of Sydney, with location pages for the CBD, inner west, eastern suburbs, western and south western Sydney, St George, the Sutherland Shire, the Hills District, the upper and lower north shore, the northern beaches and the northern suburbs. Beyond the city the crew travels to the Illawarra, the Blue Mountains and central west, Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens, Maitland and Cessnock.

What happens if it rains?

Big Screen Hire recommends having a backup indoor venue, though it accepts that is not always possible. You can cancel the event at no charge as long as you tell the company by 10am on the day and reschedule to another date. After 10am on the day of the event the full cost is charged.

How long does set-up take, and where can you set up?

The crew likes to arrive about three hours before the event starts, and under two hours is difficult. Screens can go up in car parks, parks, beaches, on a barge or even a rooftop, as long as there is room for the screen, equipment and audience and the area is safe. As a rule of thumb, allow about 90 to 100 metres of length and 30 to 50 metres of width.

Areas we service

Eastern SuburbsInner WestNorth ShoreNorthern BeachesHills DistrictWestern SydneySouth West SydneySouthern SydneySutherland ShireMacarthurHawkesburySydney CBD & Surrounds

Suitable occasions

DEPS P&C

DEPS P&C

3 months ago

We recently hired a big screen for our annual "Movie Night Under the Stars" at our primary school, and the experience was fantastic from start to finish. The team was professional, friendly, and incredibly easy to work…

Events Warrawee PS P&C

Events Warrawee PS P&C

4 months ago

We had another fantastic experience with Big Screen Hire for the Warrawee Public School Movie Night. Communication was clear and easy from start to finish, and the customer service was excellent throughout the whole proc…

Carlie Hill

Carlie Hill

4 months ago

We hired a screen from Big Screen hire for our preschool fundraiser last weekend and I can't speak highly enough of Sean, Eliza and the team at Big Screen Hire. They were easy to work with, no question was too big or sma…

Adriana Pielak

Adriana Pielak

7 months ago

We have been using Big Screen Hire for over 10 years for all of our community outdoor cinema events, and they have been nothing short of exceptional. Their team is incredibly reliable, professional, and always goes above…

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