Silver Screen? Supersize It!

  • By Denice Rovira Hazlett
  • October 5, 2011
  • 284
                        
Summary: As part of this year's Boo at the 'Burg festivities, Historic Downtown Millersburg will bring the magic of the big screen to Holmes County with a new novelty that promise to make Hollywood's stars larger than life. Story: Don't be surprised if you're driving through downtown Millersburg on a cool, beautiful October afternoon and you catch a glimpse of an enormous trio of unusual yet familiar characters skipping along a yellow brick road, accompanied by a choir of munchkins. Really. It's all part of the show. On Saturday, Oct. 29, Historic Downtown Millersburg (HDM) will proudly unveil an exciting acquisition, the Holmes County Prevention Coalition's (HCPC) new 16' x 9' inflatable big screen projection system, a very, very large television screen that will no doubt become a familiar site downtown. HDM will show the classic film, The Wizard of Oz, as part of the festivities during downtown's upcoming family-friendly event, Boo in the 'Burg. Tara McCulloch, HDM's promotions and events director, said the system, which was purchased by HCPC, is really something to behold. "I would liken it to a bounce house," said McCulloch. "It looks like a gigantic flatscreen TV. The sound system is phenomenal." The state-of-the art, top-quality equipment and system projects both Blu-ray and standard DVDs, making use of two players simultaneously. That way, if one fails, the other will continue performing. McCulloch said the size of the system is very impressive. "It's one of those things that people see and just say 'wow.' It really is huge." HCPC director Midge Roberts shared that the main purpose of purchasing the giant movie screen was to provide activities with positive messages for youth here in Holmes County while saving them from traveling elsewhere for entertainment and events. "The inspiration was HDM and our collaboration with them during the July festivals." said Roberts. "They suggested it as something that would be helpful to families in Holmes County." While the system was purchased by the HCPC, the schedule for the system will be maintained by HDM, who will make the screen and sound equipment available to rent to organizations and individuals. According to McCulloch, similar systems can be rented for well over $1,000, but HCPC's system will cost just a fraction of that. "We're still working out the details, but we're excited to offer its use to different communities, outdoor festivals, businesses and families for reunions, weddings and other events." McCulloch said that high schools, church groups, and even those who would like to show the big game on a bigger screen could make use of the equipment, which comes with someone who knows how to run it. As for how HDM will use the giant screen, they're finding that the possibilities are virtually endless. "We would like to show movies free to the public on the second Saturday of each month, May through September," said McCulloch. "We'll have popcorn and food vendors, ask people to bring a lawn chair or a blanket, and take a walk downtown to see a movie." HCPC also hopes to host video contests, such as short films on making good decisions and other issues that interest young people in Holmes County. Gaming competitions are another possibility. Setup for the screen will take place in the corner of the courthouse lawn in front of the old jail. Roberts said you really have to see the thing to believe it. "It's really overwhelming when you stand by it," said Roberts. "The frame is about 25' wide. It has the capacity to seat 250 people in front of it." HDM has already done some practice runs and plans on doing more before Boo in the 'Burg. Though everyone is excited about surrounding the screen with a Wizard of Oz theme (McCulloch will be dressed as the Wicked Witch of the West, and there's talk of a cowardly lion and a scarecrow, too), no one wants to reenact the hot air balloon scene near the end, where the mayor of Oz goes floating above the city untethered. "We want to make sure everything goes just the way it's supposed to," said McCulloch. For more information about the screen and Boo in the 'Burg, contact HDM's Tara McCulloch at 330-674-3955.


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