A lot of preparation goes into hosting a successful movie event. There is promotion of the event, seating, food, and much more. Perhaps the most important preparation task is selecting the film. If you are hosting a family friendly event such as a movie night at a school or church, it is especially important to carefully consider the movie you will show.
You might assume that a movie by a company like Disney or Nickelodeon will be an appropriate choice, but there is no guarantee that it will be family friendly. You must know the content of the movie before deciding to show it on a big screen to a large crowd.
MPAA, or Motion Picture Association of America, ratings are basic movie guidelines that parents and other who plan to show a film to children can use to determine if the film is appropriate for the child or children. Currently the ratings fall into five categories: G (General Audiences), PG (Parental Guidance Suggested), PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned), R (Restricted), and NC-17 (No one under 17 admitted).
These movie ratings, while helpful as a starting point, do not have strict rules for ratings. Disney’s The Princess and the Frog, for example, carries a G rating, but features scary subjects like Voodoo, and frightening scenes. Choosing a G rated movie for a family oriented event is a good place to start, but you must watch the movie and carefully consider whether or not it is appropriate for your event’s audience.
Another issue with relying solely on MPAA ratings is older movies, since PG-13 ratings did not exist before the 1980’s. During this time, an overview of the ratings system dealt with concerns about overly violent and inappropriate content in PG films; this led to the introduction of the PG-13 rating. If you are planning to show a film with a PG rating that was produced prior to the introduction of the PG-13 rating, be aware that the film might not be appropriate for children. The Goonies, for example, carries a PG rating, but many would not consider this film to be appropriate for children today.
Besides watching the movie yourself, there are parent review websites available to help you research the content of a movie. These websites offer reviews and age recommendations for children’s movies, to help parents and others make more informed choices about the movies they show to children. Taking the time to explore one of these websites as you consider the movie for your family movie event will help you make a better choice.
Movie choice can make or break your outdoor movie event on a giant inflatable movie screen. Be sure to include getting to know the content of the films you are considering on your movie night planning list. Take the time to view the films you are considering, check the MPAA rating and what it means, and explore reviews from parent movie review sites before making a final decision. It is better to take your time getting to know the movie ahead of time, than to show an inappropriate film to a large, family crowd. Take the time to know the content of the movie /film you are showing, and enjoy a fun and successful family movie event under the stars.
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Southern Outdoor Cinema is the largest producer of PREMIUM outdoor movie events in the country. They are leading the industry with NEW & UNIQUE outdoor movie events. To begin planning your outdoor movie event contact Southern Outdoor Cinema at www.SouthernOutdoorCinema.com or visit their online photo gallery at www.facebook.com/SouthernOutdoorCinema for event ideas.
