Video Projection
Most people these days have absorbed some technical knowledge, either through home computer installation and use, or from fighting with the home stereo and video system. Today, most Canadian homes have at least two television systems and often more than one computer. It is therefore highly likely that you have more technical knowledge and ability than you imagine.
Identifying the right equipment
Most entertainment systems consist of a standard set of components. Again this is good news. Your home system and the system you will need to acquire, rent or borrow for showing video formats will have some similar and familiar components. To show a movie you will need a playback system such as a VCR or DVD player and a projection system - in your home this is the TV but in a theatre you will want to use a projector and screen to present the largest image possible. Then just add a sound system and a pile of cables and you're all set. Sound simple? That's because it is.
The Playback system
The signal starts with your playback system; this is the source of your image. Each video format requires its own type of deck (player). You have a number of options; Beta SP player, digital video player, Sony DV-CAM or mini-DV player. VHS/SVHS and DVD players are the most common; mini-DV can also be screened by connecting the camera directly to the projector.
Beta SP and digital video offer a higher quality professional standard playback image than VHS but they require professional equipment, which is hard to find outside of major urban areas and come with a fairly high rental price tag. The most commonly available formats are VHS/SVHS and DVD, none of which are intended for large scale projection, (i.e. screens larger than 12' wide) but can work effectively for smaller set-ups. Conveniently these playback decks are also the ones most commonly used in home systems, so if you are working on a shoestring you, or your friends, may already have what you need. If not, you should be able to borrow what you need easily. If borrowing is not an option, a few video stores still rent players fairly inexpensively.
Playback Decks, Broadcast Standards and Region Coding:
Most consumer quality tape and DVD decks play only NTSC Broadcast Standard/North American Region 1 Access Code (go to Broadcast Standards and Region Codes). If you intend to show foreign films this could be an issue for you. For tapes, consider getting a multi-format deck that plays the world's other two broadcast standards, PAL and SECAM, as well as the standard North American NTSC. For DVDs, look for an all-region deck or one that has had the regional coding chip removed and can play films from all regions. All-region DVD players are available at the retail level, so someone can either rent you one or, if they are sympathetic to your program, loan you their own all-region deck.
Although the playback deck is probably the easiest component in your system to acquire it is still important to search for the highest quality deck available. If you are going to purchase a system try to find a deck that is as versatile in format as possible, for instance if you purchase a VCR try to buy one that plays SVHS and VHS tape formats as well as all three international standards - PAL, SECAM and NTSC. In the case of a DVD deck, try to buy one that supports all-region access coding.
