When it came to movie screening location for a Critics’ Choice Award-winning surf documentary, NewportFILM set the scene right on the water with the upscale beach vibe that only Newport Beach House event venue could provide in Rhode Island.
At a Glance
- Pristine private beach – perfect for outdoor corporate events
- A highly anticipated summer night
- Strong community partnerships
Newport, Rhode Island, has long been a place where the upscale downtown meets a laid-back surf scene. So when it came to hosting 2017’s Critics’ Choice Award-winning documentary, Take Every Wave: The Life of Laird Hamilton, the staff for the ongoing, annual NewportFILM series knew there was no question it had to be at a beach. But this beach venue had to check off a lot of boxes: unmatched views, room for the community, and elements that allowed the laid-back surf vibe to feel at home. Enter Newport Beach House, offering a vast shoreline to accommodate the many guests, blankets, chairs, and of course, the massive screen that was visible from all angles. Along with a spacious shore, the parking lot was filled with several local food trucks for a lighted dining area without interfering with traffic. Guests enjoyed the laid-back vibes and delicious bites, watching Laird catch some tasty waves in front of a gorgeous Rhode Island sunset.
The Big Little Things
Beach Cleanup
To ensure the beach behind the screen was truly flawless, the team at Newport Beach House scoured the beach for any sign of washed-up litter prior to the large event. It wasn’t just the shore that got a spruce-up, though. The staff did a full beach cleanup for as far as the eye could see in either direction – so when it came time for guests to start setting up, it looked as though they were the first to ever step foot on that sand.
Instagram-worthy Setting
The massive screen, pristine beach, and melting sunset made for some seriously Instagrammable moments – and not just from the guests. One of the many perks of this corporate event venue is its location right off 138A, the scenic two-lane highway that runs over the causeway connecting Newport to Middletown. Anyone traveling in or out of Newport would see the crowd and the giant inflatable screen, and between the commuters and the social shares, more eyes were on NewportFILM this night than ever before, making this screening the most successful out of the whole series.
A Hint of Light
It’s not always easy to pull off an outdoor movie viewing, where lighting and weather aren’t controllable. When light interferes with a projection, dark colors in the image lighten and make it difficult to discern shapes to the point where the image is almost lost. To prevent this, the staff at Newport Beach House creatively lit pathways on the ground, keeping the film crystal clear while still giving guests light to move around safely.
Help from our (Local) Friends
Community Host + Partner | Newport Film
Photography | Jennifer Manville | Newport, RI
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