Big screen heaven
New screen, audio system set to rock Arviat presentations
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, January 28, 2015
ARVIAT
Movie, video and drama presentations will now be reaching a whole level of clarity at John Arnalukjuak High School in Arviat.
Shop teacher Mike Emerson proudly displays the new viewing screen at John Arnalukjuak High School in Arviat on Jan. 21, 2015. - photo courtesy of Gord Billard |
The school has installed a brand new viewing screen, measuring 18 feet by 13 feet.
Drama teacher and play director Gord Billard said the screen will be used for multiple purposes.
He said, in the past, films screened on movie night and video presentations made in the theatre were hindered by a very small screen.
"We'll be able to move the projector way back with this new screen, and we also have a wicked sound system with brand-new speakers," said Billard.
"So, we're going to be able to show a pretty decent movie here from now on."
Kimberley Dymond's aulajaaqtut classes hold movie nights every second Tuesday evening as a, sort of, group-building activity.
The movie night is open to the community, and is either free of charge or has a nominal admission fee on nights a class is fundraising.
Dymond said the movie nights are mainly to allow the aulajaaqtut students to accumulate their volunteer hours, but now they also give people in the community a chance to get out of their house and view a movie with great picture and sound.
She said the giant screen has definitely caused some excitement among students at the school.
"This was something we really needed because we hold assemblies at least one a month, during which there's often videos played, so it's quite useful to have a large screen," said Dymond.
"We were just using a big white sheet hung from the stage before this, so the picture wasn't the best.
"The kids are pretty excited about having an actual big screen that's dark enough to be able to show a movie or video no matter what time of the day it's shown at."
Dymond said the new sound system also makes an incredible difference with the quality of any presentation.
She said the improved audio will mean a great improvement in everything from movie soundtracks to live plays being performed.
"We also have new microphones hung from the ceiling, so the kids can be clearly heard all the way to the back of the blue steps.
"All our school activities should be that much more entertaining now."
