Turn a Pumpkin Into a Photo or Video Projector

Neat DIY project alert...

The Pumpkin Drive-In below was created by CFC Media Lab. The team assembled the piece as part of a Halloween pumpkin carving competition at the MaRS Discovery District in Toronto, Ontario. 

They won the competition, and the director of the CFC Media Lab, Ana Serrano, decided she had to display the Pumpkin Drive-In again, this time in front of her house on the evening of Halloween. It was an absolute hit, all the kids in the neighborhood were instantly drawn to it!

The Pumpkin Drive-In is comprised of several parts: the pumpkin theatre screen, the concession pumpkin, the ticket distribution pumpkin, and the toy cars and scenery. Each of the pumpkins are simple enough to carve out and place the appropriate props within or around it as shown. 

The pumpkin theatre is simply a pumpkin with the insides scooped out, and a large window cut out of the front and the back of the pumpkin. The screen is made of wax paper which lines the inside of the front window. A mini projector sits behind the rear of the pumpkin and projects an image (or film) onto the wax paper. 

the screen

Being that the F in CFC is film, we thought it appropriate to project an iconic Halloween film. You can however, choose to project your own film, photo slideshow, or still image instead. This is a great idea to project some fun ghoulish photography during a party or event (like even an exhibition maybe?).

the concession pumpkin

pumpkin showing the mini projector behind it

a shot from the back

About CFC Media Lab: Created in 1997, CFC Media Lab provides a unique training, research and production think-tank environment for emerging new media content developers, practitioners and companies. An internationally acclaimed and award-winning facility, graduates of CFC Media Lab emerge as leaders in the world of interactive media, produce innovative projects and start up 21st Century companies. 

CFC Media Lab has graduated more than 200 professionals through its various programs and services including TELUS Interactive Art & Entertainment Program (IAEP), Interactive Project Lab (IPL), Interactive Narrative Feature Program (INFP), and NBC Universal Multiplatform Matchmaking Program (MMP). Over 100 interactive new media content products have been developed and delivered in a variety of platforms.

Media Lab productions include the ground-breaking interactive film, Late Fragment, and the dynamic mobile visualization project of WHAT’S YOUR ESSENTIAL CINEMA? co-produced by CFC Media Lab and TIFF. CFC Media Lab is a leader in building collaborative environments that sustain creative transformation. 

Find CFC Media Lab at: http://cfcmedialab.com

And The Canadian Film Centre (CFC) at: http://cfccreates.com