Movie/TV Party Planning Guide

By Penny Warner

Thanks to state-of-the-art TVs, pay-per-view, and DVDs, the Movie/TV Party has become a popular way of entertaining friends. It’s also an easy party to plan when you follow this simple how-to guide and use your choice of over 125 time-saving party theme packs from Oriental Trading Company.

Themes for Movie/TV Night
First, choose a theme for your Movie/TV Night Party, such as the Academy Awards®, the finale of “American Idol,” the World Series®, or a holiday favorite like, “A Christmas Story.” Then buy party theme packs to match, complete with invitations, decorations, tableware, balloons, confetti, and favors. Here are additional tips to make your movie night memorable.

Awards Show
Choose a Hollywood party theme pack for an Academy Awards® party. Cut out Oscar® shapes from gold paper to use as invitations. Include a list of the nominees and a ballot so guests can vote on the winners. Ask them to come dressed as a character from a nominated film.

Greet the guests with a red carpet entry, flanked by giant inflated Oscars®. Use a silver, gold, and black color scheme to decorate the party room, and hang balloons and stars from the ceiling. Set out director’s clipboards and plastic Oscars®. Hang up signs that read, “Opening Night,” “Admit One,” “Applause,” “Lights! Camera! Action!” Set the table with star candles and colorful champagne flutes.

Place bets on the nominees. Play a game of movie trivia. Act out memorable movie scenes for others to guess. Make a round Film Reel Cake to use as a centerpiece. Offer popcorn flavored with parmesan cheese or Mexican spices in popcorn bags. Serve champagne in colorful flutes. Set up a candy concession stand, filled with theater candy. Send the guests home with mini clipboard picture frames, star candles, classic videos, and candy.

Music Performance
Set the stage with a music party theme pack for the Country Western Music Awards or MTV© Awards. Send out invitations written on sheet music, and ask guests to come as a singer or performer. Include ballots to vote for winners.

Decorate the party room with sheet music placemats and musical notes hanging from the ceiling. Hang signs with song titles on the walls. Set out musical instruments, and offer guests maracas, kazoos, and hand clappers to play along with the show. Create a dance floor so the guests can dance.

Bet on the nominees, then have a dance contest. Play “Name That Tune.” Serve a cake centerpiece shaped like a musical note. Let the guests take home their maracas, kazoos, and hand clappers.

Sports Event
Get a sports party theme pack to match the event, such as the World Series®, NFL© playoffs, or Olympics©. Create your own invitation using mini-sports balls, baseball cards, or copies of the sports page. Ask guests to come in team colors.

Turn the party room into a sports arena with banners, posters, team colors, and sports equipment. Use programs for placemats and ball-shaped platters for serving food. Give the crowd trophy necklaces and medallions. Have several inflatable balls and kick balls to toss around at the party.

Quiz the fans on sports trivia. Play ball outside at halftime. Serve a cake shaped like a ball. Offer bowls of peanuts, and serve chili and corn bread or hot dogs. Dress like a vendor to serve the food. Send the fans home with pennants, kick balls, and other sports related items.

Video Night
Pick out a favorite video, then match it to a party theme pack, such as a pirate theme for “Pirates of the Caribbean” or a romantic theme for “Casablanca.” Write party details on large theater tickets or popcorn bags. Ask guests to come dressed as a character from the video.

Create a backdrop for your party, keeping in mind the theme. Write down quotes from the movies and post them on the walls. Hang movie posters, and use movie star pictures as placemats. Set up a candy & popcorn counter.

Quiz the guests at the end of the film. Play Movie Title Charades. Play Star trivia with tidbits of gossip from the tabloids. Make a cake centerpiece in keeping with the theme. Serve candy and popcorn. Then send the guests home with videos, flavored popcorn, or movie memorabilia.