When the movie theaters closed, in March 2020, I started looking for a way to share movies with family and friends online. After months of research and practice, I've discovered two platforms that allow folks to watch movies together online. I tried taking a poll on Facebook, to see how much interest there was, but got very little feedback. Yes, movie theaters have opened up, but I'm not having any luck finding someone to take me. (I don't have a car.) So, I have decided to just press forward. Read on, for details on how to join me.
I will create events on Facebook and Meetup, for movies I'll be watching. Even if I'm the only person watching, that's fine, because that's how I typically watch, anyway. The event listing will include everything you need to know to watch with me.
You will need to sign up for each platform, in order to join me. It does not cost anything to join either platform, and you will not get bombarded with emails from these platforms (at least, I don't, but I'm a premium member of both). (If you do, you can certainly unsubscribe, opt out, or change your preferences.)
The first platform is found at https://twoseven.xyz.
- The best browser for twoseven is Firefox. If 1-10 people are watching, webcam and mic are enabled for all participants. If that is the case, I will insist you use earbuds or headphones.
- When you sign up for twoseven, you will need to share your nickname with me, so that I can add you as a friend in twoseven.
- When I create an event using this platform, there are two ways to watch. If every participant is a subscriber to the streaming service I'm watching (choices are YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Amazon, HBO, and Vimeo), we will sync our watching. The event listing will indicate which streaming service will be used. If you join the event on Facebook or Meetup, you will need to indicate whether you subscribe, or are willing to subscribe, to the streaming service. If any participant does not subscribe to the streaming service, I will just share my screen.
- If we watch via sync, the only costs to you will be anything you pay to subscribe to a streaming service, and/or the cost to rent a movie on Amazon.
- Every participant will need to sign in or log on to the streaming service, prior to entering the room on twoseven.
- Once I have the room set up, I will invite friends to join me in my room. You will receive the invite as an email or a text, depending on how you signed up.
- Once everyone's in the room, I'll start the movie!
- The best browser for kast is Chrome. There is also an app for iOS and Android. Kast has the ability to chat, but chat is not viewable, in full screen. There isn't the option to share a webcam or talk, unless you ask the party administrator for permission to do so.
- When you sign up for kast, you can create a new account or use your google account, if you have one. You will need to share your account name with me, so that I can add you as a friend in kast.
- When you respond as "going" to an event created for kast, I will invite you to the watch party, once I've set it up.
- Once everyone's joined, I'll start the show!
