If you haven’t done this already, you gotta try it! The North Carolina Museum of Art offers a summer film series at their outdoor theater on the lawn. You can spread out your blanket or unfold your beach chairs, nosh on goodies and drinks that you bring yourself or purchase at the museum, and enjoy a movie under the stars with family and friends for only $3 per person.

Film selections vary from children’s films to adult contemporary movies or classics.

Robert Altman’s acclaimed satire on the Hollywood movie business, “The Player” (R), is showing at sundown on Friday August 17th. The film is packed with movie references and Hollywood insider jokes. It is said that 60 cameo appearances are made by movie stars, but I didn’t count them.  If you’ve seen the film before, you could make it more interesting by playing a new game I made up called “Find the Players.”  It’s simple. At the end of the night you compare your list with your friends’ lists to see who identified the most cameo appearances by celebrities during this flick that critiques the industry that made them rich and famous. Another twist could be to identify movie references. He with the most wins. You decide if there is a prize, or simply bragging rights.

Future films being shown at the museum include “A Prairie Home Companion” (PG-13, August 18), the James Bond classic “Dr. No” (PG, August 24), and “Casino Royale” (PG-13, August 25).

To learn more, visit www.ncartmuseum.org.  This site will provide directions and the rules about what you can and cannot bring into the show.