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A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Tuesday 2 april 2019

Movie theater owners, studios and stars convene at CinemaCon

By LINDSEY BAHR There will surely be much
Associated Press celebration and self-
LAS VEGAS (AP) — The congratulation for the re-
movie industry — everyone cord 2018 box office year,
from the Hollywood studios which exceeded $11.8 bil-
that produce the films to lion in ticket sales in North
the companies that make America, and recent suc-
the screens, speakers and cesses like “Us” and “Cap-
seats in theaters — are de- tain Marvel.” Yet this year’s
scending on Las Vegas this CinemaCon is coming at
week for CinemaCon. The a time of great change
future of film going will be in in Hollywood. Streaming
the spotlight as the annual and how long movies play
trade show kicks off Mon- in theaters have been a
day at Caesar’s Palace. conversation staple at Cin-

This April 26, 2018, file photo shows CinemaCon attendees walking through the lobby during
CinemaCon 2018 in Las Vegas, the official convention of the National Association of Theatre
Owners.
Associated Press
emaCon in recent years, with splashy new foot- snacks. “There has been
but Walt Disney Co.’s just- age, trailers and some of a non-stop momentum of
completed acquisition of their biggest stars to hype new technology that is driv-
20th Century Fox will be the their slates for the summer ing the industry,” said Neu-
elephant in the room. movie season and beyond hauser.
“People are really wonder- to an audience of theater Ray Nutt, the CEO of Fath-
ing what this consolidation owners, from the biggest om Events, which special-
is going to look like for the chains to the smallest mom izes in event cinema, from
entire business,” said Kevin and pop shops. classic movies to the Met-
Grayson, the president of STX will kick off the main ropolitan Opera and even
domestic distribution for STX studio presentations Tues- sporting events, agrees.
Films. day morning after a few “That box office record
On a practical level, it remarks on the state of the doesn’t just happen be-
means there won’t be a industry. cause there’s good con-
separate presentation from “It really gives us that op- tent out there,” Nutt said.
Fox, which always staged portunity to shine a light on “It happens because the
an elaborate production, STX and show that we are amenities in the theaters
usually involving its former not here for the short term, are awesome these days,
distribution chief in some we are here for the long whether it’s luxury seating
kind of costume. term,” said STX’s Grayson. or enhanced food and
“We will absolutely miss STX specializes in mid-range beverage. These are all
the Fox presence, but we and mid-budgeted com- things that make going to
also need to support and mercial films like “The Up- the movie theater special
embrace Disney for what side” and “Second Act,” and one of a kind.”
they bring to our industry and CinemaCon is an es- Julien Marcel, the CEO of
and what they’re going to sential space to interact Webedia Movies Pro, a
look to do to further bolster with not only the big players tech and data company
the distribution line of great in exhibition but the people for the theatrical industry,
product,” said Mitch Neu- who own “twins and triples” predicts that there will also
hauser, the managing di- in the middle of the country be much discussion over
rector of CinemaCon. “It’s that are just as essential to the “second digital revolu-
going to be a very bitter- their business. tion” in movie going.
sweet convention. But we “We’re releasing 10 to 12 “All movie experiences start
will change with the times films this year and 12 to 15 online and the key chal-
and move forward in a pro- next year, “Grayson said. lenge for exhibitors is how
ductive way.” “So when the other studios to adapt with this second
In other words, the show are making the tentpoles, it digital revolution,” Marcel
must go on. Disney, which allows us to fill that gap. “ said. “The first digital revo-
has been the market-lead- Outside of the main the- lution was when projection
er for three years running, ater, there will also be a moved from analog to digi-
along with three of the whole world on the trade tal. Now we’re at the heart
other major studios, Univer- exhibition floor showing of the second digital revo-
sal, Warner Bros. and Para- the latest and greatest in lution where the market-
mount (Sony is sitting this everything from theater ing goes all digital and the
year out), will come armed technologies to concession ticket sales go all digital.”q