Economic Adrenaline: How Movie Theaters Drive Local Economies

Open the doors of the Park Theatre in McKenzie, Tenn., a tiny town 130 miles west of Nashville, and it feels like you’re in a haunted house — literally. That’s because the lobby is covered in cobwebs, skeletons and plastic bats, the campy leftovers of Halloween’s Nightmare Theatre, one of many fundraising events meant to help restore this historic 1940s movie house that has been abandoned for the better part of two decades.

“It’s in terrible condition,”...

Iconic ‘ArcLight Hollywood’ Hosts Great Films and Stars: Target Presents AFI Night At The Movies

Tonight, Target and the American Film Institute (AFI) are hosting an idyllic Angeleno event– a celebration of classic cinema alongside the stars born from them, seated before a big screen at the legendary dome-affixed, Sunset Boulevard institution; the ArcLight Theaters in Hollywood.  Admit it, the cineaste within you just swooned at the thought.

Unlike many nightclubs on the same street, swoon is not exclusive to well-connected denizens of LA – the world-renowned ArcLight Hollywood is as historical an institution as any in the City of Angels...

Drawing Inspiration: Sketching With the Storyboard Artists of Oblivion

Jack Harper (Tom Cruise) heads down to planet Earth — or what’s left of it anyway — to find a downed surveillance drone that has landed in the charred remnants of the New York Public Library’s Rose Reading Room. It’s only when Harper hits the ground of this cavernous space that he realizes he’s entered a trap. Someone — or something — wants to capture this drone repairman alive.

Whether he’s rappelling into a forgotten old library,...

Earth Day Infographic: A Glance at the Six Studio’s Environmental Efforts

As we wrote earlier today, the film studios have long embraced the ethos espoused on Earth Day, working hard to not only raise awareness about environmental issues, but also to do their part to lower their carbon footprint.

Through technological advancements, key partnerships, and education, Hollywood is committed to advancing the cause of sustainability and environmental stewardship. Here's a glance at some of their efforts:

Click to enlarge

Earth Day: The Studios Go Green Behind the Screen

For years, Hollywood has celebrated Earth Day in order to raise awareness about environmental issues and to strike up a memorable dialogue about sustainable practices. And the film studios' embrace of Earth Day has only strengthened over time. From PSAs to Paramount's new micro-turbines, we take a look at the industry's dedication to spotlighting one of the most important advocacy dates on the calendar.

In 1990, the holiday got a pretty big boost from Hollywood when Time Warner called on some of their favorite talent to hammer home proactive things Americans could do to reduce their footprint on the planet...

CinemaCon Day Four: The Rise of Women, Catching Fire & More

On the final day of CinemaCon, conference goers reveled in wonderful studio presentations from Fox and Lionsgate, in addition to soaking up one of the most thought-provoking panels of the week – the Geena Davis-helmed presentation on the pressing need for studios and distributors to heighten the profile of women at the movies. From sizzling studio showcases to an impassioned call for more diversity at the box office, today was the perfect bookend to a film-fueled week. Here’s a look at the last day of what has been a whirlwind week of cinema,...

Why the Experience of Seeing Movies in the Theater Will Never Get Old

It’s well past midnight at the Nitehawk Cinema in Brooklyn, yet nearly every seat in the theater is taken. There’s a palatable sense of glee in the dark room (likely aided by the cinema’s plentiful bar) as the film reaches its crux: “Run! Go! Get to da choppa!!” screams Arnold Schwarzenegger. The audience breaks into hysterics.

That’s right; we gathered here tonight not to see some newly released Blockbuster but to watch the original 1987 Predator...

CinemaCon Showcase: Twentieth Century Fox’s Upcoming Film Releases

So we’ve gotten a peek at Paramount, Warner Bros., Universal Pictures, Walt Disney Studios, and Sony Pictures upcoming slate of films during our time at CinemaCon.

Here’s a trailer roundup for you from Twentieth Century Fox, which includes a good cross section of animation, comedies, and big-time action blockbusters.

Epic (May 24)

This 3D animated adventure directed by Chris Wedge and based on William Joyce’s children’s book “The Leaf Men and the Brave Good Bugs”...

CinemaCon Day Three: Johnny Depp, Salma Hayek, & Auteurs Galore

The third day of CinemaCon was an epic ode to the art of filmmaking and an optimistic look ahead at the future of theaters and movie-going. From a dynamic panel on keeping up with today’s savvy moviegoer, to an intimate and engaging lunch with three of the biggest directors on the planet, and incredible studio presentations from Walt Disney and Sony, here are a few of the highlights from today’s action packed ‘day three’ at CinemaCon:

Today’s Savvy Moviegoer?...

A Look at Four CinemaCon Award Winners & Their Epic Films

This week at CinemaCon at Caesar’s Palace it’s all about the film business—more specifically though, it’s all about the theater going experience, which is why a closer look at some of this year’s 15 honorees reveals a lineup of heavyweights whose movie careers aren’t simply noteworthy, they’re cinematic. (For the entire list of award winners, click here.)

While no one can dispute the value of the quiet comfort of watching a movie in your own home,...

Meet Amy Hunter, General Manager of AMC Loews Theater Lincoln Square 13

There might not be an institution we love more than the movie theater. The smell of fresh buttered-popcorn, the soothing glow of high quality projection, the joy of an epic two-hour cinematic journey – the movie theater, so far as we’re concerned, is the ultimate venue for entertainment. So in this latest installment of our Meet A Maker series, we’re thrilled to present theater manager, Amy Hunter.

As General Manager of New York City’s AMC Loews Lincoln Square 13 –...

How Disney Creates Magic Moments and Generations of Happy Customers

No other brand on the planet has so thoroughly captured the essence of ‘enchantment’ quite like Walt Disney has. Fairy tales, animation, an international treasure trove of ethereal amusement parks – Walt Disney’s CV is proof that the brand’s ceaseless commitment to provoking wonder in everyone, of any age, anywhere pays off in dividends. Look no farther than memory recall – the mere mention of the brand name evokes sun-hued snapshots of real life magic; whether it’s wide-eyed Bambi on the big screen,...

Extra Butter: How Popcorn Came To Be Cinema’s Most Beloved Snack

In honor of CinemaCon, we are saluting movie theaters everywhere with an entire week of theater-themed content.

For many, a trip to the movies elicits a Pavlovian response: As soon as you walk through the theater doors, an irrepressible craving for popcorn ensues. Since childhood, we’ve been conditioned to—and more importantly, allowed to—consume handful upon buttery handful of salt-dusted popcorn from the moment the theater lights go down until the credits begin to roll. It’s all part of the experience...

CinemaCon Showcase: Paramount Pictures Upcoming Releases

Today at CinemaCon, among panels on the movie theater's embrace of the digital world and the future of theater architecture, Paramount Pictures is putting together an exclusive presentation highlighting their slate of summer films and more. We've put together a little trailer rundown of three upcoming Paramount releases for your perusal.

Pain & Gain

 Release date: April 26

Michael Bay’s Pain & Gain is an action-comedy-crime film,...

“Playing the Palace”: A History Of Motion Picture Palaces

Today’s motion picture exhibitors treat the movie going public to the most technologically advanced presentation in the history of the medium. We take a look back to see why this has always been so.

In 1914, Mitchell Mark and his brother Moe, opened what many consider the first movie palace, the one-million dollar Mark Strand Theater in Times Square, New York City. Mitchell Mark hired Samuel “Roxy” Rothafel to manage the theater and bring in the crowds...

So Long, Sold Out Shows: The Best Movie Ticket Apps For Smartphones

With so many blockbusters slated for upcoming releases, 2013 is pretty much guaranteed to be a banner year for movie theaters. Don’t get us wrong – content everywhere is great, but there’s no denying that G.I. Joe: Retaliation, The Great Gatsby, and Iron Man 3 are simply too epic to be viewed upon a tablet screen for the first time. And have you seen the trailer for Pacific Rim?...

Scoring Giants: Mark Isham on Composing the Jackie Robinson Biopic 42

Let’s take a quick glance at some of the giants composer Mark Isham has worked with; Robert Redford, Brian De Palma, Jodi Foster, Robert Altman, and Sydney Lumet. In the music realm, his list includes; Bruce Springsteen, Willie Neslon, Joni Mitchell, The Rolling Stones, and Van Morrison. Yet there is one legend Isham has worked for (in a very different sense) that loomed even larger when he joined director Brian Helgeland’s team to take on Warner Bros.’ 42;...

Company Man: A Conversation with The Company You Keep Author Neil Gordon

“During the war in Vietnam, you were either for Jane Fonda or you were for John Wayne,” says Neil Gordon. The author and professor doesn’t remember where he first heard this maxim, but it perfectly sums up his feelings about one of the most tumultuous eras in our country’s history. Though he’s firmly on Team Fonda, Gordon’s 2003 novel The Company You Keep — and the big-screen political thriller it inspired — doesn’t take sides, opting instead to show what can happen to a well-intentioned movement when good ideas (end an unjust war) and bad tactics (domestic terrorism) collide...

Cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle Puts us in a Trance

Chances are you’ve seen the trailer to this weekend’s Trance, and while it may be an incredibly intense three minutes, you’re likely left with several questions. Fear not, many of them might never get answered. But that’s okay, according to the film’s director of photography, Anthony Dod Mantle. Trance tracks what is a largely internalized journey taken on by an art auctioneer-turned art thief (James McAvoy) forced to see a hypnotherapist (Rosario Dawson) to help him recall where he’s stashed his latest haul...

The Sky’s the Limit: Cinematography’s Technological Revolution

Just as smart phones and tablets are changing the way we experience daily life, other technologies are dramatically shifting the cinematic landscape. Directors today can harness these tools in order to express their artistic vision on the screen as never before. We spoke with two of the most significant players in this field in order to find out what’s possible now, and what we can expect to see in the future.

3D moves beyond ‘next big thing’

In 2009,...