Giant screen veterans and newcomers have high praise for this ongoing series of discussions with knowledgeable and approachable industry experts.
Session Organizer: Diane Carlson, Giant Screen Cinema Consulting. Moderator: Paul Wild, Theatre Director, IMAX Victoria in the Royal BC Museum, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
A 360-Degree View of Giant Screen Film Economics
Presenter: Paul Fraser, President, Blaze Cineworks
Paul Fraser will present a 360-degree view of the giant screen film economic model. He will show the financial impact of various film success scenarios from the perspective of three key stakeholders: the producer, the distributor, and the theater. He will also weave into his presentation some key findings from the recent Blaze Cineworks 2017 Theater Programming Survey. And in time for this conference, we will upload to the GSCA website a new "Glossary of Terms" for newcomers to the industry especially, with definitions of some film, theater, and technology terms that will likely surface during this session.
The IMAX Theater at the Heart of the Museum
Presenter: Pam Hartley, Vice President, Play Initiatives, Marbles Kids Museum & Theater
At Marbles Kids Museum, staff have worked over the last 5+ years to unite the museum and theater campus around the mission, a unified team culture and playful guest experience. This has resulted in the IMAX Theater being fully integrated into the heart of the museum’s mission, programming and operations. Learn how this integrated approach results in educational programs that extend the impact of films, promotions that engage guests and the community, a staffing model that maximizes talent, and an organizational culture that embraces the potential of giant screen films to spark imagination, discovery and learning.
Choosing a Distributor for Your Giant Screen Film
Presenter: Daniel Ferguson, Producer/Director, Cosmic Picture
So you've finally almost finished your giant screen film project, or perhaps you're considering making one. You want to get it in front of the biggest audience possible, but this raises all kinds of questions. Do you self-distribute or go with an established distribution company? What are the pitfalls of each? In addition to the financial considerations, what about positioning? Artistic control over marketing? Satisfying a sponsor or investor? Daniel Ferguson (Director of Jerusalem and Superpower Dogs and former distributor with Primesco Communications) has worked with several different models and will share the insight he had gained while navigating the ever-changing giant screen ecosystem.
The Good, The Bad and the Ugly of Distributor-Exhibitor Relations
Presenter: Mark Katz, SVP Film Distribution and Theater Development, D3D Cinema and Giant Screen Films
In a business that has seen its fair share of challenges, especially in recent years, the relationship between a distributor and exhibitor remains one of the most important. It's not just about sales, although that is always an important part. It is, despite the cliché, mostly about relationships. After 30 years in film distribution, and, though not by design, having worked for IMAX Corporation, Sony Pictures, nWave Pictures, National Geographic, MacGillivray Freeman and Giant Screen Films, Mark Katz has seen and heard a thing or two about distributor exhibitor relationships. So, let's talk about this relationship and how it has changed over the years yet also remained the same—and why it is still so important.