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Voting for the GSCA Board of Directors has ended. Winners will be announced soon.

The GSCA Board of Directors nominees listed below represent the following five categories: Production, Distribution, Commercial Theaters, Institutional Theaters, and Manufacturers/Suppliers/Others. Candidates who are elected to the Board will take office effective February 22, 2010, at the Board of Directors meeting immediately preceding the  Film Expo in Los Angeles.

The Directors elected during this voting process will join the following Directors: Jonathan Barker (SK Films), Mark Bretherton (IMAX Theatre Sydney), Diane Carlson (Pacific Science Center), Kim Cavendish (Museum of Discovery and Science), Therese Andrade (IMAX Corporation), Tim Knapp (Technicolor), Mike Lutz (MacGillivray Freeman Films), Andrew Oran (FotoKem), Phil Streather (Principal Large Format), and Andy Wood (Giant Screen Films).  Also on the GSCA board is Dick Vaughan (National Media Museum), representing Euromax.

Voting for the GSCA Board of Directors begins on Friday, January 15, and ends at 11:59 p.m. (Central Standard Time), on Friday, January 29. There are 8 open board seats, so you may select up to 8 candidates. Please choose at least one candidate in each of the categories. Your remaining votes may be selected from any category. Ballots with more than 8 candidates selected will not be counted.

Please Note:

• Each member organization is entitled to cast one completed ballot.
• Only members who have renewed their membership for 2010 are eligible to vote.
• GSCA has notified key contacts at each organization about the board elections via e-mail. If you did not receive the e-mail notification, please do not vote on this ballot.
• If you have questions about the election process, please contact Gretchen Jaspering at 636-244-0947 or via e-mail.

How to Cast Your Vote:

If you received the e-mail notification from GSCA that you have been identified as the voting contact for your organization, please log in with your user name and password by clicking on the following link. Once you have logged in, a link to the ballot will appear just below and again at the bottom of the page after the candidate information.

Mark Katz
President of Film Distribution
National Geographic Cinema Ventures
Greenwich, Connecticut, US

A successful industry distribution veteran for more than 22 years, Mark Katz is President of Distribution at National Geographic Cinema Ventures, representing the libraries of Destination Cinema, nWave Pictures and National Geographic distributing such classics as Mysteries of Egypt, The Human Body, Shackleton's Antarctic Adventure, Forces of Nature, the groundbreaking, Sea Monsters 3D and U2 3D, and The Wildest Dream. Prior to joining Nat Geo, Katz was President of Distribution for nWave Pictures of Brussels, Belgium, from 1998-2005.  Prior to nWave, Katz was VP Sales Large Format for Sony Pictures Classics from 1994-98. Before that Katz spent time with MacGillivray Freeman Films as VP, Film Distribution, and, for 5 1/2 years was with IMAX Corporation as Film Distribution Sales Manager. Additionally, Katz is a long standing member of the GSCA Board and a proud member of the Governance Committee. Katz also sat on the board of the Giant Screen Theater Association (GSTA) for six years (1998-2004), becoming that association’s first non-theater member in history.

Statement of Purpose: I believe that my previous experience on the GSCA board and as an industry veteran of more than 20 years will enable me to genuinely contribute to the association from the perspective of the content provider and distributor representing the important needs and goals of these constituents, while at the same time, clearly recognizing the unique make-up and needs of the giant screen industry. 

Don Kempf
President
Giant Screen Films
Evanston, Illinois, US

Don is President of Giant Screen Films, a leading large-format film production and distribution company.  Don has served on the GSCA Board of Directors for the past two years, and would like to continue on for a second term.  As the head of the Industry Development Committee, he has spearheaded the idea for a “Best of the Giant Screen” industry trailer, which is now entering the production phase as a component of the Marketing Task Force Initiative. Don is also Chairman of the Distributor’s Interest Group, which among other things provides GSCA delegates with a “festive” evening every fall conference.    
 
 

Statement of Purpose: In the immediate years ahead, it is my view that our association ought to grow beyond its focus on being the guardian of “giant screens” and instead set its sights on becoming the premier association for museum-based on-screen entertainment, from classic giant screen/IMAX type theaters to smaller digital 3D and 4D venues. In the past, IMAX and other large-format screens represented the principal vehicle for quality museum entertainment, but this is rapidly changing. If our association can effectively broaden itself, I believe the senior-level museum executives that are so important to the success of all forms of museum entertainment, including of course the giant screens, will return as active participants. Our industry is in need of a return to the higher film-specific marketing budgets at the museum level, and one way to help achieve this is by re-engaging these senior-level museum executives, many of whom once were active participants. In addition, our association would become relevant to many new museums, which in turn would increase membership significantly.  

Second, I would recommend that our association focus primarily on traditional documentary programming. Our conferences would devote their attention to programming that is custom-produced for museums and other destination venues. Essentially, I would advocate our association both broadening and sharpening its focus in the years ahead. Original content and museum and destination venues would be the focus, not screen size. The recent emergence of various “big screen” multiplex digital 3D theaters running exclusively commercial 3D films would seem to point us in this direction anyway.    

If elected to continue my service on the GSCA Board, I will work with the leadership of the association to push our industry in this direction.

Mark Katz
President of Film Distribution
National Geographic Cinema Ventures
Greenwich, Connecticut, US

A successful industry distribution veteran for more than 22 years, Mark Katz is President of Distribution at National Geographic Cinema Ventures, representing the libraries of Destination Cinema, nWave Pictures and National Geographic distributing such classics as Mysteries of Egypt, The Human Body, Shackleton's Antarctic Adventure, Forces of Nature, the groundbreaking, Sea Monsters 3D and U2 3D, and The Wildest Dream. Prior to joining Nat Geo, Katz was President of Distribution for nWave Pictures of Brussels, Belgium, from 1998-2005.  Prior to nWave, Katz was VP Sales Large Format for Sony Pictures Classics from 1994-98. Before that Katz spent time with MacGillivray Freeman Films as VP, Film Distribution, and, for 5 1/2 years was with IMAX Corporation as Film Distribution Sales Manager. Additionally, Katz is a long standing member of the GSCA Board and a proud member of the Governance Committee. Katz also sat on the board of the Giant Screen Theater Association (GSTA) for six years (1998-2004), becoming that association’s first non-theater member in history.

Statement of Purpose: I believe that my previous experience on the GSCA board and as an industry veteran of more than 20 years will enable me to genuinely contribute to the association from the perspective of the content provider and distributor representing the important needs and goals of these constituents, while at the same time, clearly recognizing the unique make-up and needs of the giant screen industry. 

Don Kempf
President
Giant Screen Films
Evanston, Illinois, US

Don is President of Giant Screen Films, a leading large-format film production and distribution company.  Don has served on the GSCA Board of Directors for the past two years, and would like to continue on for a second term.  As the head of the Industry Development Committee, he has spearheaded the idea for a “Best of the Giant Screen” industry trailer, which is now entering the production phase as a component of the Marketing Task Force Initiative. Don is also Chairman of the Distributor’s Interest Group, which among other things provides GSCA delegates with a “festive” evening every fall conference.    
 
 

Statement of Purpose: In the immediate years ahead, it is my view that our association ought to grow beyond its focus on being the guardian of “giant screens” and instead set its sights on becoming the premier association for museum-based on-screen entertainment, from classic giant screen/IMAX type theaters to smaller digital 3D and 4D venues. In the past, IMAX and other large-format screens represented the principal vehicle for quality museum entertainment, but this is rapidly changing. If our association can effectively broaden itself, I believe the senior-level museum executives that are so important to the success of all forms of museum entertainment, including of course the giant screens, will return as active participants. Our industry is in need of a return to the higher film-specific marketing budgets at the museum level, and one way to help achieve this is by re-engaging these senior-level museum executives, many of whom once were active participants. In addition, our association would become relevant to many new museums, which in turn would increase membership significantly.  

Second, I would recommend that our association focus primarily on traditional documentary programming. Our conferences would devote their attention to programming that is custom-produced for museums and other destination venues. Essentially, I would advocate our association both broadening and sharpening its focus in the years ahead. Original content and museum and destination venues would be the focus, not screen size. The recent emergence of various “big screen” multiplex digital 3D theaters running exclusively commercial 3D films would seem to point us in this direction anyway.    

If elected to continue my service on the GSCA Board, I will work with the leadership of the association to push our industry in this direction.

Andrew Gellis
CEO
Cinevest
Encino, California, US

Andrew Gellis is a current Board Member and was the first Chair of the nonprofit Giant Screen Cinema Association (GSCA). Formerly co-Chairman of the Interim Board, and President of the Large Format Cinema Association (LFCA), he helped lead the merger of that association with the Giant Screen Theater Association (GSTA) to form the GSCA in 2006. From 1996 through 2002 he was Senior Vice President, Film and Distribution at the IMAX Corporation, where he supervised many films, and was most notably Executive Producer of China: The Panda Adventure, Space Station 3D, Galapagos, and T-Rex: Back to the Cretaceous, which he also wrote. Prior to IMAX, he wrote and produced Sony's 1570 3D film Across The Sea of Time (NY3D). For Destination Cinema, he produced their 1570 destination film Hidden Hawaii. He is currently consulting on a number of media projects and as writer/producer is developing several giant screen projects through both Andrew Gellis Productions, Inc. and the Los Angeles based 3D film entity Evergreen Films, Inc.  A member of the WGA, he also serves on the Executive Committee of the Live Shorts and Animation Branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS).

Statement of Purpose: The GSCA and the industry continue to be faced with a myriad of challenges. In the face of the digital revolution, we will need to maintain our relevance, unique position in the marketplace, and determine how to move forward together. The Board, on behalf of the Association, must provide leadership and insight  in unifying the membership to help it develop a solid approach to business through the sharing of information and best practices. Given the present economic climate and the dwindling marketing support for films, producers and distributors in the industry need to work closer than ever before with their theater partners. My goal as a Board member is to help each of us hear one another to enable success. I hope to continue to represent the membership and see the good work that is well underway brought to fruition. There is so much we can do to better our industry and our business.

Greg MacGillivray
President and Co-Founder
MacGillivray Freeman Films
Laguna Beach, California, US

Greg MacGillivray is the President and co-founder of MacGillivray Freeman Films, an innovative team of specialists in the development, production, and distribution of giant screen experiential motion pictures for IMAX theaters. His filmmaking career spans more than 40 years and as a cinematographer, he has shot more 70mm film than anyone in cinema history. Three of Greg's films have been honored by inclusion in the IMAX Hall of Fame. His particular interest is in perfecting the art of educational filmmaking in the highest technical and most immersive form.

Statement of Purpose: The giant screen industry is now beginning a sea-change of dimensions never before encountered in our 40-year history. How will we all remain a strong attractor of customers in a new digital projection world? How do we improve our educationally based films and programs to better serve the public? How do we better add to the fabric of every community in a meaningful way? I hope to be an active force for that success.

Andrew Gellis
CEO
Cinevest
Encino, California, US

Andrew Gellis is a current Board Member and was the first Chair of the nonprofit Giant Screen Cinema Association (GSCA). Formerly co-Chairman of the Interim Board, and President of the Large Format Cinema Association (LFCA), he helped lead the merger of that association with the Giant Screen Theater Association (GSTA) to form the GSCA in 2006. From 1996 through 2002 he was Senior Vice President, Film and Distribution at the IMAX Corporation, where he supervised many films, and was most notably Executive Producer of China: The Panda Adventure, Space Station 3D, Galapagos, and T-Rex: Back to the Cretaceous, which he also wrote. Prior to IMAX, he wrote and produced Sony's 1570 3D film Across The Sea of Time (NY3D). For Destination Cinema, he produced their 1570 destination film Hidden Hawaii. He is currently consulting on a number of media projects and as writer/producer is developing several giant screen projects through both Andrew Gellis Productions, Inc. and the Los Angeles based 3D film entity Evergreen Films, Inc.  A member of the WGA, he also serves on the Executive Committee of the Live Shorts and Animation Branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS).

Statement of Purpose: The GSCA and the industry continue to be faced with a myriad of challenges. In the face of the digital revolution, we will need to maintain our relevance, unique position in the marketplace, and determine how to move forward together. The Board, on behalf of the Association, must provide leadership and insight  in unifying the membership to help it develop a solid approach to business through the sharing of information and best practices. Given the present economic climate and the dwindling marketing support for films, producers and distributors in the industry need to work closer than ever before with their theater partners. My goal as a Board member is to help each of us hear one another to enable success. I hope to continue to represent the membership and see the good work that is well underway brought to fruition. There is so much we can do to better our industry and our business.

Greg MacGillivray
President and Co-Founder
MacGillivray Freeman Films
Laguna Beach, California, US

Greg MacGillivray is the President and co-founder of MacGillivray Freeman Films, an innovative team of specialists in the development, production, and distribution of giant screen experiential motion pictures for IMAX theaters. His filmmaking career spans more than 40 years and as a cinematographer, he has shot more 70mm film than anyone in cinema history. Three of Greg's films have been honored by inclusion in the IMAX Hall of Fame. His particular interest is in perfecting the art of educational filmmaking in the highest technical and most immersive form.

Statement of Purpose: The giant screen industry is now beginning a sea-change of dimensions never before encountered in our 40-year history. How will we all remain a strong attractor of customers in a new digital projection world? How do we improve our educationally based films and programs to better serve the public? How do we better add to the fabric of every community in a meaningful way? I hope to be an active force for that success.

Gil Perez
Regional Director
Destination Cinema, Inc.
San Antonio, Texas, US

Gil Perez
Regional Director
Destination Cinema, Inc.
San Antonio, Texas, US

Laurent Dondey
CEO
La Geode
Paris, France

Laurent has spent most of his career in the audiovisual industry moving from rights management positions to distribution and managerial roles for Author’s societies or audiovisual Companies such as Sacem, Gaumont and Canal Plus – Vivendi Universal (Library Director and VP Europe for Universal Television Distribution).

Doug King
President and CEO
Saint Louis Science Center
Saint Louis, Missouri, US

Doug King is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Saint Louis Science Center. He leads a team of 225 staff members and 400 volunteers whose mission is to ignite and sustain lifelong science and technology learning. The Science Center serves more than 1.2 million people each year, making it the fourth largest science center in the country and one of the nation’s 25 largest museums. It has built a national reputation for program and exhibit quality, community partnerships to serve teens and families, community-based programming, visitor service, exhibit maintenance, excellent marketing and sound financial management. It is also a partner in many local, regional and national initiatives to build better and stronger links between formal and informal educational opportunities, including the development of the Taylor Community Science Resource Center and collaboration with the St. Louis Public Schools to operate the Compton-Drew Investigative Learning Center Middle School. These efforts have been recognized by the Association of Science/Technology Centers with its highest honor, the Roy L. Shafer Leading Edge Award, three times since 2005.

Statement of Purpose: The Giant Screen field is at a crossroads.  Profound changes in technology, content, alternative media, and public perception have called into question the role of our association, and even the future of our theaters.  I have participated actively as a Board Member in the evolution of our organization and seek the opportunity to see that effort through.  

I was on the Board of GSTA and actively supported our merger with LFCA.  I served on the Transition Committee that created GSCA.  I have served on the Lifelong Learning and Membership Committees of GSCA, and have been Vice Chairman for two years. 

These posts have given me a much broader view of the diversity of our field, and the need for each of its segments to be successful if we are to survive.  I believe GSCA is the forum for bringing those segments together to discuss common issues, to deal with the incredible challenges and opportunities that we face, and to successfully make and exhibit great films!

The GSCA Board established a strong strategic plan two years ago.  It is now working on an equally strong implementation plan.  Frankly, the organization's future hangs in the balance.  As president for fifteen years of a Science Center with both a successful domed theater and one of the country's largest planetariums, and as an association executive for fifteen years before that, operational planning and implementation are my strengths.  I seek this position to bring that background and perspective to the effort.

Thank you for your consideration. 

Jeffrey W. Kirsch
Executive Director
Reuben H. Fleet Science Center
San Diego, California, US

After 20 years as an engineering grad student, senior researcher, and a public television science producer, I have been Executive Director of the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center for the last 27 years. As the first institutional IMAX Theater in the world, the Fleet has always been at the cutting edge of large format cinema production and presentation. In my watch period, we have been involved in the production of over two dozen films and I have served on a half dozen GSCA committees. I am a former Board member of the GSCA’s antecedent organizations (STC, ISTC, and GSTA) and served as President of ISTC in 1997 and 1998. I presently serve on the GSCA Conference Committee. As Chairman of the Museum Film Network (MFN), an international association of 15 museums that I founded with five other colleagues in 1985, I have helped the MFN work with producers to develop high quality IMAX films for the worldwide community of giant screen theaters; the most recent are Greece (2005), Dinosaurs Alive! (2007), and Grand Canyon Adventure (2008). The latter project dovetailed with my work as cochair of both the International Advisory Board of the Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) and the educational committee for ASTC’s International Global Warming Awareness (IGLO) program.

After 20 years as an engineering grad student, senior researcher, and a public television science producer, I have been Executive Director of the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center for the last 27 years. As the first institutional IMAX Theater in the world, the Fleet has always been at the cutting edge of large format cinema production and presentation. In my watch period, we have been involved in the production of over two dozen films and I have served on a half dozen GSCA committees. I am a former Board member of the GSCA’s antecedent organizations (STC, ISTC, and GSTA) and served as President of ISTC in 1997 and 1998. I presently serve on the GSCA Conference Committee.

Statement of Purpose: I have become very interested in the transformation of science and informal public science education due to the advent of computer graphics and new digital techniques for immersive science visualization. At the Fleet I am leading an ongoing project to develop Giant Dome theater applications for these new technologies. In December 2008, we retrofitted the Fleet’s renowned Space Theater with a Spitz Inc. NanoSeam Dome. Its high contrast finish and seemingly seamless hemispherical screen is arguably the best venue for IAMX Dome films. The facility, now known as the Heikoff Dome Theater, is going to be equipped with a digital projection system for full dome presentations of planetarium shows and scientific visualizations in 2010.

In partnership with a number of GSCA colleagues, I am the chairman-elect of the (soon to be) formed Giant Dome Theater Consortium (GDTC). This group of about 8 theaters intends to help produce new IMAX films for the Giant Dome sector of the large format theater market. It is our intent that the GDTC will do its work under the GSCA umbrella as a Special Interest Group (SIG). I believe the large format industry can best be served with GSCA adopting the corporate association model in which SIGs represent the many sectors of our industry.

This approach has already led to the establishment of Dome Days as adjunct activities at each GSCA meeting since 2007. It could be expanded to SIGs representing 3D IMAX, 3D Digital Imax, and other large format flat screen media. It has already made GSCA much more relevant to the Dome Theaters future, and will add to the sharing of technologies for the betterment of all of GSCA’s members. I therefore am excited to submit my name for nomination to the GSCA Board.

Toby Mensforth
Vice President, Theaters and Concessions
Smithsonian Business Ventures
Washington, DC, US

Mensforth has been with the Smithsonian’s Business Unit since 2001 and is currently responsible for the Smithsonian’s three IMAX theaters, Digital Dome Planetarium, Simulators, and the Institutions Food Service and concessions business. His over 15 years work experience in the industry includes 5 years with IMAX Corporation as Director of the Affiliate Relations group and then the Owned and Operated Team as Director of Theatres. Prior to IMAX, Mensforth was responsible for theater operations at the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Hull, Canada. Mensforth is the current Chair of the GSCA and prior to that was both Vice Chair and Co-Chair of the Professional Development Committee. He is a member of the 3D Film Interest Group, and was a member of the LFCA Board and the GSTA Development committee. Over his career he has developed, opened or run over 20 giant screen theaters. He is currently developing the Smithsonian’s Digital Theater Strategy and is in the process of opening a 3D digital theater at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.

Statement of Purpose: I am honored to be serving as Chair of this wonderful association. I feel that I can continue to contribute to the board and to the association and would welcome a chance to be re-elected as a GSCA board member. Indeed the Smithsonian has a long history in the giant screen industry, and as one of the world’s largest institutional operators, it is important for the Smithsonian to lend whatever resources it can to ensure a strong and stable future for the industry.  I am delighted to continue to offer my assistance to GSCA in a meaningful way.

Jackie Mollet
Senior Director/Theater, Retail & Exhibitions
Saint Louis Science Center
St. Louis, Missouri, US

Jackie has actively participated in the GSCA for 7 years, serving on the Conference Committee for nearly three years. She regularly emcees sessions during the film expos and conferences. In 2008, she was selected as the only U.S. theater representative to join the China study group. She is often consulted by other theaters and institutions, filmmakers and distributors and is a member of the U.S. Dome Theater Alliance.

Jackie has been at the Saint Louis Science Center for more than ten years, and currently oversees Theater, Retail and Special Exhibition operations as a Senior Director. She was recently asked to steer the sustainability efforts of the Science Center, and she sits on the advisory board of Pure Power, AmerenUE’s voluntary renewable energy program. Prior to joining the Science Center, she was Technical Director and Road Manager for a variety of musical acts, including Marc Cohn and Melissa Ferrick, after graduating from the Berklee College of Music in Boston with a dual-degree in Music Business and Music Production & Engineering. She is a member of the Audio Engineering Society.

Gordon Stalans
Director of Finance
Tennessee Aquarium
Chattanooga, Tennessee, US

Gordon Stalans is the Director of Finance for the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga, TN. He has been involved in the Giant Screen Cinema industry since 1996. He has been the President of the 3D Film Interest Group since 1998. He served on the LFCA Board two years, on various GSTA committees for the last six years and served on the GSTA/LFCA Unification Team. He is currently a member of the GSCA Board of Directors and is its current Treasurer. He is a licensed CPA and is a member of the American Institute of CPAs and the Georgia Society of CPAs.

Statement of Purpose: I believe our industry is in the midst of times that are simultaneously very exciting and very challenging. Navigating through these times clearly requires strong communication between and cooperation from all facets of the industry. GSCA is in a key position to facilitate that communication and cooperation. GSCA will only be as strong as we, its members, make it.  As a Board member, I will simply strive in any way possible to help GSCA continue to define and successfully fulfill its very vital role in the Giant Screen Cinema business.

Laurent Dondey
CEO
La Geode
Paris, France

Laurent has spent most of his career in the audiovisual industry moving from rights management positions to distribution and managerial roles for Author’s societies or audiovisual Companies such as Sacem, Gaumont and Canal Plus – Vivendi Universal (Library Director and VP Europe for Universal Television Distribution).

Doug King
President and CEO
Saint Louis Science Center
Saint Louis, Missouri, US

Doug King is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Saint Louis Science Center. He leads a team of 225 staff members and 400 volunteers whose mission is to ignite and sustain lifelong science and technology learning. The Science Center serves more than 1.2 million people each year, making it the fourth largest science center in the country and one of the nation’s 25 largest museums. It has built a national reputation for program and exhibit quality, community partnerships to serve teens and families, community-based programming, visitor service, exhibit maintenance, excellent marketing and sound financial management. It is also a partner in many local, regional and national initiatives to build better and stronger links between formal and informal educational opportunities, including the development of the Taylor Community Science Resource Center and collaboration with the St. Louis Public Schools to operate the Compton-Drew Investigative Learning Center Middle School. These efforts have been recognized by the Association of Science/Technology Centers with its highest honor, the Roy L. Shafer Leading Edge Award, three times since 2005.

Statement of Purpose: The Giant Screen field is at a crossroads.  Profound changes in technology, content, alternative media, and public perception have called into question the role of our association, and even the future of our theaters.  I have participated actively as a Board Member in the evolution of our organization and seek the opportunity to see that effort through.  

I was on the Board of GSTA and actively supported our merger with LFCA.  I served on the Transition Committee that created GSCA.  I have served on the Lifelong Learning and Membership Committees of GSCA, and have been Vice Chairman for two years. 

These posts have given me a much broader view of the diversity of our field, and the need for each of its segments to be successful if we are to survive.  I believe GSCA is the forum for bringing those segments together to discuss common issues, to deal with the incredible challenges and opportunities that we face, and to successfully make and exhibit great films!

The GSCA Board established a strong strategic plan two years ago.  It is now working on an equally strong implementation plan.  Frankly, the organization's future hangs in the balance.  As president for fifteen years of a Science Center with both a successful domed theater and one of the country's largest planetariums, and as an association executive for fifteen years before that, operational planning and implementation are my strengths.  I seek this position to bring that background and perspective to the effort.

Thank you for your consideration. 

Jeffrey W. Kirsch
Executive Director
Reuben H. Fleet Science Center
San Diego, California, US

After 20 years as an engineering grad student, senior researcher, and a public television science producer, I have been Executive Director of the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center for the last 27 years. As the first institutional IMAX Theater in the world, the Fleet has always been at the cutting edge of large format cinema production and presentation. In my watch period, we have been involved in the production of over two dozen films and I have served on a half dozen GSCA committees. I am a former Board member of the GSCA’s antecedent organizations (STC, ISTC, and GSTA) and served as President of ISTC in 1997 and 1998. I presently serve on the GSCA Conference Committee. As Chairman of the Museum Film Network (MFN), an international association of 15 museums that I founded with five other colleagues in 1985, I have helped the MFN work with producers to develop high quality IMAX films for the worldwide community of giant screen theaters; the most recent are Greece (2005), Dinosaurs Alive! (2007), and Grand Canyon Adventure (2008). The latter project dovetailed with my work as cochair of both the International Advisory Board of the Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) and the educational committee for ASTC’s International Global Warming Awareness (IGLO) program.

After 20 years as an engineering grad student, senior researcher, and a public television science producer, I have been Executive Director of the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center for the last 27 years. As the first institutional IMAX Theater in the world, the Fleet has always been at the cutting edge of large format cinema production and presentation. In my watch period, we have been involved in the production of over two dozen films and I have served on a half dozen GSCA committees. I am a former Board member of the GSCA’s antecedent organizations (STC, ISTC, and GSTA) and served as President of ISTC in 1997 and 1998. I presently serve on the GSCA Conference Committee.

Statement of Purpose: I have become very interested in the transformation of science and informal public science education due to the advent of computer graphics and new digital techniques for immersive science visualization. At the Fleet I am leading an ongoing project to develop Giant Dome theater applications for these new technologies. In December 2008, we retrofitted the Fleet’s renowned Space Theater with a Spitz Inc. NanoSeam Dome. Its high contrast finish and seemingly seamless hemispherical screen is arguably the best venue for IAMX Dome films. The facility, now known as the Heikoff Dome Theater, is going to be equipped with a digital projection system for full dome presentations of planetarium shows and scientific visualizations in 2010.

In partnership with a number of GSCA colleagues, I am the chairman-elect of the (soon to be) formed Giant Dome Theater Consortium (GDTC). This group of about 8 theaters intends to help produce new IMAX films for the Giant Dome sector of the large format theater market. It is our intent that the GDTC will do its work under the GSCA umbrella as a Special Interest Group (SIG). I believe the large format industry can best be served with GSCA adopting the corporate association model in which SIGs represent the many sectors of our industry.

This approach has already led to the establishment of Dome Days as adjunct activities at each GSCA meeting since 2007. It could be expanded to SIGs representing 3D IMAX, 3D Digital Imax, and other large format flat screen media. It has already made GSCA much more relevant to the Dome Theaters future, and will add to the sharing of technologies for the betterment of all of GSCA’s members. I therefore am excited to submit my name for nomination to the GSCA Board.

Toby Mensforth
Vice President, Theaters and Concessions
Smithsonian Business Ventures
Washington, DC, US

Mensforth has been with the Smithsonian’s Business Unit since 2001 and is currently responsible for the Smithsonian’s three IMAX theaters, Digital Dome Planetarium, Simulators, and the Institutions Food Service and concessions business. His over 15 years work experience in the industry includes 5 years with IMAX Corporation as Director of the Affiliate Relations group and then the Owned and Operated Team as Director of Theatres. Prior to IMAX, Mensforth was responsible for theater operations at the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Hull, Canada. Mensforth is the current Chair of the GSCA and prior to that was both Vice Chair and Co-Chair of the Professional Development Committee. He is a member of the 3D Film Interest Group, and was a member of the LFCA Board and the GSTA Development committee. Over his career he has developed, opened or run over 20 giant screen theaters. He is currently developing the Smithsonian’s Digital Theater Strategy and is in the process of opening a 3D digital theater at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.

Statement of Purpose: I am honored to be serving as Chair of this wonderful association. I feel that I can continue to contribute to the board and to the association and would welcome a chance to be re-elected as a GSCA board member. Indeed the Smithsonian has a long history in the giant screen industry, and as one of the world’s largest institutional operators, it is important for the Smithsonian to lend whatever resources it can to ensure a strong and stable future for the industry.  I am delighted to continue to offer my assistance to GSCA in a meaningful way.

Jackie Mollet
Senior Director/Theater, Retail & Exhibitions
Saint Louis Science Center
St. Louis, Missouri, US

Jackie has actively participated in the GSCA for 7 years, serving on the Conference Committee for nearly three years. She regularly emcees sessions during the film expos and conferences. In 2008, she was selected as the only U.S. theater representative to join the China study group. She is often consulted by other theaters and institutions, filmmakers and distributors and is a member of the U.S. Dome Theater Alliance.

Jackie has been at the Saint Louis Science Center for more than ten years, and currently oversees Theater, Retail and Special Exhibition operations as a Senior Director. She was recently asked to steer the sustainability efforts of the Science Center, and she sits on the advisory board of Pure Power, AmerenUE’s voluntary renewable energy program. Prior to joining the Science Center, she was Technical Director and Road Manager for a variety of musical acts, including Marc Cohn and Melissa Ferrick, after graduating from the Berklee College of Music in Boston with a dual-degree in Music Business and Music Production & Engineering. She is a member of the Audio Engineering Society.

Gordon Stalans
Director of Finance
Tennessee Aquarium
Chattanooga, Tennessee, US

Gordon Stalans is the Director of Finance for the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga, TN. He has been involved in the Giant Screen Cinema industry since 1996. He has been the President of the 3D Film Interest Group since 1998. He served on the LFCA Board two years, on various GSTA committees for the last six years and served on the GSTA/LFCA Unification Team. He is currently a member of the GSCA Board of Directors and is its current Treasurer. He is a licensed CPA and is a member of the American Institute of CPAs and the Georgia Society of CPAs.

Statement of Purpose: I believe our industry is in the midst of times that are simultaneously very exciting and very challenging. Navigating through these times clearly requires strong communication between and cooperation from all facets of the industry. GSCA is in a key position to facilitate that communication and cooperation. GSCA will only be as strong as we, its members, make it.  As a Board member, I will simply strive in any way possible to help GSCA continue to define and successfully fulfill its very vital role in the Giant Screen Cinema business.

Rick Gordon
Senior Vice President and Co-Founder
RPG Productions
Burbank, California, USA

Rick Gordon is President of RPG Productions, a post-production company specializing in giant screen and 3D films, restoration, trailer creation and television. Rick has supervised post-production for more than 75 giant screen films and other special venue shows. Recent credits include U2 3D, The Wildest Dream, Fly Me To The Moon, Sea Monsters, Mummies 3D, Dinosaurs 3D, and Wild Ocean. Rick was a founding member of LFCA and served on its Board for nine years. He has served the GSCA Board of Directors since its inception and currently works on the Industry Development Committee.

Statement of Purpose: Rick is dedicated to the original vision of GSCA, working to ensure that the needs of all segments of the giant screen industry are heard and addressed, making the GSCA a place where the hopes and concerns of both established corporations and the “little guy” are freely expressed and acted upon. The global health and expansion of the giant screen industry is his primary concern. He pledges to be a continuing very vocal spokesman for maintaining a positive focus and outlook, even during tough economic times.

Patricia Keighley
DKP 70MM Inc., an IMAX Company
Vice President & General Manager
Santa Monica, California, US

Patricia Keighley is co-founder, VP & General Manager of DKP 70MM Inc, an IMAX Company. Based in Santa Monica, California, DKP is privileged to have been involved in the film and digital post-production of more than 250 giant screen films over the past three decades.

Statement of Purpose: Patricia would be proud to continue to represent GSCA’s members on the Board of Directors as the Association evolves during this time of industry transition, blending emerging technologies with established best practices. Patricia’s goals are to continue to be actively involved in the Association and to expand the relevance and reach of the GSCA by increasing membership, providing leadership in the areas of new technology education and promoting interaction between the many industry stakeholders represented.

Mary Nucci
Research Analyst
Rutgers University
New Brunswick, New Jersey, US

Mary L. Nucci is a Research Analyst at Rutgers University where she focuses on public attitudes and media communication of science, and is writing her dissertation on giant screen films, Large Format and Mediation of the Natural World: Vision, Technology and the Sublime.

A biologist by training, Mary worked in the pharmaceutical industry for more than 15 years, and then at Liberty Science Center in New Jersey where she was the Director of the Health Floor. At Liberty Science Center, she served as a member of the Theater Experiences team where she was introduced to the giant screen industry. In this role she participated in reviews of giant screen films and decision making about film selection. It was this experience that led her to return to Rutgers University for her PhD in Media Communications, a logical outgrowth of her career focus in science communication. As a freelance science writer, she has developed educational programming for museums and educational institutions. She has taught classes at Rutgers University in Media Studies and Human Ecology.

Since her first attendance at a GSTA meeting as a Student Award Winner, Mary has served as a volunteer at GSTA, LFCA and GSCA meetings. At GSTA in 2005 she presented the invited talk “An academic perspective of large format” as part of the session "Science on the Giant Screen." At the newly reorganized GSCA meeting in 2006 she joined the Lifelong Learning Committee (LLL), of which she now serves as Co-Chair with Board Member Andy Gellis. With the LLL Committee, she organized two successful sessions for the 2006 GSCA meeting. The session “Giant Screen 101: From Script to Screen—Designing Educational Films” had approximately 100 attendees, and the “Revitalize and Revolutionize your Educational Program” had an attendance of nearly 140. In 2007 she managed the research project and presented the results of a LLL committee audience study “Know thy Audience: Baseline Responses to Giant Screen Films at Two Vancouver Theaters.”  

With the LLL committee, in 2008 she wrote and submitted a grant to NSF and with Emlyn Koster, CEO of the Liberty Science Center, served as co-Principal Investigator on Grant 0803987 ($131,049) which culminated in the one-day symposium, Connecting Society with Science: The Greater Potential of Giant Screen Experiences held at Jersey City, NJ, held in conjunction with the 2008 GSCA meeting. At the 2009 GSCA meeting, along with Emlyn Koster and Valerie-Knight Williams she presented the results of the symposium in the session “Lessons Learned from GSCA’s 2008 Symposium, Connecting Society with Science: The Greater Potential of Giant Screen Experiences.”

Mary has presented her own research on giant screen films at both national and international conferences (Cinema-Tech 2005, Eastern Communication Association, Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, Society for Cinema and Media Studies, International Communication Association, Film and History, Media Fields Conference, and the Cultural Studies Association), published papers in the LF Examiner and media journals, and has a forthcoming publication, “Science and the Giant Screen” in the Encyclopedia of Science and Technology Communication.

Cherie Larson Rivers
Giant Screen and Digital Theater Consultant
Currently a consultant for RPG Productions and Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, NJ

Rivers has over 25 years experience working in giant screen theaters at three major science centers in the United States. Most recently, she served as Director of Featured Experiences at New Jersey’s Liberty Science Center, where she was responsible for researching, recommending, and implementing all traveling exhibitions, giant screen and digital 3D films. In addition, she oversaw the leasing, management, and touring of Liberty Science Center’s traveling exhibitions.

Prior to this, Rivers served for over 20 years as Manager of Omni and 3D Theaters at the Museum of Science in Boston.  Joining the Museum of Science in 1986, she prepared the IMAX Dome Theater for its grand opening, was responsible for all aspects of the theater technical operation and visitor services, and in 2004 was tasked with the successful analysis, implementation, and transformation of an existing theater into a new Digital 3D Cinema. Rivers began her career at the Seattle’s Pacific Science Center in 1982, where she operated the IMAX projector and worked at a variety of other theaters in the Seattle area including an IMAX Dome on the Seattle Waterfront.

Rivers has served on the Board of Directors of the Large Format Cinema Association (LFCA) and Giant Screen Cinema Association (GSCA), and has been an officer of the Museum Film Network and a member of the U.S. Theater Dome Alliance. She has also been on film advisory and theater production committees for over 20 giant screen film productions.

Statement of purpose: I have been an active participant in Giant Screen Cinema Association committees as well as its predecessor organizations for over 20 years. I have enjoyed participating in former committees such as the Production and Technical committee where I held the position of Technical sub-committee chair and was responsible for coordinating the conference Technical session for many years. I was a member of the conference committee where I assisted in the planning of the 2005 conference in Boston and the 2007 conference in Jersey City while participating as host for the Museum of Science and Liberty Science Center. For the last few years I have been an active member of the Professional Development Committee where I have assisted with the planning ofprofessional development sessions particularly geared towards theater technical operations.  

It was an honor to participate as a board member during the final years of Large Format Cinema Association and then as a member of the first board of the GSCA. All of my adult life I have worked at giant screen theaters, which has given me a life-long love and passion for the giant screen industry. As a consultant for both a science center whose revenue is partially dependent on a giant screen theater and a company who is dependent on the continuation of giant screen productions, the health and success of the Giant Screen Cinema Association is linked directly to the health and success of my future. Therefore, I eagerly desire to be elected as a member of the board so that I may continue to actively contribute to both the future of the GSCA as well as my own. I would appreciate your vote. Thank you.

How to Cast Your Vote:

If you received the e-mail notification from GSCA that you have been identified as the voting contact for your organization, please log in with your user name and password by clicking on the following link. Once you have logged in, a link to the ballot will appear below: Log In

Rick Gordon
Senior Vice President and Co-Founder
RPG Productions
Burbank, California, USA

Rick Gordon is President of RPG Productions, a post-production company specializing in giant screen and 3D films, restoration, trailer creation and television. Rick has supervised post-production for more than 75 giant screen films and other special venue shows. Recent credits include U2 3D, The Wildest Dream, Fly Me To The Moon, Sea Monsters, Mummies 3D, Dinosaurs 3D, and Wild Ocean. Rick was a founding member of LFCA and served on its Board for nine years. He has served the GSCA Board of Directors since its inception and currently works on the Industry Development Committee.

Statement of Purpose: Rick is dedicated to the original vision of GSCA, working to ensure that the needs of all segments of the giant screen industry are heard and addressed, making the GSCA a place where the hopes and concerns of both established corporations and the “little guy” are freely expressed and acted upon. The global health and expansion of the giant screen industry is his primary concern. He pledges to be a continuing very vocal spokesman for maintaining a positive focus and outlook, even during tough economic times.

Patricia Keighley
DKP 70MM Inc., an IMAX Company
Vice President & General Manager
Santa Monica, California, US

Patricia Keighley is co-founder, VP & General Manager of DKP 70MM Inc, an IMAX Company. Based in Santa Monica, California, DKP is privileged to have been involved in the film and digital post-production of more than 250 giant screen films over the past three decades.

Statement of Purpose: Patricia would be proud to continue to represent GSCA’s members on the Board of Directors as the Association evolves during this time of industry transition, blending emerging technologies with established best practices. Patricia’s goals are to continue to be actively involved in the Association and to expand the relevance and reach of the GSCA by increasing membership, providing leadership in the areas of new technology education and promoting interaction between the many industry stakeholders represented.

Mary Nucci
Research Analyst
Rutgers University
New Brunswick, New Jersey, US

Mary L. Nucci is a Research Analyst at Rutgers University where she focuses on public attitudes and media communication of science, and is writing her dissertation on giant screen films, Large Format and Mediation of the Natural World: Vision, Technology and the Sublime.

A biologist by training, Mary worked in the pharmaceutical industry for more than 15 years, and then at Liberty Science Center in New Jersey where she was the Director of the Health Floor. At Liberty Science Center, she served as a member of the Theater Experiences team where she was introduced to the giant screen industry. In this role she participated in reviews of giant screen films and decision making about film selection. It was this experience that led her to return to Rutgers University for her PhD in Media Communications, a logical outgrowth of her career focus in science communication. As a freelance science writer, she has developed educational programming for museums and educational institutions. She has taught classes at Rutgers University in Media Studies and Human Ecology.

Since her first attendance at a GSTA meeting as a Student Award Winner, Mary has served as a volunteer at GSTA, LFCA and GSCA meetings. At GSTA in 2005 she presented the invited talk “An academic perspective of large format” as part of the session "Science on the Giant Screen." At the newly reorganized GSCA meeting in 2006 she joined the Lifelong Learning Committee (LLL), of which she now serves as Co-Chair with Board Member Andy Gellis. With the LLL Committee, she organized two successful sessions for the 2006 GSCA meeting. The session “Giant Screen 101: From Script to Screen—Designing Educational Films” had approximately 100 attendees, and the “Revitalize and Revolutionize your Educational Program” had an attendance of nearly 140. In 2007 she managed the research project and presented the results of a LLL committee audience study “Know thy Audience: Baseline Responses to Giant Screen Films at Two Vancouver Theaters.”  

With the LLL committee, in 2008 she wrote and submitted a grant to NSF and with Emlyn Koster, CEO of the Liberty Science Center, served as co-Principal Investigator on Grant 0803987 ($131,049) which culminated in the one-day symposium, Connecting Society with Science: The Greater Potential of Giant Screen Experiences held at Jersey City, NJ, held in conjunction with the 2008 GSCA meeting. At the 2009 GSCA meeting, along with Emlyn Koster and Valerie-Knight Williams she presented the results of the symposium in the session “Lessons Learned from GSCA’s 2008 Symposium, Connecting Society with Science: The Greater Potential of Giant Screen Experiences.”

Mary has presented her own research on giant screen films at both national and international conferences (Cinema-Tech 2005, Eastern Communication Association, Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, Society for Cinema and Media Studies, International Communication Association, Film and History, Media Fields Conference, and the Cultural Studies Association), published papers in the LF Examiner and media journals, and has a forthcoming publication, “Science and the Giant Screen” in the Encyclopedia of Science and Technology Communication.

Cherie Larson Rivers
Giant Screen and Digital Theater Consultant
Currently a consultant for RPG Productions and Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, NJ

Rivers has over 25 years experience working in giant screen theaters at three major science centers in the United States. Most recently, she served as Director of Featured Experiences at New Jersey’s Liberty Science Center, where she was responsible for researching, recommending, and implementing all traveling exhibitions, giant screen and digital 3D films. In addition, she oversaw the leasing, management, and touring of Liberty Science Center’s traveling exhibitions.

Prior to this, Rivers served for over 20 years as Manager of Omni and 3D Theaters at the Museum of Science in Boston.  Joining the Museum of Science in 1986, she prepared the IMAX Dome Theater for its grand opening, was responsible for all aspects of the theater technical operation and visitor services, and in 2004 was tasked with the successful analysis, implementation, and transformation of an existing theater into a new Digital 3D Cinema. Rivers began her career at the Seattle’s Pacific Science Center in 1982, where she operated the IMAX projector and worked at a variety of other theaters in the Seattle area including an IMAX Dome on the Seattle Waterfront.

Rivers has served on the Board of Directors of the Large Format Cinema Association (LFCA) and Giant Screen Cinema Association (GSCA), and has been an officer of the Museum Film Network and a member of the U.S. Theater Dome Alliance. She has also been on film advisory and theater production committees for over 20 giant screen film productions.

Statement of purpose: I have been an active participant in Giant Screen Cinema Association committees as well as its predecessor organizations for over 20 years. I have enjoyed participating in former committees such as the Production and Technical committee where I held the position of Technical sub-committee chair and was responsible for coordinating the conference Technical session for many years. I was a member of the conference committee where I assisted in the planning of the 2005 conference in Boston and the 2007 conference in Jersey City while participating as host for the Museum of Science and Liberty Science Center. For the last few years I have been an active member of the Professional Development Committee where I have assisted with the planning ofprofessional development sessions particularly geared towards theater technical operations.  

It was an honor to participate as a board member during the final years of Large Format Cinema Association and then as a member of the first board of the GSCA. All of my adult life I have worked at giant screen theaters, which has given me a life-long love and passion for the giant screen industry. As a consultant for both a science center whose revenue is partially dependent on a giant screen theater and a company who is dependent on the continuation of giant screen productions, the health and success of the Giant Screen Cinema Association is linked directly to the health and success of my future. Therefore, I eagerly desire to be elected as a member of the board so that I may continue to actively contribute to both the future of the GSCA as well as my own. I would appreciate your vote. Thank you.

How to Cast Your Vote:

If you received the e-mail notification from GSCA that you have been identified as the voting contact for your organization, please log in with your user name and password by clicking on the following link. Once you have logged in, a link to the ballot will appear below: Log In