Resource Categories Theater

Theater Reopening Tips and Best Practices

What are the top three things that made a difference in reopening a theater? GSCA member theaters will take us inside their theaters in a lightning round of the top three things that made a difference in their reopening. They’ll share their insights and advice on everything from operations to programming, ticketing, and marketing. Presented at the GSCA 2021 Virtual Conference Session organizer: Therese Andrade Presenters: John Armistead, Manager of IMAX, Sci-Port Louisiana’s Science Center, Shreveport, LA Caroline Borgudd, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, [...]

Theater Reopening Tips and Best Practices2023-12-06T19:30:24+00:00

New Directions in Giant Screen Films

How do we keep giant screen programming relevant in this digital age? What market trends can inform us about what today’s audiences are seeking? How do we best position our theaters in this new, post-pandemic era? These questions and more will be explored, guided by recent case studies from films such as Mesmerica and Superpower Dogs that reveal the unique power of giant screen cinema to deeply engage and inform audiences. Presented at the GSCA 2021 Virtual Conference Session organizer: Ed Lantz, Vortex Immersion Media Presenters: Jonathan Bird, President [...]

New Directions in Giant Screen Films2025-04-07T17:42:06+00:00

New Content and New Ways to Program

In this session we’ll explore innovative new programming, including both new content and new ways to program more traditional content. Our panel of giant screen theater and distribution veterans will share examples, their experiences with it, and their recommendations for success. This session will address these and other questions: How can you stay true to your brand, focus on the consumer, and expand your business? How does a theater determine what new audiences may be underserved by their current slate, and what programming changes would [...]

New Content and New Ways to Program2023-12-06T19:38:21+00:00

Marketing Focused Social Media

Social media marketing has moved beyond just Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram with TikTok exploding onto the scene—creating new social media superstars and opportunities for engagement and impact. In this session, we’ll take a bird’s eye view of the platform and then dive in deep with a small museum that gained more than a million followers in just a few months. Next, we’ll learn why the audience on TikTok might just be the best one to engage for real social change—if you can connect with them [...]

Marketing Focused Social Media2023-12-06T19:40:42+00:00

The National STEM Gaming Network: Esports Takes Over the Big Screen

The explosive popularity of "esports'' and video games presents a fantastic opportunity for science and technology centers to engage the K-12 audience and offer unique educational opportunities. Embedded in every video game are rich elements of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. With our combined technology, alignment of our educational missions, and assets such as giant screen digital cinemas, science and technology centers are excellent venues to host educational and entertaining programs based around gaming. From matches and tournaments, to watch parties and livestream viewing [...]

The National STEM Gaming Network: Esports Takes Over the Big Screen2023-12-06T19:58:32+00:00

Box Office Rally: Creative Ways to Upsell

Improv actors Mookie Harris and Kelsey VanVoorst perform scripted and improvised scenes using real-life box office situations to propose creative ways to upsell and increase capture rate. This session was part of the GSCA Marketing Symposium held in Chicago in 2017.

Box Office Rally: Creative Ways to Upsell2023-12-06T17:06:55+00:00

Theater Re-Opening Success Stories

Theater Reopening Success Stories is a special report featuring tips and inspiring stories from theaters that have seen high demand for the premium theater experience since reopening after the COVID-19 shutdowns. Find out how they and other GSCA members are managing challenges, embracing opportunities, rethinking how they reach audiences, and finding hope for the future. Organized by the GSCA Member Services Committee, with special thanks to Ryan Holota (Saskatchewan Science Centre), Heather Farnworth (Ontario Science Centre), Diane Carlson (Giant Screen Cinema Consulting), and Shauna Badheka (MacGillivray [...]

Theater Re-Opening Success Stories2023-12-06T20:10:02+00:00

Popcorn, Sodas, and Candy…Oh, My!

By Michelle Duncan, formerly from The Tech and now at Flying Fish Exhibits "There are choices that you can make to help achieve your revenue and operational goals for your concessions stand, from pricing to product choice and even to sizing." The IMAX® Dome Theater at The Tech Museum in San Jose, California, opened in 1998. In 2003, we began to offer traditional movie concessions. I know that some institutional giant screens are just dipping their toes into the concessions world. As we [...]

Popcorn, Sodas, and Candy…Oh, My!2023-12-06T23:03:44+00:00

The Importance of Partnerships

By Samantha Reaves, Challenger Learning Center of Tallahassee "For many of our film launches, anniversary celebrations, and community events, our success has stemmed from the combined resources, support, and enthusiasm from partnering organizations." Stronger together. Collaboration is key. There’s no “I” in “TEAM.” Chances are, you’ve heard these before, as well as many other tropes touting the importance of teamwork. There’s a reason for it: organizations who work together effectively achieve better results. In my experience at the Challenger Learning Center in Tallahassee, [...]

The Importance of Partnerships2023-12-06T22:31:41+00:00

How Giant Screen Programming Can Expand The Opportunities for Member and Donor Engagement

By Diane Carlson, Giant Screen Cinema Consulting "Members and donors are a strategic stakeholder group, and it is beneficial to the institution as a whole for them to have a special relationship with the GS theater that transcends the transactional act of buying a ticket." There is generally a lot of discussion about how giant screen (GS) films can be linked to education or exhibit programming. There has not been as much discussion of how the theater can link to other endeavors of [...]

How Giant Screen Programming Can Expand The Opportunities for Member and Donor Engagement2023-12-06T22:23:43+00:00