Resource Tags Professional Development Session

Theater and Filmmaking Insights: Sharing for Success: Neale Johantgen, Indiana State Museum

Previously titled “Giant Screen 101,” this session is more than just a first-timer’s introduction to the giant screen industry. Seasoned veterans and newcomers alike will take away new ideas and contacts from this highly engaging and informative session. The session includes post-COVID success stories, how to program feature films and documentaries, and how to make giant screen theaters stand out from the competition. Filmmakers share insights on the challenges of making films for the giant screen as well as the wonderful creative opportunities provided by [...]

By Kelly Germain|2023-12-06T18:09:12+00:00June 22nd, 2023|

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, [...]

By Kelly Germain|2023-12-06T19:30:24+00:00June 21st, 2023|

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 [...]

By Kelly Germain|2023-12-06T19:31:22+00:00June 21st, 2023|

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 [...]

By Kelly Germain|2023-12-06T19:38:21+00:00June 21st, 2023|

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 [...]

By Kelly Germain|2023-12-06T19:40:42+00:00June 20th, 2023|

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 [...]

By Kelly Germain|2023-12-06T19:58:32+00:00June 20th, 2023|

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Distributor-Exhibitor Relations

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 [...]

By Kelly Germain|2023-06-20T20:28:02+00:00June 20th, 2023|

Improving the Business Model: We Know It Has to Change, But How?

The giant screen business model has many components to it, but any lasting, workable changes will likely have to begin with the theater-distributor relationship. This session features candid conversations between veteran distributors and exhibitors in the GS industry about the core issues of programming, admission pricing and packaging, marketing, and finding an equitable way to split a slowly contracting pie. Discussing old and new approaches, and in- and out-of-the box ideas, panelists are asked a series of questions to stimulate honest and open dialogue about [...]

By Kelly Germain|2023-12-06T20:03:06+00:00June 16th, 2023|

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.

By Kelly Germain|2023-12-06T17:06:55+00:00June 16th, 2023|