What misconceptions do people have about the movie theater business that you’ve tried to correct but haven’t been successful with?
ticket price. Despite all the innovations and improvements over the last 10-20 years that have improved the cinema experience in every way, including technology, sound systems and premium screens, today’s average ticket prices are still high. The cost of living is lower than it was in the 1970s. Yet people always say movie tickets are too expensive.
What are the biggest challenges facing the theatrical screening business in the future?
I think the existential challenges like the pandemic and the streaming wars are gone. I am the most optimistic about the future of business in 30 years. The biggest issue for the time being is that it will take time to restore the balance sheet.
In the long run, two things are still important. One is producing and distributing really good films with diverse casts and diverse themes that appeal to all demographics across all genres, and the other is performing in theaters that offer diversity and different values. A really good operating experience. judgment. If our studio partners continue to make really great films that appeal to diverse audiences, and if we continue to innovate and upgrade the cinematic experience, I’m very bullish about the long-term health of the industry.
Did you like movies before you got this job?
i like movies But I am primarily a First Amendment enthusiast and was a First Amendment attorney in Washington. Our members are going to play everything from the most radical left-wing anarchist films to the most conservative religious films, but we get protests from both sides. For me, it was always like, “Go for it.” The cinema is the city hall of modern society. A place for people to collectively experience and discuss the issues of the day.
What do you miss the most?
I don’t know who I miss the most, the really aggressive know-it-alls in Hollywood or the really aggressive know-it-alls in Washington, DC. Many of these people are really good friends of mine, and I intend to develop lasting relationships with both creators and studio executives, but I don’t think it’s because they run big studios, or the US Senate. But that doesn’t mean you know everything. It’s not to be missed.
