This was hardly what we planned for our first Marquee newsletter of the year. As we closed out 2024 with a global theatrical box that wasn’t nearly as bad as originally forecast, with full-year results estimated to be USD $30.5 billion, and industry analysts predicting an 8% uptick in 2025, we were hoping to jumpstart the year with a newsletter filled with our usual informative news updates.
Instead, like many throughout the world, we have watched in horror as whole portions of Los Angeles have been leveled by numerous wildfires. Within a 24-hour period at least two neighborhoods, filled predominantly with film and television industry professionals of all stripes, were reduced to nothing more than ash. For those of us who live in Los Angeles, like myself, the devastation the wildfires have left behind is hard to put into words. Almost everyone knows at least one friend or family member that lost their homes. The city that produces countless movies which generate billions of dollars annually, will take years to recover and may truly never be the same again. Our thoughts go out to all those that have been affected by the wildfires as well as the first responders actively working on them.
Because the wildfires are still not entirely extinguished, the International Cinema Technology Association (ICTA) decided to transition this week’s annual Los Angeles Seminar Series from an in-person event to a virtual conference. We were grateful here at Celluloid Junkie that we could lend a hand in helping ICTA pull off what turned out to be an amazing, albeit slightly different, conference. If you weren’t able to join the ICTA’s conference live, or just want to watch the sessions again, you can view them on demand here.
Another event we wanted to make you aware of is actually part of an ongoing series that Christie has been producing. CineSparks continues to feature industry experts sharing their stories and discussing cinema, trends and opportunities for the next generation of film professionals. Specifically designed for recent graduates or up-and-comers in the film business, each session has been so informative that even industry veterans should appreciate them. The latest CineSparks webinar was held on 14 January and featured Dominic Glynn, a Senior Scientist at Pixar Animation Studios. If you missed it, don’t worry, you can always catch up on-demand here.
We’d like to thank Christie for sponsoring The Marquee.
Finally, we resume the CJ Cinema Summit on Wednesday, 22 January, with our 100th session focused on a topic that will surely dominate the year; the premium experience. Specifically, we’ll be focusing on the technology that is helping cinema operators all over the world offer premium experiences to moviegoers. Harkness Screens is sponsoring the summit which will feature panelists from Barco, Christie and Dolby. Keep an eye on your inbox for the announcement and invite for the summit which should be arriving shortly. In the meantime, you can always register for free right here.
We look forward to resuming our normal CJ Marquee newsletters next week.
Sponsor Spotlight
Every Film is an Experiment — and That’s a Good Thing!”
Making movies at scale means that involving the hard sciences is a necessity. How do you build an image you can’t see on a cinema screen that doesn’t exist yet? And how do you do it with a cost and confidence that enables the finest nuance of ambitious art? If you’re an emerging professional in post-production or cinema, or looking to transition into a different role, watch the free on-demand CineSparks webinar hosted by Christie, and featuring Dominic Glynn, Senior Scientist at Pixar Animation Studios. He talks about his “unconventional” journey into the industry, the connection between science and art, post-production roles, technology and more. Watch it here at the link below. You may need to register, but it’s free.
Celluloid Junkie is the leading online resource dedicated to the global film and cinema business. The Marquee is our newsletter focused on motion picture exhibition; keeping industry professionals informed of important news, the latest trends and insightful analysis
