The National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) has launched online its first-ever digital video series, Behind the Screens: The Faces of Exhibition, shining a spotlight on the people who own and operate movie theaters across the country on NATO’s new website at https://theatreowners.org/behind-the-screens/.
Behind the Screens’ six individual shortsdebuted last week at CinemaCon, and received a positive reception in Las Vegas from nearly 6,000 attendees of the world’s largest gathering of movie theater owners from around the world. The six short subjects follow the stories of dedicated exhibition leaders, representing people from major chains to the smaller independents representing only one or two screens.
Behind the Screens was produced by NATO in association with FilmFrog.
“We are excited to premiere Behind the Screens to showcase the talented and passionate people who make exhibition special,” said Michael O’Leary, NATO’s President & CEO.
“The theatrical experience would not be what it is without their dedication and creativity. We look forward to sharing more member stories in the years ahead.”
The enterprising exhibition leaders featured in the first six videos are:
Mayte Alquicira, Loyalty Manager, Cinépolis USA
Based in Dallas, Mayte is devoted to creating great experiences for a wide variety of moviegoers with unique loyalty offerings.
David Haywood, SVP Food & Beverage, Cinemark
Headquartered in Plano, Texas, David is responisble for pairing concessions with film to create new moviegoing memories.
J.D. Loeks, CEO, Studio C/Celebration Cinema
Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, J.D. and his family are featured for their efforts in building a multipex and piazza as the anchor of a revitalized downtown entertainment hub.
Lauren McChesney & Matt McClanahan, Co-owners, Shankweiler’s Drive-In
Located in Lehigh, PA, this pioneering couple is reviving America’s oldest continually operating community drive-in theater.
Francisco Schlotterbeck, CEO, Maya Cinemas
A California/Nevada chain bringing a premium movie experience to family-oriented underserved communities.
Emelyn Stuart, Stuart Cinema and Café
Emelyn founded this innovative neighborhood cornerstone cinema in Brooklyn, serving under-represented communities. She is the first Black Latina to own a movie theater in New York City.
NATO also launched a special program celebrating the longevity of its membership at CinemaCon this year. Through its Legacy Program, NATO is honoring movie theatre companies that have been in business for 50, 75, and 100 years. The numbers are impressive: 69 companies have been in business for 50 years, 89 companies for 75 years, and 56 companies for over a century.
“The future of the exhibition industry is bright,” added O’Leary. “A huge reason why: it’s the people in this industry who never stop innovating and creating the experiences that movie fans around the world love. We are excited to share the stories of just a few of these amazing individuals this year.”
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