Film Journal July 2018

TRADE TALK
VOX AND IMAX
PACT FOR SAUDI SCREENS
IMAX Corporation
and VOX Cinemas, the
Middle East’s largest cinema
exhibitor, announced a sales
agreement for a minimum of
four new IMAX theatres in
Saudi Arabia. The first IMAX
theatre has opened at VOX
Cinemas’ new four-screen
multiplex in Saudi Arabia at
Riyadh Park Mall. VOX also
plans to open IMAX theatres
in Majid Al Futtaim’s City
Centre Ishbiliyah and Mall of
Saudi.
LANDMARK THEATRES
ADDS ATOM TICKETS
Atom Tickets, the social
movie-ticketing platform, secured
a deal with Landmark
Theatres, the nation’s largest
theatre circuit dedicated
to exhibiting independent
film. The deal enables Atom
Tickets across Landmark
Theatre’s 53 theatres and
255 screens.
“We’re thrilled to
partner with Landmark
Theatres, a legendary
exhibitor that has some of
the most iconic theatres in
the country, to deliver the
best way for moviegoers
to plan a night out at the
movies,” said Matthew Bakal,
chairman and co-founder of
Atom Tickets.
SCREENVISION REVEALS
NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH
At its recent Upfront
event in New York City,
leading cinema-advertising
company Screenvision Media
unveiled the results of neuroscience
research showing
the powerful effect that the
emotional connection to
movies and the moviegoing auditoriums. Additionally, 15
experience has on memory more locations will feature
and recall. Additionally, the one or more new PLF
company introduced its latest
capabilities and alliances Beyond in-auditorium
auditoriums.
around augmented reality enhancements, updates
with Fuze Viewer, virtual reality
with VRX, and eSports of special food and
include the addition
with Hollywood eSports. beverage concepts at 10
According to
more locations. These
Screenvision Media’s
include Marcus’ Take Five
neuroscience research, Lounge℠, Reel Sizzle®,
moviegoers view the screen Zaffiro’s℠ Express and Big
for 84% of an ad’s duration. Screen Bistro℠ concepts.
Viewers also pay more
attention to ads in cinema’s QSC NAMES YARLAGADDA
immersive environment than CHIEF TECH OFFICER
they do on television, where QSC announced the appointment
of Aravind Yarl-
more than half of viewers
lose attention during ads. agadda to the newly created
For the second year role of chief technology officer
and executive VP, prod-
running, Screenvision Media
announced its “10 Pack,” uct development. Yarlagadda
allowing upfront advertisers joins QSC from Schneider
to not only align with the Electric, where he held senior
executive roles in prod-
biggest tentpole movies of
the year, but to also secure uct management, research
preferred ad placement and development, marketing,
throughout the year.
strategic partnerships and
new business initiatives.
MARCUS ADDS AMENITIES “Over the past years, we
IN 23 LOCATIONS
have continued to make large
Marcus Theatres
investments into our product
announced that 23 theatres development organization,
in eight states are preparing and as a result, we now
for the summer blockbuster have a sizeable organization
season with new amenities. poised for continued
Extensive renovations over innovation. Aravind’s new
the past year added signature role will allow us to organize
DreamLounger℠ recliner product development as its
seating, premium large own major function under
format (PLF) screens and one senior executive leader,”
enticing food and beverage said Joe Pham, president and
concepts.
CEO of QSC.
Renovations to these
23 properties were either FOX EXPLORES
completed in the past year NEW SCREENX TITLES
or will be finished in the
Twentieth Century Fox
coming months. Twentyone
additional properties discussions to continue their
and ScreenX are in advanced
will feature DreamLounger partnership and release
recliners in all non-IMAX new films in the panoramic
270-degree cinema technology
format.
“We love giving our fans
as many options as possible
to enjoy our films and
ScreenX is definitely a great
way to see a movie. After
the success of Kingsman: The
Golden Circle last year, we
look forward to continuing
this partnership,” said
Andrew Cripps, president of
international film distribution
at 20th Century Fox.
In the past 12 months,
ScreenX-installed
auditoriums have grown from
107 to 142, a 33% increase.
VISTA GROUP SIGNS
JAPAN’S AEON CIRCUIT
Vista Group International
signed Aeon Entertainment
Co. Ltd. as its first customer
in Japan. Vista Group companies
Vista Entertainment
Solutions and Movio will
provide their respective
cinema-management and
marketing data-analytics
software systems to Aeon,
which operates 91 cinema
sites throughout Japan comprising
774 screens.
The successful
negotiation of the agreement
conducted over more than
two years was achieved
with the support of Vista’s
in-market business partner
VINX Corporation, who
will continue to work
with Vista to execute the
new agreement including
the deployment of Vista’s
software and ongoing
support.
FANDANGO ALIGNS
WITH GOOGLE ASSISTANT
Fandango launched an
action on the Google Assis-
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