Executives Tout Importance of Legacy Theatrical Business at DEG EnTech Confab

While new technology has come and gone, theaters are still integral to the health of the entertainment business, said executives speaking June 3 at the EnTech Fest and Summer Symposium presented by DEG: The Digital Entertainment Group.

“The movie business has been called dead from 75 to 50 years ago,” said National CineMedia’s Tom Lesinski. “It’s remarkable that it’s still around.”

Lesinski, who was a key player in the early days of DVD and the DEG, noted, “20 years later the DVD business is gone, and cinema is still here.” He now helps theaters survive with pre-screening advertising.

“I am the guy responsible for making you watch advertising in movie theaters,” he said, adding that in 20 years National CineMedia has paid out more than $6 billion to exhibitors.

While it’s been an “interesting” four or five months with theatrical receipts waning and then staging a comeback with films such as A Minecraft Movie and Lilo & Stitch, “still, a great deal of emphasis is placed on the box office,” noted Ron Schwartz, president and chief operating officer, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group.

”I think it’s wildly important, and it drives everything,” added Michael Burns, Lionsgate vice chairman.

While the box office take still hasn’t recovered from the pandemic, Lesinski said the shortening of windows between theatrical and home entertainment outlets such as streaming has stabilized somewhat.

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