In this week’s episode of The Boxoffice Podcast, co-hosts Daniel Loria and Rebecca Pahle discuss this week’s box office numbers with The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It taking the top spot as A Quiet Place Part II dropped to second place. A trio of family titles round out the top five movies in the domestic market, potentially setting the stage for a strong debut for Sony’s Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway.Chris Hamel, president of the Gateway Film Center in Columbus, Ohio joins the podcast in the debut edition of our new monthly segment, Indie Focus, presented by Spotlight Cinema Networks. Chris discusses the internal and external challenges of operating an independent theater during the pandemic and shares his optimism on an eventual recovery for the movie theater industry. Give us your feedback on our podcast by accessing this survey: https://forms.gle/CcuvaXCEpgPLQ6d18 Episode Resources:
Spotlight Cinema Networks
Gateway Film Center
What to Listen For
00:00 Intro
01:26 It was a battle of the horror sequels in the box office weekend
06:02 Cruella drops on its second week, Untamed joins top 5 films
11:36 The Gateway Film Center is focused on artists and filmmakers
13:21 Earned the trust of legacy art leaders and built meaningful relationships
15:14 Gateway hosts events and serves as a venue for film festivals and screenings
17:49 Understanding the proper health measures required to be a responsible exhibitor
20:31 Concession offered were limited based on safety protocols
25:12 The curatorial aspect is forming a trust and bond with the audience  
29:10 Appealing to national brands while maintaining good relationships with local venues