Cinematical

Like most movie bloggers, I read the trade magazines. But I don't just read the obvious ones, like Variety and The Hollywood Reporter. I also read related trades, such as Professional Candy Buyer and In Focus. The latter of these was the official magazine for the National Association of Theatre Owners, but its final issue has just hit the streets (er, cinemas). I haven't actually read the print version since leaving my former job as a theater manager, but I've kept up with NATO and the industry via the magazine's website.

With the end of In Focus, NATO will not be without a trade. It has chosen Box Office magazine, which has been around since 1920, to be its official publication. I've never been a big fan of the B.O.M. site, mainly because I was never familiar with the print version, but the site does have more in the way of content, like reviews and blogs, than the In Focus site. I guess I'll have to get used to it, as it will now be my main source for theater industry news and info.

I'm not sure how many of our readers are that interested in multiplex innovation and concession trends, so I rarely blog about the things I learn from In Focus, but I thought I'd share some of the last stories the trade has featured in its pages ...

• "M.I.A. '06" features a list of the movie stars who took the last year off from the big screen and previews their projects set for release in 2007. Because this is a business magazine, it spotlights the career peaks of each actor and actress in terms of box office gross. Notice how few of these peaks actually represent good movies.
• "Get It Yourself!" explores the ever-growing appeal for multiplexes to feature self-serve concessions. I think there are better ways to cater moviegoers who can't stand long lines but still want their snacks, and I've seen ideas like hot-food vending machines, popcorn vending machines and others fail to garner customer interest. But, unfortunately, I don't get to make such decisions for theatre chains, and that is one of the reasons I no longer work for one.
• Bow Tie Acquires Crown - Few people outside of my home state of Connecticut will care that all the Crown Theatres are now called Bow Tie theatres, but I hope everyone will agree that the new owners, who in their defense have been around for over a century, have the dorkiest name in cinemas.
  
• Washington Report - Not all megaplex openings and box office previews, In Focus can get political. In this report, the NATO Washington Counsel addresses the issues regarding cinemas and the Americans with Disabilities Act as NATO awaits congressional hearings that will look into possible problems concerning the ADA's current scope.