Pixar’s Elemental is a story about finding your way in the tribal Element City and through an unlikely pair reminds us how much more we have in common with each other than we may realize. In this live taping at CinemaCon, the annual gathering of Hollywood and movie theater owners, Elemental’s Director Peter Sohn joins guests Dan McGrath of Cineplex and Paul Dergarabedian of Comscore to ponder with Wim and Jim the upcoming slate of films, technological advances and the state of the industry for the year ahead. You’ll be surprised to know what they have in common, and perhaps not surprised that one shared passion worldwide is going to the movies.

Facing mounting challenges from debt load, to inflationary pressures and the streaming revolution, the movie theater business has a clear message for Hollywood: we need more movies. In an industry tied to the Hollywood film supply, box office expert Paul Dergarabedian joins Wim and Jim to scrutinize the coming slate of films in 2023 and what movie chains and fans can expect from some of the biggest and most widely anticipated titles in the year ahead.

The movie industry’s recovery from a worldwide pandemic is far from complete. Theaters have been forced to innovate and invest back in the basics, such as picture quality, sound, seats and food and beverage. Tim League, Founder of Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, sees the improvement of the baseline experience as the best way to ensure habitual movie-going and joins this podcast with Wim and Jim to discuss cinema and how Alamo Drafthouse makes the theater experience unique.

The creation and growth of the metaverse promises to change our world. But so far how is it delivering on its promise? Guido Meardi of V-Nova joins the podcast to explain the metaverse, its practical applications and the evolution of less cumbersome headsets for wider user adoption. Find out in this episode what we can expect to see in the next ten years with the metaverse.

Avatar: The Way of Water is now passing over the $2 billion dollar box office mark as audiences return to cinema in record numbers to witness this spectacular visual masterpiece. Years in the making, the performance capture techniques and virtual photography used on the film placed heavy demands on the editorial team. Two of those editors, Stephen Rivkin and John Refoua, join Wim and Jim in this podcast episode to reveal what it was like working with James Cameron and how they built a workflow that aimed to maximize efficiency and creativity.

In his latest film Armageddon Time, director James Gray examines his own past in a deeply personal coming-of-age story about the complexity and contradictions a child confronts growing up in 1980s Queens. With curation and care of cinema as an art form, Grey joins host Jim Chabin to discuss his thought-provoking new film, what the future holds for the cinema business and why he makes movies for the big screen. 

Guest: Tim Richards, Founder & CEO, Vue International;

From the evolution of preferred seating to the revolution of technology-driven booking systems and premium experiences, movie theater chains continue to reinvent the business for movie-goers. While on the horizon of big releases over the next six weeks, from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever to Avatar: The Way Of Water, in this podcast episode Wim and Jim have a conversation with one of the most innovative CEOs in the industry, Tim Richards of Vue International. Find out what inspires Tim to revolutionize the cinema experience for his customers.

Guest: Miguel Mier, Chief Operating Officer, Cinépolis;

With a string of blockbusters—including Avatar: The Way of Water—on the way to your local cineplex, Miguel Mier of Cinépolis takes us behind the business of delivering magical experiences to movie fans worldwide. Find out what one of our industry’s most respected leaders is excited about in the year ahead and how the fast growing Cinépolis continues to build premium experiences for audiences in more than nineteen countries.

Guest: Kathleen Rogers, President, EARTHDAY.ORG;

What gives environmental advocates like Kathleen Rogers, President of EARTHDAY.ORG, hope for the future of the planet? As a “pathological optimist” and senior leader of an activist organization, Kathleen shares her thoughts with Wim and Jim on this podcast episode on the role media and entertainment play in sustainability, how companies can do the right thing while making record profits and tangible ways each of us can make a difference for the best.

Guest: Stephen Owen, President and CEO, First Entertainment Credit Union;

The motion picture and streaming boom has buoyed the entertainment industry, keeping the workforce vigorous during the pandemic and never busier to meet the growing demand for content. But with new challenges on the horizon like rising inflation and a potential recession, how can Hollywood’s below-the-line workers best prepare for what’s to come in the next 12 months? In his new role as President and CEO of First Entertainment Credit Union, Stephen Owen joins Wim and Jim in this podcast episode to advise today’s entertainment professional on effective strategies to manage their finances during these uncertain times.