INDIE FOCUS with Gateway Film Center's Chris Hamel, Presented by Spotlight Cinema Networks

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. 

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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