Dodd Cinemacon Speech
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Sen. Chris DoddChairman and CEO, MPAARemarks to CinemaCon 2012, Las VegasTuesday, April 24, 2012
Thank you, Nora (Dashwood), for that nice introduction. And thank you, John (Fithian)for being such a good partner and friend.I had the privilege of speaking at CinemaCon last year, on what was just my ninth dayas Chairman and CEO of the MPAA.
What a year it’s been!
It has
been challenging, as much as any year in the MPAA’s 90
-year history. But thereis also reason for great optimism and excitement.New technologies, new business models, new opportunities
–
this is a time oftransformative change, and it is critical in my view that the MPAA and NATO engage thefuture, together.In the midst of all this,
one thing hasn’t changed. The production and
exhibitionindustries cannot succeed
–
cannot survive
–
without each other.Traditionally, so called disruptive innovations
–
radio, TV, the VCR -- inspired fearamong filmmakers and exhibitors.In 1982, my dear friend and longtime iconic leader of the MPAA, Jack Valenti, famouslysaid that the VCR was like the Boston Strangler to our industry.Among his many talents, Jack was also colorful.Well, the point is, we are, three decades later, not only alive but thriving.In fact, similar dire predictions for our industry occurred with the arrival of sound, video,and of course television. In each and every case, these new technologies not only didnot threaten our industry
–
they enhanced it.While this anxiety about change has at times marked our past, this is not how we areapproaching our future.The film industry
–
home to some of
the world’s most inspiring
visionaries andinnovators
–
embraces the future, its innovations and its challenges.It is important to remember that filmmaking itself was originally, and remains today, a
“disruptive technology
.
”
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I’m reminded of that
fact every day as I travel and meet the men and women who makemovies and who never tire of honing and improving their craft.Their imagination, their dedication, their creativity and innovation is what has ensuredthat
“
going to the movies
”
at one of your spectacular theaters, is still the most popularpast time in the United States.Not that this audience needs proof of that statement, but just in case there may besome doubters in our midst, later this morning, you will see the hard evidence in the reelof movies that have made more than $100 million each at the box office.You are also going to see some eye-popping new creative technologies in the WarnerBros. presentation:
Tim Burton’s Dark Shadows
with Johnny Depp as the vampire Barnabas Collins;
Christopher Nolan’s
The Dark Knight Rises
with Christian Bale as Batman
And Peter Ja
ckson’s
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
You saw similar examples of not just new technology but the creative interplay betweencutting edge visuals and resonant storytelling, unveiled by Paramount and DreamWorksAnimation.In the coming days, you will see it again and again
–
the marriage of technologicalwizardry and great storytelling
that is Hollywood’s hallmark,
from Walt Disney, Sony,Twentieth Century Fox, and Universal, which like Paramount is celebrating its 100
th
birthday this year.We are not just improving and reimagining our product. We are also evolving ourbusiness model, experimenting with new offerings that will allow consumers to purchasethe content they want to see, and view it on the platforms they want to use, at a price
that’s right for them.
That in no way changes the simple fact that the best way to see our movies is in yourtheaters, in the dark, on the big screen. I believe that very passionately
–
but moreimportantly - the studios I represent do as well.This much is true: our greatest movies were and are made for your theaters, evokingthe collective wonder, emotion, and joy that only comes in that setting.Martin Scorsese, who you will hear from later this week, shares that passion.He will tell you how the big screens of his Little Italy were his wondrous escape growingup.Like Martin Scorsese, all the great filmmakers share this view.
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Today, screens of all sizes are part of our lives. And while the iPad is revolutionarytechnology
–
even for watching movies
–
it will never recreate the magic of the bigscreen.
It’s our task to show people what
films can do on all of those screens, but we must alsoremind them of that singular and unrivaled experience that can only happen in yourtheaters.I want to quote a survey released just this week by the IBM Institute for Business Value:
“The much heralded ‘connected consumer era’ is no longer on the way; it has arrived.Today’s connected consumers are empowered, demanding instant access to
personalized content on their own terms
.”
This new age of the connected consumer is here, and so we must adapt.Our business has become much more than simply making a great movie and invitingour customers to a theater.We need to make the case
–
both to the new, younger
“connected consumers
,
”
and toothers who wonder if the movie-going experience remains something special,something to be savored and enjoyed, something so innovative and creative that itcannot be duplicated at home no matter how many boxes they have.I want to applaud NATO for taking this challenge head-on, scheduling sessions atCinemaCon
on connecting with today’s movie
-going audience through socialnetworking, on enhancing your food concessions through digital technology and othermeans, and on using your theaters to offer alternative content like ballet and prize-fighting that can benefit from the immediacy of the big screen and surround sound.Thanks to our great teamwork
, we’ve had
very good news at the box office.Over the past five years, North American box office revenues are up six percent.Last
year’s total worldwide revenue of $32.6 billion represented yet another record high.
And our recent agreement with the Chinese government will open that market of 1.3billion people to more American films.Those international ticket sales will fund more production around the world, whichmeans more and better movies for all audiences including, of course, Americanaudiences.This year has already begun with a tremendous start: as of April 19
–
the box office wasup 17 percent over the same period last year.
