David Campbell
Member Profile
How has Cinema United membership been impactful to you and/or your business?Membership, and participation, in Cinema United and regional associations provides invaluable opportunities to make connections with other exhibitors and vendors, to learn about best practices, new products or services, and innovations that improve our operations. Aside from business, forming personal connections and friendships is perhaps the most rewarding.
My first real job during high school was with a 4-screen second-run theatre; when they closed, I was lucky enough to be offered a spot at a family-owned single screen historic theatre. There, I fell in love with the movie business while selling tickets from the tiny box office, serving concessions from a snack bar just big enough for two, threading the projector, watching movies from the balcony or opera boxes, listening to the theatre pipe organ, and running the spotlight or ‘old sparky’ switchboard for live events. A small group of family and employees worked together to create a unique and memorable experience from the moment a customer walked under the vibrant neon marquee till the velvet curtain closed. My time there instilled a love for creating those magical memories that only the cinema experience can provide.
Working with a fantastic group of dedicated people who love cinema and strive to provide our customers with the best experiences.
Meeting my wife, proposing at our first CinemaCon, and welcoming our son (who is a natural with a red toy broom) is at the top of the list.
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One that really sticks out in my mind is the screening of Top Gun: Maverick at CinemaCon. As the credits rolled with everyone was clapping on their feet, it was not just an exhilarating movie, but it also reaffirmed the importance of experiencing a movie on the big screen and the thrill audiences would get being reminded of that. It felt like our industry turned the corner that afternoon from ‘the dark days’ and headed towards a brighter future. Also, I love watching movies from a balcony!
Our industry is ever-evolving; finding new technologies and product offerings to enhance and expand the moviegoing experience and staying relevant in an often-fickle society is key. However, not every experience has to be the same and there is some risk of devaluing a good ‘old fashioned’ quality moviegoing experience. I get excited by improvements and innovations in technologies, particularly sound and projection, that are accessible to companies of all sizes.
