Tori Baker
Member Profile
How has Cinema United membership been impactful to you and/or your business?Cinema United has been incredibly impactful for me and my work. It provides insight into the latest industry trends, allowing me to anticipate changes and keep my company nimble and responsive. My volunteer participation has deepened my appreciation for the industry and given me the chance to learn from how others lead.
Having a seat at the table as a representative of the smallest membership group—arthouse cinemas—is especially valuable. Our inclusion strengthens the overall exhibition ecosystem, bringing diverse perspectives that fuel innovation. Arthouse cinemas remain a vibrant part of the sector, helping to build audiences for movies of all kinds.
I’ve always been involved in film. I started as a film major in college, which led me into the film festival world. Transitioning from festivals into executive work in exhibition provided a strong foundation, as both are rooted in delivering audience-focused results.
I love working with people who are inspired by film and storytelling.
There are so many memorable moments—our mission naturally creates experiences that change lives. One that stands out was when we decided to flip the traditional Q&A model and instead invited Peter Bogdanovich to join us for a salon-style discussion before a screening of his brilliant film The Last Picture Show.
For an hour, Peter spoke about his life and career, sharing insights into the actors’ responses to his direction in the film we were about to see. The audience left the conversation buzzing with anticipation to revisit the film on the big screen.
As I walked Peter back afterward, he asked if he could stay to watch the film with the audience. He told me he hadn’t seen it with a crowd in more than 40 years, but felt so warmed by the welcome and discussion that he wanted to experience it again. We were honored. He sat in the back row, quietly watching as the audience absorbed the film with an intensity I had never witnessed before.
His talk beforehand—though it revealed nothing about the movie for newcomers—deeply inspired the audience and set the emotional tone. By the end, many were in tears, visibly moved. As they exited, people of all ages stopped to shake Peter’s hand and say, “Thank you so much.”
It was a beautiful reflection of the artist, the work, and the power of shared experience. Not long after that visit, Peter passed away. We’ve never forgotten his generosity of spirit—or how meaningful that night was for both him and the audience. It was a reminder of why we do this work.
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I think I just shared it with the Peter Bogdanovich story, ha. But honestly, speaking purely as an audience member, I have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to moviegoing experiences. I’ve been at some of the most seminal independent film screenings at Sundance, walked the red carpet with Oscar nominees (and now even been included among them), sat front row for unforgettable conversations with legendary directors, moderated discussions with some of the most important filmmakers in our field, and had my own life changed by artists in film time and again.
I could spend a decade recounting them all. From seeing Donner’s Superman at a drive-in as a young girl—both thrilling and terrifying (I’ll never forget Lois Lane being swallowed up by a crack in the earth!)—to discovering visionary directors like Cronenberg with The Fly in high school, to experiencing what I call my Apocalypse Now moment in college, which forever changed how I understood film, to the career-shaping screenings I’ve had at Salt Lake Film Society… every one of these moments has shaped me as a person. And for that, I’ll always be grateful to film.
I see exhibition becoming the last true space to experience visual storytelling without interruption.
