Christian & Camilla Meoli
Member Profile
How has Cinema United membership been impactful to you and/or your business?Being part of Cinema United has made a real difference to our little cinema. Running an independent theater can feel isolating at times, but through Cinema United, we’ve found community, support, and a sense that we’re not in this alone. Their advocacy work reminds us that someone is out there fighting to keep moviegoing alive. It’s also meant a lot to be part of something bigger, sharing the mission of keeping the magic of cinema alive for future generations.
We both came from careers in front of the camera before channeling our love of film into a new direction—exhibition. Christian launched the business at the old Egyptian 2 with nothing but a secondhand projector and zero ability to sell popcorn (a tragedy we’ve since remedied). Over time, we’ve grown into four screens, with a high-end kitchen and a diverse lineup of films and events we’re proud of. Like most indie exhibitors, we wear too many hats, run on caffeine, and occasionally cry into our spreadsheets—but we wouldn’t have it any other way.
What we love most about this work is the chance to flex our creative muscles. Whether it’s dreaming up out-of-the-box marketing ideas, curating unique film lineups, or reimagining the moviegoing experience. We feel like the sky is the limit to what we can do, and the excitement that comes with the possibilities. But the real reward is seeing our community come together. There’s nothing better than watching a room full of strangers laugh, cry, or gasp in unison, and knowing we played a small part in creating those joyful, lasting memories.
There have been so many unforgettable moments over the years, it’s hard to choose just one, but if we had to, we’d go back to the early days of the pandemic.
At a time when everything felt uncertain and the world was shutting down, we managed to transform a Hollywood parking lot into a vibrant outdoor cinema experience. With hardly any budget, limited resources, and every odd stacked against us, we built something that brought people joy when they needed it most. The sight of audiences gathering, safely distanced but united by film, reminded us why we do this. That experience lit a fire in us and proved that with creativity, grit, and a little movie magic, anything is possible. It’s been fueling our growth and purpose ever since.
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One of our favorite moviegoing experiences was the night we screened the original Batman movie starring Adam West. We had Dana Gould and Tom Kenny join us to riff on the film and share their hilarious and touching stories about Adam. Of course, that night, every technical glitch imaginable happened – if it could go wrong, it did. And yet, somehow, the night came together in the most magical way.
The laughter was nonstop, the room was electric, and by the end, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. It was a powerful reminder that even in chaos, something beautiful can emerge, and that sometimes, the imperfections are what make a night unforgettable.
We believe the future of exhibition belongs to the bold. As exhibitors, we’re not just screening films, we’re showmen and showwomen, constantly reinventing the moviegoing experience to keep it fresh, immersive, and unforgettable.
With so many new ways for people to create content, there are more opportunities than ever for us to showcase that work in inventive, meaningful ways. We see this as an extraordinary moment: if we lean into our creativity and embrace the spirit of experimentation, we have the chance to lead a new frontier of cinema – one that redefines what it means to gather, connect, and be moved by storytelling on the big screen.
Don’t let the doom-and-gloom headlines about movie theaters discourage you. So much of that narrative is rooted in fear, not reality. This industry is what we make it, and if you truly love it, there’s still so much joy, creativity, and opportunity to be found. Audiences are hungry for connection, for shared experiences, and for the kind of magic that only a cinema can provide. Our advice? Lead with passion, stay adaptable, and never underestimate the power of community. It’s the people who walk through your doors, and the relationships you build with them, that will sustain you through every high and low.
