Fest Track On Sirk TV Print Coverage: CINEMACON 2023 [Caesars Palace - Las Vegas, Nevada] - Part III

CinemaCon has always been the paragon for the movie theater industry. The possibilities of 2023 continue to paint an even better picture. With a variety of stars and filmmakers showing some of their new contents with various studios, the exhibition space continues to look bright.

Martin Scorsese Legend Of Cinema Award Luncheon Following the Paramount presentation, a luncheon was given to present director Martin Scorsese with a Legend Of Cinema award which will continue to be given in his name for years to come. The event was sponsored by Fathom who revealed some of their special events they are planning to do including a Q&A one night even with “Golda” for Bleeker Street. The film premiered at Berlin so it was unusual that it might not be getting a wide release with another star-making turn by Dame Helen Mirren which might garner Oscar interest.

In accepting the award onstage, Scorsese interestingly spoke to the fact of asking the theaters to find space for smaller films which might not have a big distribiutor on hand. He says young people need to discover these films and that is something very important.

This continued to reflect in the In Conversation portion of the luncheon in which Leonardo DiCaprio surprised the crowd by coming out to interview his longtime director. While DiCaprio only got three of his questions out in the 30-minute time frame, Scorsese's responses were a verite film school which, for some of the audience, shows how deep his knowledge goes and how he looks at his films, especially with the Italian and French New Wave. He spoke about the frenetic pace of "Goodfellas" was inspired by some of those films. He also talks about watching films on the Italian channel in New York when he was young in the late 40s but being surprised and observant in seeing his parents reflect the parents and Italians on screen who were the same. Scorsese also talked about speaking with Gore Vidal abourt breaking the rules but sometimes just not being aware of what the rules are. That is what Orson Welles did with “Citizen Kane” with the help of his cinematographer (whom Scorsese points out was given a title card with the director).

DiCaprio brought him back to "Killers Of The Flower Moon" for the last question talking about the films that he watched but also that Scorsese asked him to think of Montgomery Cliff as an inspiration. Scorsese says he was a “fish out of water” in Oklahoma but the intersection of love and murder intersects here was key. The story was also changed when they got to the Osage nation and the script had to be workshopped as they went (likely something unusual for Scorsese and DiCaprio). This made DiCaprio re-examine the role he would take. It will be interesting to see how this build moves outward. Scorsese said he lived in a large house on a prairie and could hear coyotes, etc. at night. It took him out of his normal comfort zone. The house he said felt so big. It is interesting to hear a filmmaker of his stature being intimidated but also understanding the importance of the environment around him and how it needed to be integrated into the movie.

Lionsgate Presentation Lionsgate was a much shorter presentation than the others but it was interesting that the large success of “John Wick: Chapter 4” was not spoken of more. The context of SAW X and the confirmed return of Jigsaw seemed to engage with many in the crowd. The current week of releases of "Sisu" and "Are You There God? It's Me Margaret" were brought up to reflect the density of material hitting different demographics that Lionsgate has in the market. The rest of the slate was introduced as a matter of course with “Expendables 4” with the addition of Megan Fox, Tony Zaa and 50 Cent getting a good reaction. With the inclusion of "White Bird" and "Ordinary Angels", the angle of the faith market also continues to be of importance. "About My Father" starring comedian Sebastian Maniscalco and Robert DeNiro is slotted for Labor Day. The first trailer was then shown for the new Hunger Games movie "The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes" directed by Francis Lawrence with a new heroine and a cast that includes Viola Davis and Peter Dinklage and is fronted by West Side Story's Rachel Zegler.

Afterwards, the cast and director of "Joy Ride" came up on-stage. After a sucessfilm SXSW showing and a previous night community screening/party of the film at the Palace Station in Vegas (which unfortunately happened at the same time as the Transformers Party), the girls showed their chemistry and NSFW funny side on stage cracking up Seth Rogen in the process. Stephanie Hu, who vaulted to stardom from "Everything Everywhere All At Once" had some great perspective saying it was great to hang with these "f@#ked up b#tches". The film then screened for a mostly packed house in the Colliseum.

Big Screen Achievement Awards Entertainment Tonight host Kevin Frazier hosted the pre-ordained Big Screen Awards. Christopher Nolan and his wife Emma Thomas came up to accept the Spirit Of The Industry Award talking about the importance of the theatrical experience. When their process begins, both said it is always about how it is seen. With the variety of different formats they use, this is never more crucial. Melissa McCarthy, who had been present for the Disney Presentation representing "The Little Mermaid" accepted the Verite Award. She talked about seeing movies as a kid, especially when she went to "Grease" which she thought gave some interesting messages but she and her friends loved it. Zendaya (already in town for "Dune Part II" for Warner Brothers) received the Star Of The Year Award. Unlike sometimes on the red carpet, she was very effusive in just her love towards the theater owners when she accepted her award. She spoke about seeing "Spiderman" on the big screen when she was 15 (likely was "The Amazing Spiderman") and how that impacted her. This actually makes her scene with Andrew Garfield in "Far From Home" even more layered if this is true. Anthony Ramos & Dominque Fishback (who had come out to talk about "Transformers: Rise Of The Beasts" at the Paramount presentation) talked about the coolness of seeing films in their hometown in New York (Fishback had worked at the Regal in Battery Park).

Receptions: Omnia Opening Night Party/Garden Of The Gods Pool Party/Transformers: Rise Of The Beasts Movifone Party/Big Screen Achievement Awards Closing Night Party Despite the snaking line element into the club on the far floor near the sports book in Caesars, Omnia is where Pure used to be. With Spiderverse animation playing on silks, the prime rib and finger foods allowed for a relaxing element upstairs before the mechanics for the light show activated and the bass kicked in about an hour into the celebratiom making conversation a little more difficult. The party at the Caesars Pool after “The Flash” screening was spread out and relaxing with many photo opps for exhibitors for various films. The highlight of the food was tomahawk steak which was paired with Au Gratin potatoes. Paramount threw a party with Moviefone in the limo parking lot in front of Caesars after the Universal Pictures Presentation (which ran a little late). It was a unique situation as many parties are not held outside right on The Strip. The variety of stations included poke as well as luscious seared ahi tuna while a band rocked forward on the stage. People also took photos with Optimus Prime standing tall at the end. The Big Screen Achievement Awards Party was held in the Augustus Ballroom upstairs at Caesars (where the Scorsese luncheon was held). Coca-Cola, who sponsored the party, adorned its brand around the area where various slider and pasta stations were positioned around the large room. 60s style go-go dancers were in shadow boxes with a drummer playing along with the DJ as many people ended up on the dance floor.

This evolved aspect continues to serve CinemaCon well with all the events held within Caesars Palace. With the exhibition industry seemingly returning to pre-pandemic levels and with a star power many said topped previous years, CinemaCon, as it continues next year with a new leader in Michael O'Leary, continues to have a bright future.

By Tim Wassberg