Good intentions can only get one so far, especially when it comes to attempting to cover an event like CinemaCon "remotely." In recent years, given the rise of social media and the urge to capture the free PR that comes with "going viral," in 2018 and 2019, it was not unusual for major studios to officially release trailers and previews to the general public following within hours, if that, of their premiere during a presentation at the convention, so I thought I'd be able to offer some barebones coverage based on what would be made officially available outside the walls of the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. But perhaps owing to the scaled back nature of the studio presentations during this unusual, mid-pandemic, summertime edition, only Sony Pictures released a CinemaCon-premiered to the public during the convention week, for Spider-Man: No Way Home. The other studios that held formal presentations, United Artists Releasing/MGM, Warner Bros., Universal Pictures/Focus Features, Paramount, and Lionsgate (Walt Disney simply screened in entirety its upcoming Marvel Studios guaranteed blockbuster-to-be Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, due out in cinemas September 3, which I have screened locally a week ago) opted not to release any of their new trailers to the general non-attending press nor the public during these four days, so, alas, the de facto Day 1 piece will be the only one for CinemaCon 2021.
Here's hoping I can resume my 20-year coverage of the National Association of Theatre Owners' official annual convention in 2022!
(Very special thanks to Walt Disney Studios, Focus Features, Lionsgate, and Heather Lewandoski and the entire team at Rogers & Cowan for all their helpful and generous assistance at the convention, as well as Mitch Neuhauser and the CinemaCon crew and John Fithian and the National Association of Theatre Owners)
The Movie Report wants to attend all your film special events! Please send any and all invitations to this address. Thanks!
