Cinema Chat: Big Spring Releases, a 2017 Movie Recap & More
Today, we’re speaking with Tiffany Greenwood, Operations Project Manager at Swank and a huge movie advocate who works with some of our company’s biggest markets, about some of the creative and successful events her customers have recently held, as well as the reasons why she loves movies. Read on for more information on her best movie picks of 2017 along with what’s going to be hot this spring and summer.
Swank: What do you enjoy most about working with movies?
TG: Movies have been my favorite thing ever since I was a little kid. I love talking to people about movies every day, especially when they order my childhood favorites. The best part is working with customers to think of creative ways to make an event out of a movie. Sometimes just through brainstorming out loud, we will come up with something fun that turns a well-attended movie screening into a smash hit.
Swank: And what are some of the cool things you’ve heard your customers doing lately with movies?
TG: My customers have created some very creative co-sponsorship events lately. Recently a film club co-sponsored a film with the NAACP. They screened “Southside with You” specifically to develop conversation and promote African-American cinema within their community during their annual Black History Month series. These type of events make us realize how important films can be in bringing communities together.
Swank: Very interesting! What are your favorite movies of the last year and why?
TG: “Wonder Woman” was a killer story that launched Gal Gadot’s superstar career. I literally burst into tears when she took off across the battlefield in the No Man’s Land scene. It was beautifully directed, and Patty Jenkins should have received an Oscar nomination.
I think in ten years, we will look back and “Get Out” will be considered the most important film of 2017. The way the movie handled race issues in America made you sit up and listen, all while thoroughly freaking you out. And the fact that it was Jordan Peele’s directorial debut is all the more amazing. Usually, in a first film, you can watch a director attempting to find his voice. But in this case, Peele had the orchestra tuned and put on a show. I was reminded of some of the greatest directorial debuts of all time like “Blood Simple,” “Reservoir Dogs” and “Mad Max.” To me, these are movies that changed movies. “Get Out” might be as impactful in this decade as Pulp Fiction was in the 90’s.
My other favorite is “78/52: Hitchcock’s Shower Scene.” This documentary breaks down the shower scene cut by cut, second by second. It goes through editing choices and tiny, nanosecond glances that represented so much. Before that scene, violence and danger were found outside. It was a zombie walking across your lawn or a killer driving away in a car. But this film showed danger in your home, coming at you with a knife. The way those few seconds of celluloid were made could not only scare you to death, they could change the way you think about every other movie you see after that.
"The best part is working with customers to think of creative ways to make an event out of a movie. Sometimes just through brainstorming out loud, we will come up with something fun that turns a well-attended movie screening into a smash hit."
Swank: Wow, we love your insights here! Do you have any advice on how to make movie programs a success?
TG: Those in charge of movie programming tend to be the most passionate about films. You need to really care about the titles you show to make your events successful. Certainly don’t be afraid to use your film knowledge to help select films, but also be open to taking feedback from your prospective audience and other people in your office or on your committee. With a passion for film, it will be much easier to take a movie suggestion or a series of films and make something special out of them.
Swank: What are some of the top titles our customers are booking right now?
TG: Obviously the most popular film right now is “Star Wars: Last Jedi.” This new series of “Star Wars” films are on a roll, and this one might be the best of the new three. “Coco” was huge also. This visual feast really crossed over from a “kids” film to an “everybody” film. “Lady Bird” is probably our biggest-selling Oscar-nominated film right now. It has just the right tone to push it from the independent lane over to a mainstream appeal.
Swank: Let’s fast-forward a little bit. What are some big releases coming up that will be great for spring and summer programming?
TG: “Black Panther” is going to rule the summer. That movie is so awesome, I expect it to be a favorite for a long time to come. It is the kind of film you can watch over and over again. “The Incredibles” is my favorite Pixar movie and Edna Mode is my favorite Pixar character of all time, so I could not be more excited about “The Incredibles 2.” I love animated movies that would still timely and magical even if they were not animated, so I have big expectations for the sequel.
Also, what “Star Wars” nerd isn’t tapping his or her foot and impatiently waiting on the Han Solo anthology? Han is everyone’s favorite scruffy nerf herder, and I think Alden Ehrenreich will do him justice. He might have shot first, but I can’t wait to find out what happened before he got to the cantina.
To see more of what’s popular this spring for performing arts centers, check out our new releases or browse our Movies & TV page.