LASS 2025 Virtual Seminar

Tuesday, January 14 (PST)

SESSION 1 LINK

9:00 AM – Welcome and Housekeeping

9:10 AM – President’s Welcome – Mark Mayfield, President ICTA, Program Chairperson

9:15 AM – Cinema Foundation Update

9:30 AM – Sponsorship Recognition

9:40 AM – Integrating Software Systems

A discussion about the challenges of the disparate POS systems in a cinema entertainment  center and getting all the systems to work together. What are the best ways to integrate? How does redemption work in the mix?

MODERATOR:
Carrie Dietrich, ICTA
PRESENTERS TO DATE:

Kevin Greer, Theater Toolkit, Founder, CEO, and Developer
Josh Wegener, The Tuna Group, CEO

Wayne Scarsella, Toast Inc

Cathy Huis in ‘t veld-Esser, Gofilex Netherlands, CTO

10:05 AM – Members’ Presentations Part 1

SESSION 2 LINK

10:15 AM – Exhibitor Roundtable

A popular ICTA LASS panel were a select group of exhibitors discuss varied topics such as concerns in our industry, technical improvements and what’s on their mind.

MODERATOR:
Joe DeMeo
PRESENTERS:
Russell Allen, Allen Theatres
Bill Wiatroski, Cinema West
Vince Bienek, Premiere Cinema
Dennis McIntire, B & B Theatres

10:45 AM – The Rest of the Story: Cinema B-Chain

The final installment in his series of presentations on B-Chain sound, covering woofers, crossovers, surrounds, and loudspeaker environments.

PRESENTER: Tomlinson Holman

SESSION 3 LINK

11:30  AM – How Theatres are Investing in their Future

The National Association of Theatre Owners in September 2024 announced that North American exhibitors will invest more than $2.2 billion to modernize and upgrade cinemas, a projection that includes new laser projectors, immersive sound systems and improved seating. This panel will reveal which updates are most important to moviegoers, all the new innovations in sight and sound, and which upgrades are already happening in theatres today.

MODERATOR: Bryan Braunlich
PRESENTERS TO DATE:
Paul Gunsky, President, Cinelux Theatres
Traci Hanlon, VP Marketing, Cinergy Entertainment
Damon Rubio, D’Place Cinemas

12:00 PM – Break 15 Minutes

12:15 PM –  Standardization of Immersive/Spatial Audio

This session will discuss IAB, mixing surround vs object-based audio, how the data is stored/transmitted, channel rendering, and shared goals for in-auditorium experiences and tuning.

MODERATOR: Patrick Fitzgerald, GDC
PRESENTERS TO DATE:
Steve Llamb, Deluxe
Andrew Poulain, Dolby Laboratories, Inc.
Stuart Bowling, Consultant
Loren Nielsen, DTS Xperi

12:45 PM – New Technologies for Projected Image Quality
How cinema projectors can be optimized to deal with common challenges.
PRESENTER:
Allan Fernandes, Christie Digital

1:15 PM – The Big Picture: Creating Immersive Experiences for Every Screen
Moviegoers are often looking to immerse themselves in the action when they go to the cinema. While Premium Large Format box office has grown 33% over the last five years, it’s not the answer for every auditorium or every movie lover. This panel will review emerging and immersive in-theatre breakthroughs at large theater chains and at independent cinemas, whether it’s special screening formats, audience participation innovations, state-of-the-art screens and sound, and new seating options that make the movies the top choice for out-of-home entertainment. We’re celebrating moviegoing as a premium experience.
MODERATOR:
Sarah Whitten, CNBC
PRESENTERS TO DATE:
Brandon Jones, FilmFrog/The Playhouse
Camila Meoli, Cinelounge
Heidi Robertson, Tristone Cinemas

1:45 PM – Day 1 Wrap up

Wednesday, January 15

9AM – Opening Remarks & Raffle GiveAway
Sperling Reich, Celluloid Junkie

9:10AM – POS Systems
MODERATOR:
Tiffany Brain, Cinema Heroes
PRESENTERS TO DATE:
Shane Burkett, Agile Tix
Al Lane, JACRO/Tapos
Darrin Lewis, Omniterm
Max Bunzel, Vista

SESSION 2 LINK

9:40AM – Industry updates: WIE, ISDCF, NACA
Heather Blair, Women in Exhibition Founder
Mark Collins, ISDCF
Tony Adamson, ICTA Board Member/NACA Chairperson
Loren Nielsen, ICTA Board Member/NACA Chairperson

10:00 AM – Digital Signage Applications in Movie Theatres
MODERATOR:
Jeff Kaplan, Sharp
PRESENTERS:
Susie Beiersdorf, LG Electronics
Jon Douglas, Regal Cinemas
Jacob Volk, DEEL Media
Rob Zeller, Sharp

10:30AM – Are Movies too Loud?
Presenting research in real-world and controlled environments to explore the causes and consequences of reduced playback level, and proposed changes to current practice.
PRESENTER:
Charles Robinson, Dolby Laboratories, Inc.

10:55AM – Members’ Presentations Part 2

11:20 AM – Cashless Cinema
How this convenient, faster service model can improve security and generate data.
MODERATOR:
Theresa English, TK Architects
PRESENTERS TO DATE:
Aimee Dolehanty, Redemption Plus
Dan Swendsen, Ready Credit Corp

Jesse Tate, Larry H. Miller Megaplex Theatres

11:45 AM – 15-Minute Break

12:00 PM – Cinema Imaging Solutions with Increased Dynamic Range
A review of technology advancements in contrast which enable simultaneous and sequential contrast far beyond traditional levels providing significantly enhanced viewing experiences.
PRESENTER:
Trevor Davies, Dolby Laboratories, Inc.

12:25 PM – Dealer Roundtable
Technology vendors and integrators speak their minds on current industry trends and issues in this perennial LASS favorite panel discussion.
MODERATOR:
Beth Figge, Dolby Laboratories, Inc.
PRESENTER:
Patty Boucher, American Cinema Equipment
Kevin DeRjick, Cinematronix
Bobby Franklin, Franklin Designs

12:50 PM – HDR Cinema for the Masses
Brief introduction to HDR technology, the challenges of adoption, recent advances, and making it accessible for the masses.
PRESENTER:
Sander Buys, Barco

1:15 PM – The Current State of Direct View LED Screens
Current state of the technology, adoption, stats, numbers, trends.
PRESENTER:
Pete Ludé, Mission Rock Digital

1:45 PM – Closing Remarks
PRESENTER:
Mark Mayfield, ICTA & Meyer Sound