How Movie Studio Spies Size Up the Competition

Source: Hollywood Reporter

Tom Cruise’s longest-running role on the big screen is playing Ethan Hunt, a rogue spy who works for a shadowy government agency. His character has more in common with CinemaCon than might meet the eye. For decades, rival studios have used the Las Vegas convention of theater owners to see what the competition has coming down the pike. Executives and their minions aren’t barred from attending each other’s studio presentations. They slip in and out without any interference or hassle.

“It’s incredibly important,” says one veteran studio executive, who like many of his compatriots has attended the show for years. Imagine if automakers were allowed to obtain an early peek of a competitor’s line-up and even prototypes. “We are all jockeying for position,” continues the exec. “I find it very beneficial, especially as you are looking down the road. Something may come out of CinemaCon that you didn’t expect to pop, so it can help inform how you date your films.”…

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