Somewhere a flame has been lit. It’s small at the moment — perhaps no more than a flicker in the heart of a young tech or movie maestro. But in time, it will grow into a lasting passion for this business. And who lit that flame? Every one of us in the moving pictures industry did — every time we spared time, shared knowledge, or spoke encouraging words.

This unofficial mentoring has always been part of the moviemaking and ProAV communities. Everybody in this business can remember someone who helped them out along the way. Just because it was the right thing to do.

More ambitious

Well, it’s still the right thing to do. And with the launch of CineSparks, the global online webinar series this October, that community spirit suddenly became more ambitious.

Christie has collaborated with many of its industry partners and contacts to share their insights, experience, and advice directly with the next generation. Success no longer depends on who you know but on who Christie knows — and Christie knows a lot of people. They include some of the world’s most renowned directors, film festival heads, engineers, institutions, exhibitors, and cinema techs. People like Geoff Burdick, senior vice president, production services and technology at Lightstorm Entertainment, Dr. Heather Morgan, chief content officer at Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas, and Dirk Blackman, screenwriter, educator. And they all agreed to share their experiences with emerging talent and techs by joining the CineSparks Webinar Series community.

An impressive start

October’s opening webinars may have been impressive but were just the start. The idea is to create a space where the most influential minds in today’s cinema can gather and interact with newly emerging talent. A place where the industry comes together and anything goes, anything can be said, and everything can be questioned and learned from.

Possibly with more CineSparks webinars, maybe with something completely different.

Because Christie is committed to closing the gap between generations in cinema. And that begins with this series. So accessibility with low cost or no cost to participate is important. It’s tough to get a toehold in this business, and the fall-out rates are high, so anything that makes the climb a little less precarious is worth doing. This thinking already underpins the Christie Ignite program that nurtures the next generation of techs in cinema (and ProAV). Fostering a wave of new cinema talent so they can confidently set out on their own professional journey.

A common good

The young, tech-savvy, creative individuals with the great ideas our business needs to prosper have an insatiable hunger to learn. And they can only find the guidance and inspiration they crave from those who’ve already made their mark. We need each other, and we need a community that puts ego aside and works together for a shared future and a common good.

October’s opening event was a start, and a good start too, but like the talent it hopes to nurture, these are its early days, and there is much to be done. So, if you or anyone in your network feel they’ve something to contribute to this unique cinematic convergence, the CineSparks team would love to hear from you. And so would cinema’s next generation. Reach out by email to pr@christiedigital.com