Draft:Showcase Cinemas

Background

Showcase Cinemas is the primary brand used by cinema chain National Amusements for its operations in the US, Argentina and the UK.

Note:

• Before 2008, Showcase Cinemas as well as Multiplex Cinemas, Cinema De Lux and KinoStar used the standard NA openings.

1st Opening (1980-1983)

Visuals: On a dark blue space background, a red "S" flies toward the centre of the screen and position itself right-side up. A yellow "S" follows the red letter and positions itself sideways atop the red one. The completed shape the flies to the top of the screen as the word "SHOWCASE" in Broadway, flies down to fill the centre. The word "CINEMAS", in the same font then flies down and positions itself below "SHOWCASE". The text then rotates from front to back-accompanied by a blue flash of light-to reveal the text "FEATURE PRESENTATION". The completed sequence holds for a few seconds before cutting out.

Variants:

• Three shorter versions start when the double-S symbol has been formed. The rotating Showcase Cinemas text reveals either "COMING ATTRACTIONS", "COMING SOON", or "NOW SHOWING".
• Another version exists where the double-S is larger and centered and the text only says SHOWCASE. Then, a line flies in close to the screen which then flips up to reveal SNEAK PREVIEW and the double-S and SHOWCASE text fade out.

Technique: CGI, commissioned by Pike Productions and animated by Mathematical Applications Group, Inc.

Audio: A majestic french horn fanfare.

Availability: Used in Showcase Cinema locations during the early 80's.

2nd Opening (1983-1986)

• 

Visuals: Against a black background, a series of blue lights draw a red "R" which promptly explodes as a yellow "R" slides out to take its place. Following the "R" are a pair of trailing outlines reading "REDSTONE". When the words meet up with the "R", they flash against the letter before turning red and filling in. We then see a series of fireworks fly underneath the "R" to spell out "SHOWCASE CINEMAS" (in white and in the same font as before) letter by letter. A blue flash appears behind the logo, and then multicoloured fireworks appear and explode against the background. While this happens, a light wipes in from the left and changes the bottom text to "FEATURE PRESENTATION". The text then flashes one by one as the fireworks disappear as the logo briefly holds before fading out.

Technique: Cel animation by Pike Productions in Boston.

Audio: A loud bombastic rock and roll fanfare composed by Derek Austin titled "Heavy Vinyl" from the JW music library.

Availability: Used in Showcase Cinemas during the mid 80's. This was the final Showcase-branded opening for the next 22 years as Showcase locations would go on to use National Amusements openings.

3rd (known) Opening (2008-2010s)

Visuals: Against a black background, the green words "and now our feature presentation" fade in, alongside a series of line shapes. A series of grey sparks fly onto the screen, and hold themselves in a streaking motion until the spaced-out text "S H O W C A S E" in Clarendon, floats toward the left of the screen above a green bar (which had been forming behind the lines). The lines disappear and are replaced by a smaller set of green lines which similarly streak across the bar. This continues until the logo fades out.

Variant: A variant with the words "Coming Attractions" exists.

Technique: 2D animation.

Audio: A light rock fanfare, ending with a soft percussion fanfare.

Availability: Seen at Showcase-branded theaters beginning in 2008 and was used until sometime in the 2010's in selected theaters as other theaters would begin to use the next opening in 2011. Non-Showcase branded National Amusements theaters would continue to use the final NA opening until 2010.

4th Opening (2011-)

Visuals: On a blue background the text: and now our
feature presentation zooms and fades in. After a while a blast happens, causing the text to break apart. The Showcase logo then zooms and fades in the same manner. A few seconds later, another burst happens causing the logo to break in the same manner.

Variant: At Showcase Cinema de Lux locations, said logo replaces the regular logo and takes place on a purple background instead.

Technique: 2D graphics.

Audio: A synth theme.

Availability: Began usage in 2011 and still used at certain locations. Others use either the 5th or 7th open.

5th Opening (Coca-Cola 3D) (2017-)

Visuals: On a white background is "Welcome to Showcase Cinemas". Several pieces of popcorn cover the screen. The popcorn falls down and ice cubes cover the screen. The screen is then drenched in Coca-Cola. A Coca-Cola branded straw drinks it all away, revealing a Showcase Cinema popcorn bag and two Coca-Cola cups. "Enjoy The Show" and Showcase Cinemas and Coca-Cola logos below it appear.

Variant: An alternate Showcase Cinema de Lux-branded version was produced.

Technique: CGI by Mirada. This is slightly modified from a pre-show video originally produced for Carmike Cinemas in 2012.

Audio: Same as the Carmike variant but with two synth themes at the beginning and end.

Avalability: Used at select locations beginning in 2017 following Showcase's transition from Pepsi products to Coke products.

6th Opening (Late 2010s-)

Visuals: The Showcase Cinemas logo in 3D floats on a purple background. After a few seconds, the screen flashes to a "Visual Impairment" sign (a sign with an eye crossed out), it pixelates out and the sign changes to the "Audio Description" symbol (text stylized as AD)))). That then pixelates out to the "Assistive Listening" symbol, and "Closed Captioning" symbol (the text CC). The screen the flashes back to the Showcase Cinemas logo and with text reading: ALL OUR GUESTS
TO ENJOY THE
MOVIE GOING EXPERIENCE that appear one by one. The screen the flashes to text saying: PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOUR
CC

CLOSED CAPTIONING DEVICE IS ACTIVE with the CC text slightly moving. A lens flare then flashes changing the text to the visual impairment and hearing impairment logos together with the text: VISUAL OR HEARING
IMPAIRMENT below. The text then transitions to more text that says: VISIT THE BOX OFFICE OR
CUSTOMER SERVICE AREA
FOR DETAILS that appears one by one. The screen then flashes one last time to the Showcase logo again and text reading EVERYONE CAN
ENJOY THE SHOW below. The URL is below.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: An elevator-esque theme with faint woosh sounds during flashes. This is accompanied with a male announcer saying "At Showcase Cinemas, we proudly offer visual impairment enhancement, audio description, assistive listening and closed captioning technology, that enables all of our guests to enjoy the movie going experience. Please take a moment now to make sure your closed captioning device is active. If you or someone you know has a visual or hearing impairment, please visit the box office or customer service areas for all the details on how everyone can enjoy the show."

Avalability: Began being used in most locations beginning in the late 2010's before the trailers and after the anti-piracy ad.

7th Opening (Summer 2021-present)

Visuals: On a blurred Las Vegas pattern background, the text "WELCOME TO S H O W C A S E CINEMAS" zoom in. Footage of popcorn popping slides in from the right and a purple bar with text saying "WELCOME" slides in from the left, covering the Welcome text. Another bar with footage of a close-up of a Coca-Cola glass fizzing which then gets opened up to reveal a person using the Showcase app, tapping on the dark mode feature causing the phone to turn off. Another wipe happens, going to footage of a projector running with text saying "RELAX wiping in via a line which then gets wiped by another line, transitioning to more text reading "& TREAT YOURSELF. The sequence then transitions to footage of popcorn popping on one side and a Coca-Cola glass getting Coke poured in it. Both sides then wipe to the Starpass logo (the text starpass with the a replaced with a star with the fifth side incomplete) on a purple background and the Starpass symbol on a blue background on the left and right respectively. The left side slides down to text reading "10% REWARD ON VIRTUALLY EVERY PURCHASE WITH (Starpass logo)" on a purple background. It then slides to a Starpass card on the same pattern from the opening, next to the text, "SIGN UP TODAY". An odd arrow transition appears which zooms in to purple tinted footage of a couple eating popcorn. Text reading "SEE MORE MOVIES FOR A LOW MONTHLY RATE swipes in from the left via an arrow. It then swipes away to show the Showcase Subscribe logo as text saying "MONTHLY PLANS AVAILIBLE FOR INDIVIDUALS & GROUPS" drops down below. It then wipes to a shot from behind a chair with a females hand putting a Coca-Cola cup in the cupholder next to her. It then transitions to a red screen saying "MOVIES ARE ALWAYS BETTER WITH ICE COLD (Coca-Cola logo)" with the silhouette of a Coke bottle that opens up to reveal a glass with Coke being poured in. It then transitions to the Projector footage from before with the Showcase Cinemas logo in front of it. Bars drop down with footage of audience members enjoying a movie, with text saying "THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING" on the top bar and the URL on the bottom one.

Technique: A mix of live action and computer graphics.

Audio: A DJ Eurobeat theme.

Avalability: Began usage in Summer 2021, but some theaters reverted to the 4th or 5th opening. However some theaters like the Showcase Cinema de Lux Springdale location still use this.

Exit Policy (2010's-present)

Visuals:

• 2010's-present: The trailer begins with a view of a Showcase Cinema auditorium as the camera zooms in towards the exit. A green "EXIT" symbol zooms out to highlight the exit sign at the top. Then the camera pans across the theater towards the rear exit and text saying "Exits located at the front and rear of this auditorium" wipes in from the right. When it reaches that point, the text wipes away and the camera stops panning and zooms in towards the exit door and another green "EXIT" symbol zooms out to emphasize the exit sign at the top of the exit door.
• December 2022-present: A picture of a modern Showcase Cinema de Lux appears with the Showcase Cinema de Lux logo on the screen. It then cuts to a side view of the auditorium, emphasizing the green exit signs at the side. It the cuts to a different smaller auditorium and then to that auditoriums side view to show the exit signs. It then cuts to a view of the emergency exit door, highlighting a sign reading: EMERGENCY
  EXIT ONLY
  THIS DOOR IS
  ALARMED before cutting back to the previous shot.

Technique: A series of still images.

Audio: Just an announcer saying one of these spiels:

• 2010's-present: "Ladies and gentlemen, in the unlikely event of an emergency, there are exits located at the front and rear of this auditorium. Please note that the exit areas located at the front of this auditorium to left or right of the screen are alarmed and should only be used in the event of an emergency. Thank you." There are 2 variants with a male announcer and female announcer.
• 2022-present: Same as before, except at the beginning, the announcer (a deep male in this case) says "Attention all cinemagoers", and some sentences are slightly reworded.

Availability: Shown at locations in between the trailers and either the 4th, 5th, or 7th opening. The second version began usage in December 2022 beginning with screenings of Avatar: The Way of Water, but some theaters still use the original variant.