{"id":5110,"date":"2023-06-15T13:49:35","date_gmt":"2023-06-15T20:49:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/?p=5110"},"modified":"2026-08-30T21:15:05","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T04:15:05","slug":"cinemacon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/cinemacon\/","title":{"rendered":"CinemaCon Honors Martin Scorsese, Christopher Nolan, Zendaya, \u2018Joy Ride\u2019 Cast Among Others"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Chic<\/span><\/div>
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This article was printed in<\/em>
\nChic Compass Magazine - Issue 15<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>

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CinemaCon Honors Martin Scorsese, Christopher Nolan, Zendaya, \u2018Joy Ride\u2019 Cast Among Others<\/h1>\n

BY JANET SUSAN R. NEPALES
\nPHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF JANET SUSAN R. NEPALES, HOLLYWOOD FOREIGN PRESS ASSOCIATION (HFPA)<\/p>\n<\/div>

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CinemaCon, which is the largest and most important gathering of the worldwide motion picture theater industry, recently handed out awards to the best and brightest in the entertainment industry.<\/p>\n

The official convention of The National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO), it is held annually in Las Vegas since 2011.<\/p>\n

The global event, which attracts attendees from more than 80 countries, was held at the Caesar\u2019s Palace. It shows summer films, does presentations and feature premieres.<\/p>\n

This year, the honorees include Martin Scorsese (Legend of Cinema), Christopher Nolan and wife-producer Emma Thomas (Spirit of the Industry), Zendaya (Star of the Year), Melissa McCarthy (Cinema Verite), Illumination founder and CEO Christopher Meledandri (Excellence in Animation), actors Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback (Rising Stars of the Year).<\/p>\n

The 80-year-old iconic Scorsese, who promoted his latest movie \u201cKillers of the Flower Moon,\u201d was honored with the inaugural CinemaCon Legend of Cinema Award, which in the future will be handed out annually and named after Scorsese.<\/p>\n

He said of his film, \u201cThis is my sixth film with Leonardo DiCaprio, tenth with Robert DeNiro and first time with them together.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"Photo<\/span><\/div><\/div>

Photo of Martin Scorsese by Armando Gallo for HFPA.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

The crime drama, in association with Apple Original Films, will have its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival next month.<\/p>\n

Nolan, who accepted the Spirit of the Industry award with his wife Thomas at the Big Screen Achievement Awards closing night at The Colosseum of Caesar\u2019s Palace, said, \u201cThose of us who\u2019ve been called upon, sort of outrageously, to defend it (cinema) over the last few years are often accused, I\u2019m often accused of magical thinking, of nostalgia, of daydreaming as opposed to a sound business plan and it\u2019s taken the last few years for us all to realize that when you\u2019re talking about movies, magical thinking, nostalgia, daydreaming \u2013 that is the sound business plan. It\u2019s the only sound business plan. That\u2019s what movies are.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nolan, who presented footage of his upcoming historical drama Oppenheimer to the CinemaCon crowd earlier in the week, recalled how a young man approached him while walking by a Regal cinema in New York and said, \u201cYou make the world a better place,\u201d and walked on.<\/p>\n

The British American filmmaker, whose films have grossed $5 billion worldwide, continued, \u201cThe first thing I thought is, my agents never said anything that nice to me. I started to reflect on all of us who work in the movies \u2014 from the studios, distributors, theater owners, marketers and the people serving popcorn \u2014 we\u2019re all engaged in a process that, in some small way, does make the world a better place.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an absolute good because we all work in what is the greatest art form ever created. It can combine the subjective experience of another human being the way a novel can but it can combine at the same time with the empathetic experience of being in a theater, of feeling what the rest of the audience is feeling, and so I thought, what a wonderful sentiment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Then the four-time Golden Globe nominee confessed, \u201cIf I\u2019m being completely honest, what the young man actually said was, \u2018You make the world a better place, Mr. (Aaron) Sorkin.\u2019\u201d The audience roared with laughter at Nolan\u2019s admission that he was mistaken for screenwriter and director Sorkin.<\/p>\n

The 52-year-old filmmaker behind such movies as The Dark Knight, Inception, Dunkirk<\/em> and Memento<\/em> added, \u201cI think the sentiment still stands. It stands not just for the great Aaron Sorkin but for all of us who work in movies because what movies provide is entertainment, it\u2019s enjoyment, it\u2019s emotion, it\u2019s catharsis, it\u2019s fear, it\u2019s everything. It\u2019s a wonderful thing to be involved in. We\u2019re all incredibly privileged to be a part of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nolan also said, \u201cWhatever dreamlike stories are allowed to come out of this medium stands on the foundation of your theaters. And so, for that reason, it\u2019s a privilege to work for you. Thank you very much.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thomas, who produced The Dark Knight<\/em> Trilogy, The Prestige, Inception, Interstellar, Dunkirk<\/em> and Tenet<\/em>, told the CinemaCon audience about Oppenheimer<\/em>, her latest collaboration with Nolan: \u201cWe\u2019re at the part in our filmmaking process where the creative work is done and we have to put our baby out into the real world and it is a terrifying, terrifying process.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thomas revealed that it is about this time that she and her husband Nolan look at each other and ask the question, \u201cWhy do we do this?\u201d<\/p>\n

She added, \u201cWhen we\u2019re standing at the back of one of your theaters watching one of the first paid audiences watch our movie\u2026There\u2019s something about watching an audience who bothered to come out of their house, sit within those four walls of the theater and be transported by the stories that we get to tell that make sense of everything that we do.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you for this huge honor and for allowing us to do what we do.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"Emma<\/span><\/div><\/div>

Emma Thomas and Christopher Nolan received the NATO Spirit of the Industry Award at the CinemaCon 2023 Big Screen Achievement Awards. Photo by Earl Gibson III.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

Hosted by Entertainment Tonight\u2019s Kevin Frazier, the closing ceremony also feted singer-actress Zendaya, 2023 Golden Globe Best Television Actress \u2013 Drama Series (\u201cEuphoria\u201d).<\/p>\n

The triple threat actress said in her acceptance speech, \u201cI love what I do so, so much and I\u2019m so grateful for all of you because without all of you, what I do wouldn\u2019t have a home or a place to go.\u201d<\/p>\n

The star of Dune<\/em>, The Greatest Showman<\/em> and three Spider-Man<\/em> movies recounted that she went to see Spider-Man<\/em> in 3D on her first date at age 15: \u201cI think in the theater, that\u2019s where someone can feel seen, that\u2019s where someone can feel less alone, that\u2019s where someone can escape, that\u2019s where someone can build a new dream.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 26-year-old actress earlier presented a trailer of the highly anticipated sequel Dune: Part 2<\/em> with co-star Timoth\u00e9e Chalamet and director Denis Villeneuve.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"Zendaya<\/span><\/div><\/div>

Zendaya at the CinemaCon 2023 Big Screen Achievement Awards at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada on Thursday, April 27, 2023. Photo by Earl Gibson III<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

Christopher Meledandri, whose Illumination animation studio created the hits Despicable Me, The Secret Life of Pets, Sing<\/em> and the current box office sensation The Super Mario Bros. Movie<\/em>, recalled how his parents \u2013 a men\u2019s fashion designer (father) and an activist (mother) \u2013 did not care at all about animation.<\/p>\n

The 63-year-old New York native narrated how his dad brought him to watch the Dennis Hopper-helmed road drama classic, Easy Rider<\/em>, which starred Peter Fonda, Jack Nicholson and Hopper himself, when Meledandri was just 10 years old.<\/p>\n

Meledandri shared that in his early 30s, as a parent, he discovered Disney animated movies and was blown away. \u201cMy career would be changed forever,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The Illumination CEO disclosed that on opening weekend, he would sneak into three different cinemas to watch audiences watching his movies: \u201cIn the second theater, I was standing there and I was watching the audience comprised of grandparents, children, couples, people dressed up just having an incredible time.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt dawned on me that at that moment there were 25,000 theaters across the globe that were playing our film and that there was a level of joy that we were providing for those audiences at a moment in time when the world needs joy so badly.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added, \u201cI feel so fortunate to be partnered with all of you in that endeavor. So, thank you for being our partners, and as you\u2019ve heard so many times this week, we wouldn\u2019t be here without all of you. This whole art form is not going to slip through our fingers because everybody here is determined to make it as great as it\u2019s ever been.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"Chris<\/span><\/div><\/div>

Chris Meledandri at the CinemaCon 2023 Big Screen Achievement Awards at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada on Thursday, April 27, 2023 Photo by Earl Gibson III.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

In her acceptance speech, Melissa McCarthy recalled how, at 17 years old, she watched Star Wars<\/em> for the first time and said to herself, \u201cMaybe I can do that. And I thought of the possibilities of what I could become.\u201d<\/p>\n

McCarthy also recalled how on June 15, 1978, when she was just eight years old, she watched Grease<\/em> and went on to see it several times more. She quipped, \u201cIt broke my brain and I did not even question why 30-year-olds were still in high school.\u201d<\/p>\n

The actress realized her dream, starring in such films as Bridesmaids, The Heat, Tammy, Can You Ever Forgive Me?<\/em> and Spy<\/em>. Disney earlier presented footage of the live-action movie version of The Little Mermaid<\/em>, where she portrays the villainess Ursula.<\/p>\n

The two-time Golden Globe nominee said, \u201cIt feels a little odd to be thanked by the very institution that encouraged me towards the path of my life\u2019s work. Movies were my inspiration, my educators and my friends. They not only opened my eyes to the possibilities for what I could become and that feeling of sitting in a theater experiencing the collective joy and fear and love changed not only how I saw the world but how I saw myself in it.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt made me realize at an early age that we are all in this together and need that more now than ever. We have drifted from our shared humanity, but I truly believe that cinema and storytelling can help heal that divide.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Melissa McCarthy holds the Cin\u00e9ma V\u00e9rit\u00e9 Award at the CinemaCon 2023 Big Screen Achievement Awards at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada on Thursday, April 27, 2023. Photo by Earl Gibson III.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

The talented Joy Ride cast<\/em> \u2013 Ashley Park, Sherry Cola, Stephanie Hsu and Sabrina Wu \u2013 showed up to receive their Big Screen Achievement Award.<\/p>\n

Park said, \u201cWe had a great time, had fun making memories. None of us ever really thought we had a place in this capacity on a big screen and the fact that you wanted this on your screens means so much to us.\u201d On behalf of the cast, she also thanked Adele Lim, who made her feature directing debut in Joy Ride<\/em>, producer Seth Rogen and writers Teresa Hsiao and Cherry Chevapravatdumrong.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"The<\/span><\/div><\/div>

The cast of Joy Ride, Ashley Park, Sherry Cola, Stephanie Hsu and Sabrina Wu. Photo by Earl Gibson III.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

Dominique Fishback, who won the Rising Star of the Year Award with her Transformers: Rise of the Beasts<\/em> co-star, Anthony Ramos, recalled how she used to work at a Regal movie theater and dreamed of becoming part of the movies.<\/p>\n

The 32-year-old New Yorker, who has appeared in such movies as Show Me a Hero, The Deuce and Judas and the Black Messiah<\/em>, said she is very grateful for the recognition.<\/p>\n

Ramos, on the other hand, said, \u201cThank you for recognizing this Puerto Rican kid from Brooklyn.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 31-year-old actor first caught attention when he originated the dual roles of John Laurens and Philip Hamilton in the Broadway musical Hamilton<\/em>. He also appeared in the movies In the Heights<\/em> and A Star Is Born<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Rolando B. Rodriguez, NATO chairman, received the Marquee Award.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"Anthony<\/span><\/div><\/div>

Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback at the CinemaCon 2023 Big Screen Achievement Awards at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada on Thursday, April 27, 2023. Photo by Earl Gibson III.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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CinemaCon, which is the largest and most important gathering of the worldwide motion picture theater industry, recently handed out awards to the best and brightest in the entertainment industry. The official convention of The National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO), it is held annually in Las Vegas since 2011.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5111,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4520,3973],"tags":[3987,3316,3948],"class_list":["post-5110","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","category-issue-15","tag-cinemacon","tag-hollywood","tag-janet-susan-r-nepales"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5110","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5110"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5110\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5118,"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5110\/revisions\/5118"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5111"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5110"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5110"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5110"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}