

Back in the 1970s, the National Association of Theater Owners had the opportunity to get involved in the home video business at its inception, but didn’t take advantage of it. The Screening Room is shaping up to be another moment of opportunity for NATO to potentially seize or snub – and it’s a decision that could influence the industry for years to come.
You know it’s coming, simply because it’s all anyone can talk about. They tell you to pick a side, they throw all kinds of images and faces at you, they talk numbers and revel in the intrigue and suspense. It’s going to be huge, they tell you, and you look at the evidence and realize that, in one form or another, they’re right.
This week, Napster founder and former Facebook president Sean Parker unveiled his latest venture project, Screening Room, and sought the backing of some of Hollywood’s biggest filmmakers. Now, a line has been drawn in the sand, with some of Hollywood’s biggest players taking sides.