Has the Movie Theatre Experience Succumbed to Virtual Screenings?

Watch Movies Together

Nearly two years into the COVID-19 global pandemic, it’s fair to say that the world has seen numerous shifts in the technological sector—revolutionized technology has since facilitated corresponding changes in patterns in human culture and human interaction. The movie theatre industry exists as just one trend that has been silently boiling down for the past decade, only speeding up and brought to light due to the restrictions brought on by the pandemic.

According to Forbes, “The $2.2 billion in box office receipts in 2020 marked a 40-year low in domestic box office.” MPAA trends dating back from 2002 onwards reveal a steady decline in annual ticket sales, with 2020 marking a drop of over 80% since 2019. The Numbers additionally reveals that 2020 marks an all-time high in movie ticket pricing, averaging at $9.16 compared to $7.93 in 2011, and $5.66 in 2001. The item to note here is that global movie consumption itself hasn’t gone down— rather, the content source has since migrated. AnnualTicketSales_CyaLiveVirtualPlatform While much of this decline can be attributed to price point and the cost of home-viewing versus the theatre experience, content consumption has arguably changed from a group experience into a solo experience with the development of new video streaming platforms and cultural changes. “Bingeing” new shows and movie marathons from the comfort of one’s home has become the new standardized form of entertainment consumption. But does it have to be? Can we bring back the good old communal movie-watching experience and do so from the comfort of our homes? Absolutely.

As film watching has become a solo experience, Cya Live’s mission is to make content consumption a shared experience once again—but this time, even better. A live events platform that delivers high, 4K production value for virtual and hybrid events, Cya Live has redesigned the content consumption experience to allow audiences to interact with live content, other users, and even stars through video or text chat—all in complete synchronicity. In recognizing the decline in movie theatre popularity even before the COVID-19 pandemic, we developed our industry-leading technology for the sole purpose of unifying people through a combined love for movies. By combining both the bests of the at-home and in-theatre experiences into a single platform, Cya Live has transformed the movie-watching experience for its users. Don’t believe us? See for yourself.

6 Activities You NEED to Spice up Your Next Virtual Event

Cya-Live-Virtual-Streaming-Platform Let’s admit it: COVID-19 has made homebodies of us all. Whether it be school, work, or even entertainment, the world has shifted online and we’ve moved with it. Sure, there are things we all miss about hanging out with our besties in the ancient pre-COVID era, but this virtual shift doesn’t mean we have to sacrifice real-life connections and real-life fun. Thanks to technology, getting together and keeping in touch with loved ones from around the world has never been easier. Here are 6 activities to spice up your next virtual event! 1) Cook-off Who says you need to be a chef to experiment with new flavors? Thanks to the millions of online resources we have access to today, cooking a hearty meal or a yummy dessert has never been this easy! Whether it’s a live cooking demo from your grandma, a cooking party with your friends, or a private virtual cooking class with a local chef, food has never failed to bring people together. Check out some of these quick and easy recipes we found online: Brownies galore Creamy baked mac and cheese Easy chicken fajitas No-bake cheesecake 2) Cocktail Night Adults can have fun too! Invite your friends for a virtual cocktail hour with DIY drinks! Search for some of your favorite cocktail (or mocktail) recipes online and recreate them together. Feeling fancy? Invite a guest bartender to teach your guests some tips and tricks on creating the perfect, boozy drink! PS: fancy dress codes are encouraged! 3) Paint Night Channel your inner artist and invite your friends and family online for a virtual paint night! Start by selecting a trustworthy platform and set up a date and time for your event. (We recommend Cya Live!) Provide a list of materials for your guests to purchase ahead of time. If you’re feeling extra thoughtful, create paint kits to personally mail/deliver to guests before your event! Follow along to your favorite painting tutorials online or create some free-style canvas masterpieces. End the night off with a virtual art gallery and show off your beautiful creations! Looking to impress with minimal art experience? Check out these paint by numbers kits! 4) Makeup Parties While makeup and glam may seem foreign to us in the pandemic era marked by extensive mask use, it’s time to take your beloved makeup brushes out of retirement! Host your very own makeup tutorial night with your closest friends and create fun, new looks together! Take virtual group selfies and post to social media to let others in on the fun. #cheese! 5) Watch Parties A classic, fool-proof event both in person and virtually! Host awesome, movie-themed watch parties with your friends—be it a cult classic or a spooky horror night, movies are better when enjoyed together. BONUS: End the night off with a fun trivia quiz to keep guests on their toes throughout the movie! 6) Games Night Charades, anyone? With the amazing power of technology, anything is possible nowadays—including virtual, interactive games nights with friends! From Cards Against Humanity to Bingo to Pictionary, the virtual possibilities are endless. Create funky team names and themes to make the night even more memorable for everybody! As always, don’t forget to snap some photos to share!