Nexo Digital’s first-ever live event in movie theatres – Ligabue Day – held last month across Italy established a number of cinema records: a record number of cinemas 108 in a single European country with a live event satellite feed; record box office revenue with 25 000 tickets sold grossing 255 000 euro topping The Ghost Writer; and record box office revenue at all participating cinemas. The concert featured Ligabue the number one Italian rock singer performing a live sneak preview of his new single from his upcoming album. The real star of the evening: the audience turned the cinema into a stadium concert with fans jumping to their feet and really getting into the experience. Here’s what people had to say: “I’ve never seen anything like it: everyone screaming dancing singing at the cinema. Amazing!” “Thanks to Ligabue yesterday the cinema was like a stadium! Now we can’t wait for the record to come out!” “It was just like being at a concert! At one point everyone got on their feet practically at the same time and we all started singing and reliving the Olympics. It was really powerful beyond words especially for me since I was there in 2008 and I felt like I was back there wading through that huge crowd. It was crazy.” “I never thought it’d be possible but for the first time at the movies I literally felt drawn into the screen: it was a wild feeling.” “At first you don’t think it’ll be as good as at a stadium. Sure you know you’ll enjoy it but in the end it’ll still just be a film nothing more. But then you start moving around a bit and pretty soon you are dancing with the guy next you. Ligabue sends out this explosion of energy that spreads everywhere. Thanks Liga!” The event was organized by Nexo Digital a film industry company that is now branching out as a publisher distributor and promoter of digital media including restored in 2K Hollywood classics concerts sporting events and live events. The challenge facing Nexo Digital and Nexo Live is to make the most out of the cinema by breaking down barriers of time and space and bringing the audience to the event or better still into the event. In this model the cinema becomes more than just a place to watch new films – it now can be a venue for experiencing live events happening hundreds of kilometers away and for enjoying classic films shown for the first time on the big screen re-mastered with unprecedented detail. Nexo Digital www.nexodigital.it
