Filmmakers make movies in hopes of creating a special experience for audiences as they watch 
in the theater. But the trio behind one movie theater in our area is hoping to create even more of a special experience that goes beyond the films shown on their screens. 
The Cinema at Camp Landing, located in the Camp Landing Entertainment District on U.S. 60 in Cannonsburg, Kentucky, has a number of features to enhance the movie-going experience. Those include stadium seating, as well as a reserved-seating VIP auditorium with luxury recliners and in-seat ordering. Alcohol is available for purchase, alongside popcorn, candy, and other traditional movie concession fare. But even with all of that, it still isn’t quite enough for the creative minds at Camp Landing. 
“We want to be an event maker,” said George Bagnoli, general manager of the Cinema, the only independently owned movie theater in the Tri-State area. “People lose interest if it’s just about the movies. If we make it memorable, people talk about it, and word of mouth brings people to our theater.”
Bagnoli and Chrissy Dillow, marketing manager for the Cinema, have been making the theater memorable since it opened in 2007 as part of the Kyova Mall. But when the duo was able to team up with Elisabeth Camp, co-owner of Camp Landing and the Cinema, things reached a whole new level. 
“The Cinema is one of the most fun parts of owning Camp Landing,” Camp said. 
The three meet weekly to discuss their latest ideas. Those include special events, unique lobby displays, and drinks created to match the theme of a movie.
A lobby full of pink sparkles and a special Barbie box for photos were staples during the 
summer, and October’s showings of “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” meant friendship bracelet 
trading and special merchandise, in addition to those popular themed drinks.
“People comment all the time that they can’t wait to see the drink for a particular movie,” 
Bagnoli said. “It adds to the experience.”
For “Meg 2: The Trench,” the drink was a blue raspberry ICEE with Sierra Mist, topped with a 
toy shark and grenadine. “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” led to a drink with Crown
Royal Peach, whipped cream vodka, Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey and peach juice, complete with a (toy) snake slithering on top. Months before “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” hit screens, Dillow had already figured out how to create neon snakes for that film’s signature drink. All movie-themed drinks are available with and without alcohol. 
“It’s one step beyond the movie. We want to immerse you in it,” Dillow said. “You want to make memories for people and you want everyone to have a great time.”

Dillow does her research on each film, but sometimes even the best planning cannot overcome a dud at the box office. Bagnoli admits they’ve been burned a couple of times, like with the expected blockbuster “The Flash.” They’ve also been surprised by “out of nowhere” smashes like “The Super Mario Bros. Movie.” “You just incorporate pivoting and try to catch the wave of the next big thing,” he said.
When it comes to events, “Blind Date Cinema” is one of the most popular. An older film is 
offered at a lower ticket price, but only the movie’s genre is revealed prior to showtime. “I saw a bookstore do a ‘Blind Date with a Book’ event and I thought it was a fun idea,” Dillow said.
“Our ‘Blind Date Cinema’ has quite the following.”The trio also offers other events for the community. Those include their “Open Caption and Sensory-Friendly” screenings and their “Free Summer Family” movie series. The Cinema also does a holiday series where they collect canned food for local schools and River Cities Harvest. 
Perhaps the signature element of both Camp Landing and the Cinema is the art hallway that leads to the Cinema’s inside entrance. The long corridor features several art pieces that together create an interactive selfie gallery. Camp was inspired to create the gallery after seeing a mall in Orlando, Florida, that had similar art. She brainstormed with local artists who helped her create the works that dozens of visitors pose with each day.
“I wanted to make it different and fun,” Camp said. “We’re not a mall, we’re an entertainment 
district. We know how to have a good time and entertain.” 
Among the more popular selfie stations are a motorcycle scene, large wings spread in flight and the Barbie box, which was moved to the hallway from the lobby after the movie’s monster run. 
“I would like to inspire others, like kids, so they can think of something creative to add to the 
world,” Camp said. “It’s really awesome to walk down the hall and see people smiling.” 
More about the events and offerings at The Cinema at Camp Landing are available on its
Facebook page. You can also join the Cinema loyalty program to earn points for free tickets and concessions by visiting www.cinemacamplanding.com.