Running a Modern Cinema on Old Software

When my friends and I set out to save our hometown movie theater, I thought the hardest part would be convincing Hollywood to give us movies.

I was wrong. The real challenge wasn’t studio executives—it was the outdated technology running the theater. I quickly realized the entire movie industry had been neglected from a software perspective.

Table of Contents

  • A System Built for the Past

  • A New Set of Rules

  • From Our Problem to Our Platform

  • Conclusion

A System Built for the Past

Cinema software is the heart of operations, managing tickets, concessions, scheduling, and customer relationships. Yet most systems were built decades ago. Switching providers felt like a heart transplant—we were stuck with what we had.

We wrestled with six or seven different systems that didn’t communicate. Schedules were made in spreadsheets, then painstakingly re-entered into clunky tools. Hours were wasted on software instead of creating memorable guest experiences.

A New Set of Rules

There had to be a better way. During the pandemic, I retreated to a cabin for a year to build a solution from scratch—a fully integrated, cloud-based platform designed for modern cinema operators.

Our mission rests on three pillars:

  1. Grow Top-Line Revenue – Equip theaters to increase sales, not just manage them.

  2. Increase Operational Efficiency – Automate tedious tasks so staff can focus on guests.

  3. Improve Quality of Life – Create software that’s intuitive and enjoyable for everyone, from owners to concession staff.

From Our Problem to Our Platform

While building this system for our own theater, it became clear: if we were frustrated, so was every independent cinema operator. This wasn’t just about saving one theater—it was about empowering an entire community.

We merged with INDY Cinema Group, run by Ian and Carmen Brown, who already served 40 independent cinemas. By combining their industry expertise with my software background, we created the platform the cinema industry had been waiting for.

Conclusion

What started as a mission to save a hometown theater has evolved into redefining technology across the cinema industry. By building a platform from scratch, we challenged outdated assumptions and created tools that are smarter, faster, and more effective.

Today, with modern technology and machine learning, we’re helping cinemas not just survive, but thrive in a rapidly changing world.

Discover how we’re transforming cinemas: https://keithmwalker.com.

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