Draft:Regal Cinemas: Difference between revisions

=== 1st Opening (1994-2000, March 2001-2004, Summer 2010-2018) ===

Opening: The opening starts with a futuristic rollercoaster car interior. A curved dashboard starts to display the Regal Theatre policy below in red, then it scrolls up to the bottom of the screen:

 

 

Trivia: The opening was animated by SmithGroup Communications with Alias/Wavefront PowerAnimator, and later converted to Maya in 2002. It was designed by visual effects designer John McLaughlin (no affiliation with the John McLaughlin Group series), who has previously worked for LucasArts and DreamWorks. He passed away young on May 24, 2016 at the age of 46. For the 2010 version, Jim Dalgleish (who worked on the original) and another animator recreated the opening with Modo (tunnel rendering and coaster) and LightWave 3D (tunnel modeling and ending).

* 1998-2002: The design of the car's interior, the sky background, and the popcorn bags have been changed. The Butterfinger boxes are replaced with Reese's cups, and Pepsi's "Project Blue" logo replaces the 1991 version (white background, stripe with Pepsi logo). The Regal Cinemas logo at the end faces the screen directly and "FEATURE PRESENTATION" fades in below it in blue. Another version used during this period had Coca-Cola cups in place of Pepsi, used in theaters Regal bought out that still had Coca-Cola contracts in place.

* 2002-2004: The dashboard is straight instead of curved with more details (including a handle that automatically moves). The Pepsi references are replaced with Coke references, the Reese's are replaced with Raisinets, and the popcorn bags are redesigned. The rollercoaster was given a sleeker look with small spinning fans on the bottom, the Regal logo is changed from Regal Cinemas to its current form (Regal Entertainment Group), the final note of the music is different (two notes, the Regal sounder), and "FEATURE PRESENTATION" is wiped in from the center with sparkling effects.

* 2010-2015: The opening was redesigned again, this time in up-to-date CGI. Everything seen in the trailer is now far more detailed, with an ad for the Regal Crown Club appearing on the dashboard when the rollercoaster starts up. The dashboard displays the Regal Theatre policy in green: "Welcome to Regal Entertainment Group / Refreshments available in the lobby / In case of Emergency / please proceed to / the nearest exit. / Gift Cards available / for any special occasion. / Enjoy the Show!" The screens in the redesigned opening tunnel display "No Recording Devices or Cameras Allowed", "No Smoking" and "Hearing Impaired Devices/Available Upon Request".  The rollercoaster's track is now a light-blue, still shaped like a filmstrip but with embedded circuitry (presumably because of the switchover to digital film). Before going through the filmreel, instead of concessions, Regal ads show up about private screening and birthday rooms. After that, new concessions are seen (Cookie Dough Bites, M&M's, and Sour Patch). The area where bare girders were before now have a billboard for Sprint. Also, the new futuristic exit scene is known to have various beat boxes, speakers that move a lot, sound inputs/outputs, especially other audio visual equipment as well where the scene pans up to the new rollercoaster design (the then-current redesign of the futuristic exit now looks different to the previous ones (nor is now in a huge, rectangular shape instead of a circle)). Even though, the rollercoaster itself now resembles more of a monorail/maglev style vehicle, and the Regal logo is far shinier, with the "FEATURE PRESENTATION" now in smaller text and separated from the logo by a large line.

* 2013-2014: Geico ads were placed on the rollercoaster car, and replaced the Sprint ad. Also, the Twizzlers concession was replaced with a "Find us on Facebook/Join the Conversation on Twitter" ad, and the M&Ms have been replaced with Nestle's Crunch.

* 2014-2015: A Regal icon now appears in place of the Geico ad.

* There is a variant (introduced in 2010) where "Sony Digital Cinema 4K" appears in place of "Feature Presentation". This is shown in 4K auditoriums.

* There is a short version used as of 2015. This version cuts to the logo positioning itself, however only "REGAL" is seen next to the emblem. "FEATURE PRESENTATION" is also in white. For this version, we hear the end of the music from the 3rd opening.

FX/SFX: The whole thing, which looks like a first-person rollercoaster ride, animated in breathtaking CGI. The 2010 version is even more mind-blowing.

Music/Sounds: A futuristic rock-like orchestration which is kinda fast-paced to match the opening's roller coaster theme. At one point, there's a loud popcorn pop sound. Before the rollercoaster, a female voice says: "Welcome to Regal Cinemas." (before 2002)/"Welcome to Regal Entertainment." (after 2002). "Refreshments are available in the lobby. And please, keep our theatre clean by disposing of trash in the specified containers. And remember: gift certificates are available for any special occasion. Enjoy the show!" In the 1990s versions, the popcorn pop sound was loud on screens equipped with Dolby Digital, and softer on screens not equipped with it.

FX/SFX: Astonishingly breathtaking CGI animation produced by Taylor James for The Tombras Group.