This year's NATPE, held in New Orleans, was down in attendance and exhibitors. Many distributors who did come, opted to hold court in hotel suites instead of mingling with the crowds on the floor. Photo credit: Heather Parlato.

From veterans to newbies, to New Orleans cabbies and hoteliers, all saw that this was not the NATPE of heydays past. It was reported that the attendance was 50% down and exhibitors were down 70% from two years ago. Even those camped out in the suites at the seven-plus hotels did not bring a full contingency. Like in 2002, this year’s NATPE was a fragmented conference with the “majors” opting for comfy suites in posh hotels versus having a place on the convention floor.

The only evidence that the majors were in town was the big red square in the middle of the convention floor, called “Hollywood Plaza.” Each of the big players, such as Buena Vista, Warner Bros., Paramount and others, had a small display with a phone and a person. This was the place to make appointments before trekking by cab to the Ritz-Carlton way up on Canal Street. However, those manning these booths didn’t have the full scoop on what was going on in the hotels or even know who was there. Other distributors followed the lead of the biggies and ordered up suites in other prominent hotels.

Off The Floor
The large Latin American contingency grouped together at the Marriott, along with other distributors that had abandoned the floor.

Jerry Diaz, executive vice-president of Salsa Entertainment came to NATPE to stir up interest in two Salsa projects, Olliver's Adventures (top) and Something Else. Olliver's Adventure © 2001 Ollie's Adventures II, Inc.; Photo courtesy of Salsa Entertainment, a wholly-owned TV-Loonland subsidiary; Something Else © 2002 Loonland UK Ltd./Studio B (SE) Productions, Inc. in association with ZDF.