Pandemic-induced changes in the Film Industry
In the month of March, the world paused. Without warning, billions of people’s lives unravel in the midst of a pandemic. Local businesses shut down while larger corporations tried to operate while respecting social distancing guidelines. The film industry was one of many that was affected.
With no people to fill in seats, theater chains and studios have scrambled to maintain business without their most profitable source of income: the cinema. Many studios have decided to release some of their movies “On Demand” or on streaming services like Netflix and Hulu. Others have opted to push back their release dates in hopes of a more attended theatrical release. Some theater chains are attempting to stay afloat by copying restaurants and selling concessions to go.
Outside of theaters, other sectors of the film industry have been similarly affected by the pandemic. Film production has been delayed or suspended, with notable titles like the “Avatar” sequels, “The Batman,” and “The Matrix 4” pushed back into 2022. Film festivals like the Cannes Film Festival and TIFF are either cancelled or are heavily restricting their events.
The uncertainty of the pandemic has created other interesting changes in film. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the organization responsible for the Academy Awards (the Oscars), discarded the requirement for theatrical screenings in Los Angeles and New York for at least one week. More recently, AMC Theater has cut a deal with Universal Pictures that would allow films to premiere on-demand three weeks after their theatrical debut, as opposed to the previous 90 days requirement.
Many ask if this leniency on digital services will negatively impact the integrity of film, the experience of watching it, and the art of making it. With the pandemic not going away anytime soon, these questions will remain in constant discussion as industry professionals and fans continue to see their beloved art form.