How can theatres survive after COVID?
Uncertainty arose about the future prospects of movie theaters after the coronavirus pandemic. The question now is: Can theaters survive after Covid?” Are people still able to enjoy movies the same way they did before the pandemic? Many changes occurred in many industries, and people had to adapt to new circumstances.
Hollywood was not spared in California either. However, streaming services like Netflix, Amazon and HBO max were popular within a matter of hours. Continue reading to learn how filmmakers and movie theater owners can improve the movie-going experience after the pandemic.
How can theatres survive after COVID?
1. Slow down Simultaneous Release Models
Some prominent figures from the film and exhibition industries are against simultaneous theatrical, blockbuster and box office releases. This conclusion was reached at the National Association of Theater Owners (NATO) annual convention last year.
Theater owners argued that by slowing down simultaneous release models, exclusive theatrical window and movie theatres will thrive despite experiencing a temporary shutdown during the pandemic. Exclusive theatrical release windows are crucial for the survival of the theatrical experience, whether it is next year or the next.
2. Stop Massive Piracy
Mr. Adam Aron, AMC’s boss, stated that the best way to stop massive piracy within the movie industry was to distribute new films first in cinemas and movie theaters. Joseph Greenstein, president of Sony Pictures Motion Picture, supports the same idea. To help cinemas thrive after the pandemic, Greenstein has committed to first distributing Sony films to theaters.
3. Renegotiate Contracts
Huge vaccination campaigns and lockdown orders enable most moviegoers the freedom to see their favourite blockbusters and box-office releases in comfort at home. Hollywood Studios and other movie studios Los Angeles must begin renegotiating their contracts, especially for theatrical windows.
After a dramatized standoff that involved different movie theaters during the Covid-19 pandemic, the renegotiating contracts are being done. AMC, America’s largest film distributor, threatened to remove all Universal films/movies from its screens. An incident like this will not happen because of the renegotiated contracts.
4. Answer to All Involved
Major studios must answer to film directors and movie theater owners in order to avoid any legal problems within the movie entertainment sector. This is especially important for studios that stream their movies directly to streaming services for streamers.
Scarlett Johansson, for instance, sued Disney over the “Black Widow” Marvel film’s day-and-date release. The actress claimed that the film’s hybrid release caused the loss of millions in global box-office bonuses.
These incidents are a sign of transparency, especially since restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic have been lifted. Moviegoing has returned to pre-pandemic times.
5. Keep your head up in history
By being on the right side, history can help movie theaters increase ticket sales and improve their theater experience for moviegoers. WarnerMedia was criticized last year by Dennis Villeneuve (film director for Dune), who is also the film director. Villeneuve took the action after WarnerMedia had made the film slate available on HBO Max the day before it premiered on American big screens, starting in New York City and ending in Los Angeles.
WarnerMedia was also accused of causing losses in the Godzilla vs. Kong hybrid movie release. These incidents highlight the importance of movie theatres and studios being on the right side history in order to survive the Covid-19 pandemic.
6. Take advantage of digital signage
American movie theatres and similar entertainment venues remained closed for much of the last year. This change has impacted the traditional method of viewing both domestic and global box office releases in movie theatres. Movie theaters are now open to moviegoers, despite the restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Movie theater owners should use the state-of-the-art digital signage to promote themselves and inform their audience about this pandemic. This will allow major studios and theater chains to reach a wider audience once the movie is released.
Theater owners will be able to attract moviegoers to their theaters via streaming services in an effort to increase attendance. Keep in mind, however, that hybrid movies and TV shows can be viewed on Netflix and not in a movie theater.
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Final Thought
Can theaters still survive the Covid pandemic? Yes, theaters can survive as the Covid pandemic decreases. This is evident in the American movie industry and the biggest box office financial markets, both of which have reopened indoor theatres. This could be a sign that the country’s theater chains are beginning a long journey of recovery for moviegoers.