Aside from drive-ins, we can’t go to the movies. A trickle are coming out online, but “if you thought choosing a film at the multiplex was difficult, finding that same new movie in the current hodgepodge is potentially paralyzing.” – The New York Times
Category: AUDIENCE
French Directors And Distributors Are Thrilled By The Confinement’s ‘Return’ To Cinema
“We can only welcome a massive return of heritage cinema to France Télévisions in this very special period. Let us hope that this frantic desire continues in post-confinement,” they write. But, they add, why aren’t the channels diversifying their offerings with contemporary filmmakers (and not just from France) instead of simply returning to the 1970s? – Le Monde
A New Apple Family Play, Live, Via Zoom
Richard Nelson introduced the Apples in 2010, and then wrote a whole cycle around them in the early 2000s. He moved on to other families for a while. But “for many who met them at the Public or on tour or on public television, the Apples have come to feel like kin. And in the midst of a pandemic, we could be forgiven for wondering how they were doing. Thoughtfully, Nelson and the Public Theater have arranged a video conference.” – The New York Times
Movie Studios Rethink Their Business Models
While stuck indoors under lockdown, consumer have grown even more accustomed to streaming movies from the comfort of their home. Executives suggest those habits could make moviegoers more unwilling to buy tickets to midlevel films in the future. – Variety
Live Drive-In Opera Is Coming To London
English National Opera is planning to stage two classics on the grounds of the Alexandra Palace in North London, with singers and orchestral players spaced at least six feet apart and the audience in cars or on motorcycles or bikes. And if it works, ENO may take the concept around the country. – The Guardian
‘Hell No, We’re Not Opening On Monday’: Movie Theaters Resist Political Pressure To Put Butts Back In Seats Now
“They don’t want to be lumped in with meatpacking plants and senior centers as hot spots for the virus. Already struggling financially, theaters fear that a too-soon return could stigmatize them as dangerous places to congregate. And with new movies from Hollywood not set to debut until the middle of July — at the earliest — opening too soon would only make operators spend money before they could truly recoup costs from patrons.” – The New York Times
Zoom As Arthouse Film – What We Can Learn
“When a face looks back at us in the real world, that means something very deep: we have to choose how to respond – because they can see us. So we manifest a facial expression, or talk back, or look away. Cinema takes away that other person seeing you. That gives us some freedom: we can look, think and engage with the content of the film.” – The Guardian
Surge In Library E-Book Borrowing
Loans of online e-books, e-magazines and audiobooks were up an average of 63% in March compared with last year. And 120,000 people joined libraries in the three weeks after lockdown began, Libraries Connected said. – BBC
Can We Learn From Movies About Interactions That Take Place In Different Places?
Movies depict phone calls, there are split screens, fast cuts, etc. There’s already a rich visual language of remote interaction. So what can we learn? – Irish Times
No Surprise: Netflix Reports Huge Increase In Subscribers
Netflix added 15.8 million subscribers, more than double the 7.2 million that were expected — a growth of more than 22 percent year over year. Netflix now has 182 million subscribers worldwide. The company also saw quarterly revenue of $5.77 billion versus the $5.76 billion estimated. – The Verge