AMC will keep its theatres dark for six to 12 weeks; Regal, Landmark, Alamo Drafthouse, Showcase, Harkins, and Bow Tie have closed indefinitely; ArcLight and Pacific Theaters will close this week. Only Cinemark has not announced plans as yet. (Update: Cinemark will shutter as well.) – The Hollywood Reporter
Category: media
To Put It Bluntly, The International Box Office Is Screwed Right Now
Sorry to every movie that opened last weekend – or, heaven forfend, this one. – Variety
The Few People Still Going To Movies Over The Weekend Enjoyed Some Relative Peace And Quiet At The Cinema
One moviegoer in Manhattan: “We understand what all the drama is, … but we felt that if we went to the first movie of the day, it wouldn’t be that crowded. And we wanted to just change the subject for a moment.” – The New York Times
What’s Going To Happen To Hollywood?
It’s grim for movie theatres and for production companies as they halt production. But … “A lot of analysts have been talking about how the old theatrical model is outdated and streaming is the future of Hollywood. … Now we get a chance to see how that works out.” – The Washington Post (AP)
Disney Says It’s Committed To Showing LGBT Stores Onscreen
Does anyone who identifies as queer or LGBTQIA actually believe Disney at this point? Probably not, but should production on movies and TV shows ever resume in the world, “There will be a transgender character in a future Marvel film, and upcoming superhero movie The Eternals will introduce Marvel’s first openly gay lead character to cinema screens.” – BBC
Students, Out Of School, Are Making Content From The Coronavirus
What a shock; it’s mostly TikTok. (But funny, funnier than that rhyme.) – The Boston Globe
Calming Shows To Stream While You’re Hunkered Down
In other words, maybe don’t go for Netflix’s Pandemic or Outbreak. Instead, grab some popcorn and stay calm with Great British Baking Show or Planet Earth II. – Time
Data: How Movie-going Declined In North America Last Year
A detailed report released Wednesday by the Motion Picture Association helps to explain why moviegoing dipped in North America last year by 4 percent to $11.4 billion. Two key stats: The number of frequent moviegoers declined, and the number of tickets sold to all consumers slipped across every age group compared to 2018. – The Hollywood Reporter
Does Anyone Even Want The Job Of Running The BBC?
The deadline for submitting applications has just passed, reportedly with few candidates showing interest in a position seen as a “poisoned chalice.” Right now, a new BBC director general will have to deal with more than the usual number of headaches — and there’s a good chance of getting replaced within 18 months. – The Guardian
Rise Of The Internet Celebrity Talk Shows
The passive celebrity interview is over. Now celebrities must work for their press — or, at worst, they have to be interviewed by another celebrity. These practices makes sense in the social media era. Instagram, Twitter and other platforms are designed to let fans feel closer to celebrities than ever before, and have allowed those celebrities a control over their personas that they did not used to have. So, the new shows do what they can to soothe — or rattle — celebrities into a state resembling authenticity. – The New York Times