It's hard to track everything that's going on with COVID-19. There's such a large amount of information coming out that even if you limit your inquiries to the effects on the entertainment industry, it's easy to get overwhelmed and lose the big picture. Since I've been trying to keep up with it, I thought I would put a list of the reading, resources, and links that I've found useful or informative on one page in my site so that my visitors can help see the forest through the trees in this massive upheaval. I'll try to segment this and summarize the links before posting them. I'll also update regularly as time allows.
Occasionally I'll include a few insights from my personal experiences working remotely through the crisis, and please feel free to tweet things you find relevant at me. I'm @TheGuerrillaRep.
This page is for. a newsfeed, I also have a resources page here.
Occasionally I'll include a few insights from my personal experiences working remotely through the crisis, and please feel free to tweet things you find relevant at me. I'm @TheGuerrillaRep.
This page is for. a newsfeed, I also have a resources page here.
General Summary
Prepare for the Death and Rebirth of Hollywood
This piece is a well thought out and researched summary of the likely affects of COVID-19 on the Film Industry. It's a long read, but an important one. Take an extra few minutes from your coffee and dive in. It seems to draw on all the other articles posted on this page.
The TL;DR version is that The Agencies are poised to lose power, and producers set to gain it. The impending bankruptcy of theater chains coupled with recent deregulation could cause acquisitions by outlets like Amazon (and maybe Disney, for stock) and a reformation of the theatergoing experience by incorporating other aspects of the brand's retail and entertainment outlets.
Read the whole thing on Medium
This piece is a well thought out and researched summary of the likely affects of COVID-19 on the Film Industry. It's a long read, but an important one. Take an extra few minutes from your coffee and dive in. It seems to draw on all the other articles posted on this page.
The TL;DR version is that The Agencies are poised to lose power, and producers set to gain it. The impending bankruptcy of theater chains coupled with recent deregulation could cause acquisitions by outlets like Amazon (and maybe Disney, for stock) and a reformation of the theatergoing experience by incorporating other aspects of the brand's retail and entertainment outlets.
Read the whole thing on Medium
Effects on Development
Personal Takeaway
Development is plowing ahead. I'm still taking meetings about a few projects over Zoom and other video conferencing platforms. From What I've seen, studios seem to be continuing development to make sure they're ready for when they can shoot. I haven't found any sources that are listing this information that aren't behind paywalls, but I'll leave this heading here to add personal takes and experiences and articles that come across my feed.
Effects on Financing
Personal Takeaway
The Equity markets are very hesitant. Pre-sales are becoming more viable, but still have heavy restrictions. Many of the Studios I've been talking to are extremely hesitiant to work with first time directors. This is normal, but the hesitancy has been increased. Investors are risk averse, and will require you have a plan on how to work through this crisis.
Disney Warns investors of low returns in the short and medium turn.
Executives at Disney are warning their shareholders that returns will be "Significantly lower" than they might expect. Disney parks aren't set to reopen until 2021, and other profit centers like Theatrical and associated merchandise have taken a bigger hit than may be publicly known.
Read more in the Hollywood Reporter
Executives at Disney are warning their shareholders that returns will be "Significantly lower" than they might expect. Disney parks aren't set to reopen until 2021, and other profit centers like Theatrical and associated merchandise have taken a bigger hit than may be publicly known.
Read more in the Hollywood Reporter
Effects on Production
Personal Takeaway
This is not where I tend to work, so my insights are limited. I will post articles as Good ones become available. The common threads seem to include some degree of cast and crew sequestration, Lots of additional regulation when it comes to cleaning, sanitizing, limiting cast and crew on set, limiting extras, and swapping out equipment that's hard to clean. It's also notable that there are some aspects of filmmaking such as most aspects of post production and animation that are much more friendly to social distancing than others.
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Parts of the Blacklist Season Finale will be animated, due in part to COVID-19
Since the shoot for Season Finale was underway in NYC, The Blacklist season Finale will be part live action and part comic book animation. I think we'll be seeing more animated series in the next few years while we shelter in place. Read the Whole Article On Variety |
Lionsgate Production Safety Documents
Here's a link to the Production Safety Documents Lionsgate released. As with the others, there's a large emphasis on sanitation and testing. Read it for yourself below. Check out the document on Google Drive |
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Leaked Film & TV Safety Documents Lay Bare the Enormous Complexities of Re-Starting Shoots
Not every plan is public, here are some leaks showing the gargantuan task we face in re-opening large scale film productions. Read The Whole Article |
How Denmark is handling it.
Denmark seems to be looking into implementing of restrictions, many but not all put on individual responsibility. They all seem reasonable, and in line with Perry's and Florida's proposed restrictions. Read this film organization's take. |
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How Tyler Perry Proposes we handle this.
Tyler Perry's Plan is similar to the others I've listed here, with a more clear call for testing and sequestration on his studio lot. Read more on Deadline |
How Florida is handling it
I'm kind of surprised to see it, but Florida's regulations on the matter seem pretty reasonable. Although I'll admit I'm sad it's not really warranted to put a Leroy Jenkins Gif here in place of text. Read the full release and analysis from Deadline here. |
Affects on Moviegoers
Personal Takeaway
The way that people watch movies is changing. The theatrical experience will likely change for for far longer than just this crisis. Here are some insights that I've found interesting.
Amazon Looking To Acquire AMC/Odeon
Amazon is looking more and more likely to acquire one of the major movie chains, AMC seems to be the most likely candidate as of right now. If you're not in the US, this still affects you. More below from this UK site, this is money.
Read more on This is Money.
Amazon is looking more and more likely to acquire one of the major movie chains, AMC seems to be the most likely candidate as of right now. If you're not in the US, this still affects you. More below from this UK site, this is money.
Read more on This is Money.
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Alamo Drafthouse Launches Virtual Cinema
Alamo Drafthouse has long been at the forefront of the US on new trends in moviegoing. They continue that trend with the launch of the virtual cinema. It's unlikely it will ever fully take the place of a more traditional theatrical window, but it's likely to be a stop gap that won't go away. Read the full story on Drafthouse.com |
AMC Theaters looks like it will go bankrupt.
The Jist AMC is facing a major credit rating downgrade from B to CCC- (essentially in danger of immediate default.) from too much debt. As a result, the largest theater chain in the country may become the cultural equivalent of blockbuster. This may mean a bankruptcy and restructuring with the loss of some locations, or it might mean the chain completely folds. Read the optimistic view in Deadline Read the pessimist view in Inside the Magic. |
Affects on Distribution
Personal Takeaway
I think that we'll see a big boon to users for Subscription Video on Demand platforms and Ad-Supported Video on Demand platforms. It's going to be ingeresting to see what happens with the internal workings of film markets.
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AMC's Fight With Universal over Windowing Dies out shortly after starting.
ICYMI, AMC and Universal were fighting about whether or not Universal could release movies on Premium Video On Demand same day as theaters. This came about Due to the success of Trolls 2, Universal alluded to the notion that they want to create a permanent premium video on demand window that will coincide with the theatrical window. This created a strong disagreement between studios and theater chains. However, insiders think it's overblown, and will likely end up as something similar to Day and Date releasing for prestigious indiefilms or Direct to Home Video sorts of movies. Read more on Deadline. |
Theatrical Film, TV Ads, PayTV to Fade out like CDs, DVDs, Print, according to analyst.
The Jist is that a a watershed moment that marks the collapse of some of the crumbling pillars of traditional media. this analyst does not think that this will go away any time soon. Read in full on Deadline |
Affects on Festivals and Markets
Given how communal film festivals tend to be, it's safe to say that a lot is going to change for them. Here are some of the more interesting and relevant articles I've found to illustrate that.
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Tribeca, YouTube, Cannes, and more create We are one Streaming Film Festival film festival.
It's unlikely this will have s pertinent an effect on the film community as the events themselves would have, but it is a good plan since holding their festivals would be irresponsible. Read more on Deadline |
The American Film Market will Still be held Live and In Person in November 2020.
AFM is going ahead as planned. It's unclear exactly what sterilization methods will be used, or if social distancing will still be necessary or enforced. Read More on Deadline |
Direct Effects on Filmmakers
This section is for how filmmakers are likely to be effected as separate from the films they make. everything else on this page will inform that, but here's some articles that should be of interest.
Jim Cummings (Thunder Road) Warns this shutdown will last far beyond January of 2021.
In a very detailed and well reasoned article, Cummings lays out what's likely to happen to the industry and film production in the next 12-24 months. By this, he means that nothing is likely to happen. His logic is sound.
Check it out on his medium
In a very detailed and well reasoned article, Cummings lays out what's likely to happen to the industry and film production in the next 12-24 months. By this, he means that nothing is likely to happen. His logic is sound.
Check it out on his medium
General Effects on Industry
A Running list of postponed or cancelled shoots.
A lot of sites are keeping running lists of COVID-19 cancellations, so I think it's appropriate to link to a few here.
View in on Indiewire
View it on Deadline.
View it on Variety
A lot of sites are keeping running lists of COVID-19 cancellations, so I think it's appropriate to link to a few here.
View in on Indiewire
View it on Deadline.
View it on Variety
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