As the uncertain march to an equally uncertain future continues, a few notes: Kudos to the Sie Film Center for closing until April 3 in response to the COVID-19 threat. Shutting a theater isn’t easy. It impacts audiences, release schedules and, of course, revenues. Revenues are particularly important to a non-profit film center. Closing couldn’t have been an easy decision for the staff and for the executives of the Denver Film Society. I know many of these people; they’re committed to advancing and protecting film culture. I know it hurts them not to be able to bring new movies to their audience. But public health is important and I hope that the commercial theater chains, which also would have to pay a heavy price to do the right thing, will follow suit. But, in this case, there seems to be a right thing to do.
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Later in the day, after I posted my initial item, Gov. Jared Polis ordered that all theaters in Colorado (movies and otherwise) be closed for 30 days. As much as I believe that this is a good policy decision and will help in efforts to flatten the coronavirus curve, I'm still trying to digest the strangeness of the moment. Most of us never have lived through a time when we couldn't go to a movie, eat at a restaurant or gather at a bar for a drink after work. No more hanging out at restaurants and bars for a while, either. One consolation: The popcorn is a hell of a lot cheaper if you make it at home before looking for something to watch on your favorite streaming service.
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I never thought I'd see the day. Universal Pictures Monday announced that it would release its movies on demand on the same day as those films are released theatrically. For more information, you can check out this story on Variety's Web site. Evidently, Universal hasn't decided how long this policy will be in force.
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In the more-depressing-news department, you may want to try the New York Times story, Movie Crowds Stay Away. Theaters Hope It's Not for Good.
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With theaters closed in New York City and Los Angeles, you have to wonder when we'll see the next major release. Those two cities constitute a big part of the moviegoing market. I can't imagine that the studios will want to give them up. Many studios would rather postpone than narrow the narrow or eliminate the window between theatrical and home release. Obviously, theater chains feel the same way.
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Coronavirus news moves too fast for any of us to keep pace, but so far, I haven't seen anything that I'd call good news.
I wish that weren't the case because all of us could use a lift.
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