Movies & Cinema during the Pandemic? Catch-all Discussion (1 Viewer)

[TravisR]

Yeah... and if the auditorium you see it in shares a ventilation system with the room next door, and a cluster of maskless sick people happen to be in there breathing, you might get all of that blown onto you anyway.

Me reading this:

 

[Worth]

Yeah... and if the auditorium you see it in shares a ventilation system with the room next door, and a cluster of maskless sick people happen to be in there breathing, you might get all of that blown onto you anyway...

I know there's conflicting information about this, but I was under the impression that you had to be relatively close to someone for more than a fleeting moment to risk exposure - hence the "keep a 6 foot distance" rule. It seems like droplets floating in the air dispersed across thousands of square feet would be akin to pissing in the ocean - not something you'd want near you, but not really a concern once you moved a few feet away.

 

[Malcolm R]

I think the current thinking is you have to be exposed to a certain amount of the virus for a length of time for infection.

There's this article today on CNN. If airplanes are relatively low risk, I'd think proper spacing in movie theaters would be the same. Though I can't speak to how the ventilation systems work in all theaters. I wouldn't think many circulate beyond the single auditorium, as the climate system usually has a thermostat in each room to control each individual room.

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/odds-catching-covid-19-flight-wellness-scn/index.html

 

[Josh Steinberg]

I know there's conflicting information about this, but I was under the impression that you had to be relatively close to someone for more than a fleeting moment to risk exposure - hence the "keep a 6 foot distance" rule. It seems like droplets floating in the air dispersed across thousands of square feet would be akin to pissing in the ocean - not something you'd want near you, but not really a concern once you moved a few feet away.

There was an earlier study of a restaurant in China from back at the beginning of the year, and what they found was that one person sitting at one table infected a whole bunch of the room because the air conditioning carried the air around the room. The people at other tables that were in the path of the airflow got sick; those who were not, did not.

I think what they’re finding with indoor venues is that air circulation is such a wildcard in the equation but being inside makes it a lot easier to spread it around.

Someone goes to the theater without knowing they’re ill. They sit in a back row that just so happens to be by the air vent. When they breathe, the air vent blows it from that row to the front of the auditorium. Between preshow entertainment and the film, everyone shares the same space for three hours. Could it be fine? Yeah. Could it not be fine. Also yeah. Just not worth risking the lives of everyone I care about to find out.

I think the current thinking is you have to be exposed to a certain amount of the virus for a length of time for infection.

There's this article today on CNN. If airplanes are relatively low risk, I'd think proper spacing in movie theaters would be the same. Though I can't speak to how the ventilation systems work in all theaters. I wouldn't think many circulate beyond the single auditorium, as the climate system usually has a thermostat in each room to control each individual room.

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/odds-catching-covid-19-flight-wellness-scn/index.html

I think the potential problem will be that there’s such a wide variety in builds and ventilation systems in different theaters that the risk inherent in each location may be different. A brand new build might have great circulation and systems that can be easily upgraded to better filters. An older build where walls were thrown up haphazardly to turn one auditorium into four might not. And where planes are designed with some of the most sophisticated air dispersal systems ever created, movie theaters are generally not. It’s also a lot easier to enforce masks on a plane than in a darkened theater.

I can stomach the risk of going food shopping because a) we need food and b) I’m indoors in a confined space for a limited time period with other people who are also coming through briefly. I am much more concerned about stopping and sitting in place with strangers for hours at a time. If it’s not safe for me to invite a friend or a relative I trust to come into my home, how smart of an idea is it for me to go sit indoors with people I don’t know or trust?

 

[Bryan^H]

Muskegon movie theater closing permanently

The post noted it hoped Congress would have passed a new small business funding bill before recessing.

www.woodtv.com

And my visits to the cinema to watch movies on the big screen has officially ended.

This sucks so bad.

 

[Worth]

I posted this in the Tenet thread, as well, but it's an interesting article...

The Moral Dilemma Of ‘Tenet’ Showing In Theaters During A Pandemic

Theater chains are making a big show about disinfecting everything, creating the illusion of safety. So is this a disaster in the making?

uproxx.com

 

[Colin Jacobson]

Looks like AMC fixed the glitch that let you buy a ticket next to an already-purchased seat:

 

[Jeff Adkins]

 

[TravisR]

Makes sense that Texas and Florida would allow 50 to 70% capacity, they haven't had any problems with coronavirus recently.

 

[Jake Lipson]

That chart makes me sad because from the look of it, this is going to make things worse before they get better.

 

[Adam Lenhardt]

I get why you would think that, but actually, no. Because Universal did provide the infamous Trolls World Tour to drive-ins, you would think they would have done the same for this film. But for some strange reason, that was not the case, and it caused headaches for drive-in owners. See the weird story: https://variety.com/2020/film/news/...-pulled-from-theaters-judd-apatow-1234633013/

That solves a little mystery for me; I'd been planning to see The King of Staten Island at the drive-in, but they pulled it from the schedule the day before it was supposed to debut. Now I know why.

 

[Worth]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/tenet-movies-box-office-1.5700385

 

[TravisR]

The King's Man is now coming out on February 26, 2021. I guess Disney only wants to sacrifice one movie to COVID.

Ralph Fiennes’ ‘The King’s Man’ Moves From September To 2021

Disney is moving 20th Century Studios’ prequel The King’s Man from Sept. 18 to Feb. 26, 2021. Now the sheer news of this is apt to spring alarm from exhibition, especially in the wake of Mulan heading to Disney+ over Labor Day weekend, however, I hear that Disney remains focused on the long game...

deadline.com

 

[Jake Lipson]

Good. Maybe I actually get to see that one, if we get lucky and there's a vaccine before then. It's not one of the biggest titles I was anticipating this fall, but I would certainly have seen it if it was safe.

Also, the first Kingsman did very well for itself in the February slot back in 2015, so they know the franchise has played successfully there in the past.

 

[Jeff Adkins]

Looks like New Jersey is going to open theaters by 9/14 (possibly even sooner) according to Governor Murphy.

Gov. Murphy Hopes To Open NJ Indoor Dining, Movie Theaters Soon

WATCH: Gov. Murphy said he hopes to open up indoor dining and movie theaters soon. Here's what he said.

news.yahoo.com

 

[Malcolm R]

Thinking about going to see The New Mutants this weekend. With a limit of 75 people in a theater that seats 440, there should be plenty of space.

 

[Jake Lipson]

Good luck. (This comment meant in a sincere and non-ironic or judgmental way.)

 

[TravisR]

Looks like New Jersey is going to open theaters by 9/14 (possibly even sooner) according to Governor Murphy.

Gov. Murphy Hopes To Open NJ Indoor Dining, Movie Theaters Soon

WATCH: Gov. Murphy said he hopes to open up indoor dining and movie theaters soon. Here's what he said.

news.yahoo.com

How ironic that they'll reopen but there won't really be a bigger studio release until (maybe) October 2. Though I Imagine that the citizens of the Garden State will see Tenet even if it's a couple weeks late.

 

[Wayne_j]

Tonight I'm getting the $25 purchase of the new Bill & Ted movie. At least I will be able to see that one.

 

[Jake Lipson]

Though I Imagine that the citizens of the Garden State will see Tenet even if it's a couple weeks late.

Deadline cited that as one of the reasons Disney moved The King's Man to next year -- when the markets that are currently closed do reopen, they'll want to book Tenet first, which will take most of the screens due to capacity requirements.

Personally, I think it's a terrible idea for theaters to be open at all right now. The science is not telling us we're there yet, but theoretical profits are demanding that they open anyway. That being said, I would love to be wrong and for everyone who goes to a movie to stay well.