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

[Jake Lipson]

I was a theatre major in college. I need to believe that it will for my sanity to stay in place. The live event industry has been even more devastated by this than movie theaters, because at least movie theaters technically can show stuff without live performers and crew present. I can't wait to get back to that when it can be done safely. The idea of returning to the theatre is keeping me mentally stable during this garbage pandemic. Science will eventually save us. We just need to be patient until it does.

The whole reason I haven't gone out to see Tenet yet is because I want to make sure I'm alive when Nolan's next film is released. If there is no normal to look forward to when this is over, then what are we saving ourselves for? On the vast majority of days this year, I have been going from my bedroom to my kitchen and back again. I do not expect that to change all that much for at least the first part of 2021. But eventually there has to be a situation where we can safely go do social activities like going to see movies and live events with other people again, or else what are we sticking around to do? I don't want to die right now, so I'm okay with going from my kitchen to my bedroom and back again for the time being. I recognize that I am lucky to be in a position where I am safe and secure right now. But I'm not okay with the idea that I will never see a movie or a play or a concert or see my friends and out-of-state family in person again. There has to be a light at the end of the tunnel. It may not be close. But I choose to believe it is going to be there. Because otherwise, what's the point?

 

[Keith Cobby]

Even if films like Bond, WW hold out, cinemas will not be viable with just a couple of big budget films. The longer this goes on, the more unlikely it is that theatres will reopen. It won't take many films to be streamed before the whole cinema industry collapses.

 

[TravisR]

It won't take many films to be streamed before the whole cinema industry collapses.

The thing that helps is that they can't do that financially. Studios want to make hundreds of millions or even a billion dollars from their tentpoles and putting their own movie on their streaming service is not going to generate anywhere near the money they want. Apple or Netflix won't pay $600 or $700 million for Wonder Woman or any other movie and putting up Wonder Woman on HBO MAX would be even worse financially for WB than Tenet was.

 

[steve jaros]

The whole reason I haven't gone out to see Tenet yet is because I want to make sure I'm alive when Nolan's next film is released. If there is no normal to look forward to when this is over, then what are we saving ourselves for? On the vast majority of days this year, I have been going from my bedroom to my kitchen and back again. I do not expect that to change all that much for at least the first part of 2021. But eventually there has to be a situation where we can safely go do social activities like going to see movies and live events with other people again, or else what are we sticking around to do?

If it gives you any comfort, movie theaters in my area re-opened on August 16. I have been to the movies 28 times since then, including last night. Will go today for the 29th time. I live in Louisiana, one of the hardest-hit states for the virus, and well, I am alive and kicking, LOL. Have been going to casinos and restaurants too, today's date with the wife is a movie and casino double-header.

FWIW, here are the CDC's latest survival rates for covid-19. From March to May, I was obsessed with the virus, washing my hands constantly, holed up in my house constantly, etc. then I learned how low the risks were for me and stopped (I am in the age 50-69 catagory, btw). Peace of mind has been much higher. Judge your risk accordingly, but IMO covid is not worth drastically altering one's life for, the data just does not support it. It's not rabies:

Percentage chance of surviving a case of covid-19, by age (CDC):

• Age 0-19 — 99.997%
• Age 20-49 — 99.98%
• Age 50-69 — 99.5%
• Age 70+ —--- 94.6%

 

[Colin Jacobson]

Throwing this out there:

CJ Analysis: The Number of COVID-19 Outbreaks Traced to Cinemas is Zero - Celluloid Junkie

An extensive global study by Celluloid Junkie has found no Covid-19 transmissions linked to a cinema, a fact backed by several studies.

celluloidjunkie.com

 

[Jake Lipson]

If it gives you any comfort, movie theaters in my area re-opened on August 16. I have been to the movies 28 times since then, including last night. Will go today for the 29th time.

Well, I'm glad that you're still alive and that you are able to enjoy going out in a way that you consider to be safe. But no, I currently don't expect to do that again until after a vaccine is widely available. It's possible that it could be fine. But it's also possible that it wouldn't be. If it wasn't, I'd really want that choice back and wouldn't be able to get it back. So I'm not going to take that risk right now.

 

[Tino]

CDC

Rate ratios compared to 18-29 year olds
Rate ratios compared to 18-29 year olds

	Hospitalization1	Death2
0-4 years	4x lower	9x lower
5-17 years	9x lower	16x lower
18-29 years	Comparison Group	Comparison Group
30-39 years	2x higher	4x higher
40-49 years	3x higher	10x higher
50-64 years	4x higher	30x higher
65-74 years	5x higher	90x higher
75-84 years	8x higher	220x higher
85+ years	13x higher	630x higher

 

[Tino]

Percentage chance of surviving a case of covid-19, by age (CDC):

• Age 0-19 — 99.997%
• Age 20-49 — 99.98%
• Age 50-69 — 99.5%
• Age 70+ —--- 94.6%

These numbers don’t seem accurate. Do they take pre existing conditions into account? Comorbidities? Can you provide a link?

 

[Tino]

Throwing this out there:

CJ Analysis: The Number of COVID-19 Outbreaks Traced to Cinemas is Zero - Celluloid Junkie

An extensive global study by Celluloid Junkie has found no Covid-19 transmissions linked to a cinema, a fact backed by several studies.

celluloidjunkie.com

That’s encouraging.

 

[Colin Jacobson]

That’s encouraging.

Definitely!

As you know, I've felt for a while that COVID transmission isn't likely at movies for a mix of reasons - well, at movies under the current situation, that is.

Meaning the fact there's hardly anyone in these theaters!

If studios actually started to release movies mass amounts of people want to see and theaters loosened precautions, that might change, but I feel totally safe at movies right now.

It's hard to catch COVID from empty seats!

Given that COVID cases are at their worst in the US right now, though, it's unlikely those precautions will loosen anytime soon. More likely theaters will need to close again!

 

[steve jaros]

These numbers don’t seem accurate. Do they take pre existing conditions into account? Comorbidities? Can you provide a link?

Scroll to Table 1:

Healthcare Workers

COVID-19 guidance, tools, and resources for healthcare workers.

www.cdc.gov

 

[Worth]

It's not just about living and dying. A lot of people who recover from the virus have serious lingering health issues, possibly for the rest of their lives.

I'm staying home not so much because I'm afraid of dying, although the virus is unpredictable and you never know, but because I don't want to pass it on to others, especially to my parents and in-laws, who are all elderly and in the highest risk group.

 

[Sean Bryan]

It's not just about living and dying. A lot of people who recover from the virus have serious lingering health issues, possibly for the rest of their lives.

I'm staying home not so much because I'm afraid of dying, although the virus is unpredictable and you never know, but because I don't want to pass it on to others, especially to my parents and in-laws, who are all elderly and in the highest risk group.

 

[Wayne_j]

My friend and I were the only two people at the Apollo 13 Fathom Event. It was a fun time and the presentation was fine once I reported to the ushers that the house lights were still on. Before the movie started they played a recent interview with Jim Lovell.

 

[Tino]

Scroll to Table 1:

Healthcare Workers

COVID-19 guidance, tools, and resources for healthcare workers.

www.cdc.gov

For the record, The actual death rate from Covid 19 in the US is 2.5%.

Still too steep for me to attempt going back to the movies despite that encouraging news above.

 

[Wayne_j]

If theaters nationwide are as sparsely populated as they are in my area that is why there have been no documented cases of covid spread in theaters. People are seated way more than 6 feet apart from each other.

 

[JackieT]

Sadly nobody will ever say they caught covid at a theater because with so few people showing up now, theaters will all be shut down sooner rather than later.

 

[Michael Elliott]

I've been going to the theater since early May. I'm pretty good friends with the owner aka we always talk because my family and I were always there. They also have a bar/restaurant and haven't had a worker or anything else get traced back there.

I understand people saying they're scared and not going but we've got to be honest here. A lot of places are open and business is booming. Obviously grocery stores are going to be full. Wal-Mart is going to be full. I'm just speaking locally but mini golf is booming, parks are booming (or were with the warm weather) and restaurants have long wait times. Everything around here appears to be doing good except for the movies.

I'm sure some people are scared to go but I've been saying since May that it's one of the safest because there's no one there. I still think a large portion of it is people simply realizing how much money they're saving by not going. I think people get so used to certain things in their life that they don't fully realize how much money they're blowing every week going to the theater. The theaters and Hollywood did a brilliant job at selling opening weekend and people out of habit would just go every weekend. It went away and that habit was broken and I think people are staying away simply because of the money.

As someone going out, I'd be fine if Hollywood went to all streaming and theaters were just used to show special events, classic movies or whatever. Maybe the 1-2 big blockbusters a year. I'm cool seeing the classics and I like the cheaper price tags on concessions. When I saw THE EXORCIST last week we got three large drinks, two popcorns and a buy 1 get 1 candy for $18. $13 for three tickets so $31 total whereas before that was just the ticket prices.

 

[steve jaros]

For the record, The actual death rate from Covid 19 in the US is 2.5%.

Still too steep for me to attempt going back to the movies despite that encouraging news above.

The 2.5% is the case fatality rate, which of course is different from what I posted, information about the infection fatality rate. The latter is a truer measure of your risk of dying, because not all infections get recorded as cases.

In any event, obviously, your risk tolerance is your own decision, so not my or anyone else's place to argue with you about it.

 

[PMF]

Even with the restoration of “King Kong” showing back in March, I had stopped going to the theaters; and that wasn’t easy for me to do.

For Tino, take heart; although we are like-minded on not wanting to get near anyone - let alone breath in two hours of shared auditorium air - the theaters will one day become safe, again. I can comfortably say that this will not be forever.

On other topics, is anyone here doing a stay-at-home marathon film festival with a theme? I’m doing Criterion’s “Bergman’s Cinema”; but chronologically and interweaved; with a chronological of Billy Wilder..