To fix what Corona spoiled ... key solutions that might save the film industry from bankruptcy

Mohamed Anis

Over the past two months, the epidemic of the emerging Corona virus (Covid-19) has escalated, to include most of the world, and some thought that trade, politics and art would not be affected by what affected China, from which the deadly virus emerged, but the reality says otherwise.

Most areas of work, life and production in the world were affected, and in this context, the visual and interactive art fields lost their audience, and Hollywood became unable to confront the virus, which leads us to question the fate of closing cinemas in America and the world, and is there a timetable for the return of films to be shown again, Can the industry recover, and in what way?

Perhaps the US President Donald Trump has moved the atmosphere with his statement about his desire to return to work in various sectors of the economy, cinema and the arts. This is no exception, as the International Federation of Cinemas wants governments to help him to return the artistic movement at the earliest opportunity after the industry has been severely damaged, according to What the Hollywood Reporter mentioned.

The International Film Federation (UNIC), the body that represents the trade associations of European cinema and the main exhibitors, called for government support for the field in the coming weeks of April, after the vast majority of cinemas in Europe and America were forced to close their doors in response to bans and house-keeping measures. , Which aims to reduce the spread of the virus.

Outstanding loans and taxes
The Federation considered that the best solution in facing this unprecedented challenge is through the support of everyone to each other through the assistance of many European countries, including France and Germany, to help in the settlement of loans and the payment of tax payments on theaters, where German film support agencies began providing Direct financial support for independent cinema and its role.

The German Theater Association also called for a federal government program, which is plans to invest up to $ 18.5 million to boost the industry.

Securities analyst Michael Batcher has warned that if movie theaters remain closed for a few months - and this is a possibility - the film industry is "in real danger".

Therefore, with the industry entering an unknown stage, some of those responsible for it are demanding patience, even if it comes to waiting for two years at the latest, until things return to their previous times, and return to major leaps at the end of 2021, with Hollywood launching a package of Marvel World films and others.

The return of theaters
But technical analyst Jeff Bock says that "although some consider the year 2020 a lost cinematic, this should not be the only option."

And the American magazine Freeti offers a number of solutions after polling the opinions of analysts and critics, and it says that there are several paths to saving the film industry, the first is to try to release films in theaters during or after the next three months in theaters, if the height of the virus outbreak subsides, and in conjunction with that Work on ending the remaining scenes from the movies that are already working on.

The second solution is digital expansion, with film production companies cooperating with display platforms such as Netflix, by showing their films in exchange for paid tickets, in a movie-like experience, but through the digital world.

Debt liquidation
The third solution is to try to agree between movie makers and exhibitors to liquidate or reduce the amount of debts due, so that these companies do not face the specter of bankruptcy, and the inability to pay the salaries of actors and workers in the technical field.

Salary cuts
Finally, the magazine considered that the fourth solution is to reduce obligations, wages, rents and expenses.

Some, like Jeff Logan who has owned a number of luxury movie theaters built since 1933, argue about the possibility of "somewhat reducing salaries, selling tickets to premium customers who will pay for the ticket, to attend in limited and spaced ways to theaters, when the height of the virus subsides This may be within two months from now, encouraged by Trump's desire to return work to various US institutions this April.

In keeping with Logan's solution, Universal Pictures believes it can sell tickets to its home customers for $ 20 for a single bid starting April 10.

Wuhan model
And the American Observer newspaper saw that the cinemas might return in certain regions, according to the severity and decline of the epidemic, as in the Chinese Wuhan of Hubei Province, which reopened about 500 cinemas, after the country announced a significant improvement in the epidemic block.

The newspaper said that the five major studios operating in Hollywood are facing two tracks that are very important during the coming period. The first is to postpone screening of films that were scheduled for this spring, for a period of between six months and a year, such as Bond No Time to Day. Die) and "Fast & Furious 9", the second was also digitally introduced.