When it became obvious that the COVID-19 outbreak was going to have a dramatic and negative impact on the motion picture business, Fathom CEO Ray Nutt issued a memo to encourage his employees not to give in to fear. Here is his message:
ABR Cinemas is a multiplex located in historic Gudivada, India and is one of Andhra Pradesh’s premier cinemas. To create a more immersive experience with even, balanced sound coverage, the exhibitor recently decided to upgrade its aging audio systems. The company hired sound integrators Digital Sound System to install three Harman Professional Solutions cinema audio systems featuring JBL loudspeakers, Crown amplifiers and state-of-the-art Dolby Atmos processors.
Digital Light Sources has reached an exclusive distribution agreement with American Ultraviolet to use its UVC disinfection equipment and systems to disinfect movie theatres in the United States in preparation for reopening.
The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers today announced changes to its educational programming designed to make it easier for industry professionals to keep up with the latest technology and to learn new skills. In addition to supporting professional development, the society's robust array of webcasts, meetings, and online courses offers members a way to connect with colleagues and to prepare for future opportunities in a changing industry and world.
Screenvision Media today announced the addition of The Lot to the company's dynamically growing theatre portfolio, along with new deals for Studio Movie Grill and Reading International. Concluding a milestone year of double-digit growth, Screenvision Media signed 19 exhibitor partnership deals in 2019, increasing the company's total screen count to more than 15,000 nationwide with eight of the top ten exhibitors in the country.
This is not an article I ever wanted to write. As virtually the entire world copes with the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses everywhere have tried to find ways to survive. This is particularly true of the cinema business where nearly every movie theatre has been closed – properly, for the sake of public health – by government mandate. Hardest hit have been small, independent theatres and art house cinemas. Now I have to share the news that among them, the Bethel Cinema, my local movie theatre, is shutting its doors for good.
For many years, Netflix has allowed teachers to screen documentaries in their classrooms. However, this isn’t possible with schools closed in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. In response to the situation, Netflix has made a selection of their documentary features and series available for free on the Netflix US YouTube channel.
With its annual April trade show in Las Vegas cancelled in the wake of the pandemic, the National Association of Broadcasters in its place is offering a new digital experience. The NAB Show Express will take place May 13-14 free of charge and will include a Future of Cinema track produced in partnership with the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers.
Due to the ongoing public health impacts of the COVID-19, National CineMedia will hold its annual stockholders meeting in a virtual meeting format. The meeting will be held at 9:00 a.m. MDT on April 28 at NCM headquarters in Centennial, Colorado. Stockholders will not be able to attend in person.
Lionsgate, in conjunction with Fandango, YouTube and the National Association of Theatre Owners, is launching Lionsgate Live! A Night at the Movies, a four-consecutive Friday night live-stream of movies which kicks off tonight with The Hunger Games on the distributor’s YouTube page and Fandango’s Movieclips YouTube page.
