Fathom CEO Offers H.O.P.E.

Bookmark and Share

Sun, 04/26/2020 - 09:44 -- Nick Dager

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.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:

“Across the entertainment industry, productions are delayed, premieres postponed, and theaters empty. As one of the leading distributors of content to movie theaters, Fathom Events has been impacted by the national shutdown, and like the rest of our community, we’ve had to make sacrifices. But the show must go on, and in the midst of this global crisis, we must remain resilient, motivated and assured.

“Back in March, when it became evident how severe the pandemic was going to be to the industry and Fathom, we decided to launch an internal project called H.O.P.E., an acronym with a larger purpose to keep us focused.

“H.O.P.E is what we need:

“H: Our top concern is the Health of our employees, so Fathom was one of the first employers in the industry to make arrangements to have our employees work from home. This paid dividends as all our employees are healthy, safe, and productive.

“O: Optimism is the attitude that the outcome will be positive, and it’s important to remain optimistic that we’ll begin moving in a positive direction. Beyond keeping our teams safe, the most important thing a leader can do in challenging times is to continue projecting a forward outlook, focusing on the future.

“P: Persistence is perseverance despite fatigue or frustration. While the past several weeks have been extremely difficult, including the furlough of almost our entire team, we remained persistent. We applied for and received a PPP loan that allowed us to bring back all furloughed employees. With deep appreciation for each and every team member and their patience, together, we will get through this challenging time.

“E: Now is the time to Excel – not hold back. The Fathom team is dedicated to acquiring a full slate of outstanding content – the best nostalgic classics, fan-favorite anime, inspirational, faith-based, documentaries, and more – that will drive audiences back to theaters when it is safe to do so, allowing Fathom, its theater partners, and the entertainment industry to excel above and beyond.

“H.O.P.E. is alive. Let’s continue this momentum and use these unprecedented times as an opportunity to navigate the ever-changing landscape by practicing healthy habits, remaining optimistic, persevering in the midst of unknowns, and working to excel even when faced with road blocks.

“The day will come when theaters re-open and our very best cinema content plays on screens across the globe. The importance of shared experiences is not lost on anyone, and we look forward to a time when we can deliver that again. By keeping the faith of H.O.P.E., we believe Fathom will come through this stronger than ever, and hope you and yours will, too.”