Since the beginning of lockdown in March 2020, it has been a difficult time for the film industry due to the new health regulations put into place. Movie theatres had to close down and exciting movies set to roll out this year were pushed back. Especially for B.C., it became a difficult time because it has become a hot spot of filming for many production companies. As we take a look back to see how significantly COVID has impacted the filming industry, what it looks like today, and what regulations or different things must be done in order to allow the show to go on. Personally, I had serious worries that shows would be at a halt for a long time. I enjoy watching many Netflix shows and going to the movie theatre because it’s almost a sweet escape for me. Where I can forget everything that is happening in the world and just focus on an adventure that I’m being taken on. The movies I was looking forward to the most this year were Mulan, Wonder Woman 1984, and Black Widow.
Will the Movie Industry Survive?
The lockdown put many in quarantine and caused huge business closures and that doesn’t exempt the movie theatres. Nobody entered Cineplex for many months, but what does that mean? Variety explains that the box office roughly makes up 42% of the industry’s yearly revenue. With filming shut down that means that they are losing out on billions. To make matters worse, delaying those movie releases may not actually help too much. Each movie release is scheduled for a weekend and there are only so many weekends in a year. Many movies are pre-planned to release at a specific time of the year to ensure they don’t clash with other premiers. However, if they decide to push the release date, all the anticipated movies will be released at the same time and therefore may not make as much money as they had hoped for. The alternative option would be for the film to be released on a streaming platform like Mulan. However, many were upset about paying an additional fee of $30 on top of their monthly subscription. If you think about it, Mulan probably wouldn’t make as much as was expected, even on their own streaming service when compared to box office sales. If they were to break even, the production cost is roughly 200 million dollars divided by 30 dollars per purchase, they would need to sell more than 6 million copies. That doesn’t include the funds spent in marketing and the percentage to pay the streaming service. As for movie theatres, they are heavily losing out on sales because if the films choose the online streaming route, nobody will be attending the theatres. To top it off, Variety states that most of their earnings come from the concessions. Though now movie theatres are back in session, Cineplex is offering half off on movie tickets to try and entice their audience in return. The new big movie releases are still on hold, and they may not be seeing too many people filling up those seats anytime soon.
Drive-in Movies the New Normal?
Perhaps drive-in theatres might be the safest option right now. This will allow the film industry to receive some of the revenue they normally accumulate. Individuals may feel safer in their cars instead of sitting in a theatre with other individuals without proper ventilation. The only downside will probably be the weather since it wouldn’t be ideal to watch a movie in the snow. Imagine wiping down your windows every 3-5 minutes, not a lot of fun there.
The New Normal for Filming
The film industry is back in business and is booming. Many new safety implementations have been placed to ensure the safety of staff and actors/actresses. For example, the cast of Riverdale was in quarantine for two weeks prior to shooting. Many individuals who watch the show know that it’s full of teenage angst and kissing, so in order to prevent the spread of COVID, they must use mouth wash prior to doing the make-out scenes. Not sure how much that helps, but hey at least they are doing something. Williamson, the chairman of Vancouver’s Brightlight Pictures, did an interview with CBC explaining his new normal for filming. He will be eliminating crowd scenes and reducing working hours for the crew on set. There will be specific “pods” of workers to ensure that there won’t be as many people on-site in case of an outbreak. Regular COVID testing will also be done.
Costume design has drastically changed as well. CBC touched base with Lorraine Carson, a costume designer who has worked in the industry for 35 years says that she has implemented a system to keep everyone safe. Her system has coloured zones that determine where people are allowed to go and who they can safely interact with at a distance. When she prepares the garment, she puts it into a garment bag for safekeeping and the actors take it to their changing room. This helps reduce contact between her and the actor. There are many shoppers when it comes to finding the right outfit for costume design. Carson explains that they used to shop at 20 or 30 stores a day but now they lowered it down to five or six to ensure safety. She also mentions that it’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it to keep everyone safe at this time.
The film industry definitely did a lot in order to continue filming and doing what they love. It’s amazing to see them rise to the challenge of ensuring the staff and crew’s safety. I hope Vancouver filming will continue to thrive. I enjoy seeing movies that are filmed in Vancouver because I love pointing it out when I see somewhere I recognize in a film
Supporting the Film Industry
Creative B.C. stated that there are more than 40 projects that are in pre-production or about to go into production. The film industry is looking bright for B.C. as they work around the challenges presented to them. I suggest supporting them through purchasing the movie you’re wanting to watch or be bold and visit the movie theatre when they have new releases. They do need our support to survive the new normal. For now, I’ll stick to online streaming services, like Netflix, and Prime Video, where I can binge-watch all of my movies and tv-shows from the comfort and safety of my home.
