Scorsese, Eastwood, Broccoli say US cinemas may not survive pandemic
Oscar-winning film directors James Cameron, Clint Eastwood and Martin Scorsese joined forces with movie theatre owners on Wednesday in an appeal for financial help, saying they feared for the future of their industry.
In a letter to the leaders of the US Senate and the House of Representatives, they said the coronavirus pandemic had dealt a devastating blow to movie theatres and that without funds “[cinemas] may not survive the impact of the pandemic”.
The letter was signed by more than 70 directors and producers along with the National Association of Theater Owners, the Directors Guild of America and the Motion Picture Association.
The pandemic forced US cinemas to close in mid-March. Big chains including AMC Entertainment and Cineworld’s Regal Cinemas have reopened with reduced capacity in many US cities, but not in the biggest markets of
Los Angeles and New York City.
Efforts to get Americans back into cinemas have proved disappointing, and Hollywood studios have delayed the release of big movies such as Black Widow and Top Gun: Maverick to 2021.
The letter said that 69% of small and mid-sized movie theatre companies will be forced to file for bankruptcy or close permanently without help.
“Cinemas are an essential industry that represent the best that American talent and creativity have to offer. But now we fear for their future,” the letter said.
Others signatories included James Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson, Wonder Womandirector Patty Jenkins, and action movie director-producer Michael Bay.
They asked Congress to redirect unspent funds from the coronavirus aid package passed earlier this year, or enact new proposals that would help cinemas weather the pandemic.