Content Research Cineworld Cinemas Closing Down Temporary Again (TV NEWS PRODUCTION)

Cineworld Cinemas Closing Down Temporary Again

For my groups, OB (outside broadcast) story, is going to be focusing on the second temporary shut down of Cineworld Cinemas and how it has affected cinema-goers once again. In this content research post, I shall be looking into references from the article by a BBC journalist. I had found an article called 'Cineworld to shut down UK screens after Bond film delay', by Bill Wilson. It is said that now so many films have now been delayed until next year, it's put Cineworld's own staff has put over 5,550 jobs at risk. This has not helped, the new James Bond film No Time To Die has been delayed for a second time now and now aiming for the third release in April in 2021. Wilson mentions in his article that, 'it is hoped that the Cineworld cinemas will be able to reopen next year, with staff being asked to accept redundancy in the hope of rejoining the company when theatres open again' (Wilson, B. 2020). From that sentence by Wilson, it sounds positive and hopeful for the future of thousands of staff around the world who work at Cineworld, cinemas to have some faith in the firm and a possibility for them to have their 

jobs back. 

For a very busy, expensive, and sensitive industry, according to the article, Bill Wilson's article shows a statement from Phil Clapp (CEO UK Cinema Association), an honest, but a disappointing point from the time when Cinemas around the UK reopened. "Although cinemas opened in July and have been able to deliver a safe and enjoyable experience, without major new titles we understand we aren't able to get as many people out of the home as we'd like". (Clapp, P. 2020). From my opinion and experience of attending the cinema after lockdown, Clapp mentions how sensible, safe, and even welcoming the hardworking staff have done a fantastic job welcoming back audiences. It is a shame though with not that many big releases yet until next year, plus during lockdown many individuals and families have possibly lost that interest, excitement, motivation, and even confidence of not attending the cinemas again, and now wanting to watch new releases on streaming services. Broadcaster union in entertainment Philippa Childs believes with the new 007 film been delayed again, including other major studio releases, it has put cinemas into a crisis mode. Childs thinks that 'studios will have to think carefully when considering release dates about the impact that will have for the long - term future of the big screen' (Childs, P. 2020). I do agree with Childs's comment on studios needing to think and be cautious for the next big release, however, from the studios having to make a decision on delaying more projects 'it is just business'. Philipa Childs concludes her statement by giving urgent advice to the public, 'we urge the British public to support their local cinema and save jobs by visiting and enjoying a film in accordance with the [Covid - 19] guidance'. (Childs, P. 2020). If I was Childs presenting that concluding part from a statement, I would ask my friends and family to support their local cinema, however, though, it is how other individuals feel safe from their confidence to be in that position, during a global pandemic. 

On more information about the second closure of Cineworld cinemas, Bill Wilson's article mentions the struggles of Cineworld cinemas over in the United States. According to the article, over 546 cinemas could be also forced to shut down as well. When September came to the present, the company has lost over 1.6 billion dollars and for the UK is over 1.3 billion pounds. Cineworld is classed as the second biggest and richest cinema firm globally, Wilson mentions from that description that Cineworld owns another cinema firm called 'Picturehouse', and which is a much smaller firm that shows smaller, independent budget films more than mainstream films. 'The film industry had hoped the release of No Time To Die would spark a movie-going revival in the UK, with so many cinemas having been mothballed for months following the Covid - 19 lockdown in March' (Wilson, B. 2020). 

The film that was aiming to save cinemas during the global pandemic, was Christopher Nolan's highly anticipated and huge budget action-packed, spy thriller film Tenet. The film's original release date was back on July 17th, then it was delayed two more times until an official date on August 26th around one hundred seventy countries and in some parts in the United States in September. I had found an article from the Guardian's website by a journalist named Guy Lodge who has a story of Tenet's mission to save cinemas had failed and I quote from his title of the story, "Tenet didn't just fail to save Cinema, it may well have killed it for good" (Lodge, G. (2020), and from reading that title on Lodge's story does sound a bit overdramatic in my opinion. According to Lodge's report, Tenet had made moreover two hundred thirty-five million around the world and nearly making the film over a quarter of billion in the box office. Which in my opinion is a positive number from that amount, and it shows that many individuals and cinema-goers are trying to support Nolan's new film and most importantly cinemas during these uncertain times. Also, in Lodge's report, he mentions that Tenet has become the third highest-grossing film of the year, and he says, 'Globally, it's the third-highest grosser of the year, behind Chinese epic The Eight Hundred and January's Bad Boys for Life'. (Lodge, G. (2020). Guy Lodge questions from his article and simply thinking, that some members of the public around the world were not prepared to return to the cinemas and has an interesting point of Tenet not being the movie to bring people back into the cinemas. I would say if this year had many films from the Marvel/DC universe, (comic book adaptations), and a new Star Wars film, those type of films would possibly bring more members of the public back into the world and experience of cinema. I am not saying that as a fact from other articles and reports, that is just my opinion based on this subject matter. However, as I mentioned earlier that the film has achieved an appropriate amount of income, Lodge's article mentions the mixed reviews and opinions from audiences and critics.  'But others were disappointed: widespread complaints hit the interest that it was too long, too cold, too convoluted, too much work to watch at a time when people after easier comfort viewing'. (Lodge, G. (2020). From seeing the film twice now, it is very understandable why viewers had their issues with the film and it is Christopher Nolan after all. To be more specific, he enjoys using the theme time in his films and also enjoys creating challenging and in-depth concepts and character studies. In my opinion, Tenet is a film about the concept and knows how to be over the top and doesn't care about not using the rules on time and focuses more on the quality side, then quantity. In Lodge's conclusion from his article, 'Declaring spring the new start of cinemagoing is all well and good, but this week's shock announcement of Cineworld indefinitely shuttering its cinemas in the UK and US has raised concerns that by the time the studios are ready to release their movies, they may have nowhere to play'. (Lodge, G. (2020). Spring could be a fresh and new start for cinemas, however, it's too early to tell and I am sure for the next upcoming big releases, thousands of people will want to experience them on the big screen and there will be plenty of strategies to keep everyone in a screen room safe. 

Bibliography 

1.] Wilson, B. (2020) 'Cineworld to Shut Down UK Screens After Bond Film'. 

At: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-54407213 (Accessed 28/10/2020) 

2.] BBC News  https://www.bbc.co.uk/ (Accessed 28/10/2020) 

3.] Lodge, G. (2020) 'Tenet didn't just fail to save cinema - it may well have killed it for good'

At: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/oct/06/tenet-didnt-just-fail-to-save-cinema-it-may-well-have-killed-it-for-good (Accessed 30/10/2020) 

4.] The Guardian  https://www.theguardian.com/uk (Accessed 30/10/2020)