Self-isolation, via VOD

It is said that humans are the most adaptable species on the planet. Unlike most other creatures, humans can live in tropical forests, deserts, high mountains, and even on ice.

It all started from vertical walking, crafting the first tools, adapting to changes in their organisms and bodies, discovering the art of firemaking, taking advantage of their increased brain size and the invention of specialised tools, and finally, the ability to tell a story and portray whatever’s happening in the outside world, beyond the cave in which they live in. This is all part of the general human evolution and their ability to adapt to the everchanging world. It has happened in the past and might end up occuring again in the near future, regardless of external factors.

The current situation will not affect the creative industries indefinitely, including the cinema industy, but the effect of the crisis will be felt for a longer or shorter period of time, all depending on the restrictions that were implied in each country. But by the time humans will be back to normal, they’ll start adapting to these changes.

One of the most famous opera and ballet companies in Russia has an innovative solution to the bans of public gatherings: individual performances. The Perm Opera and Ballet Theater, a company situated in the Ural city, allows a single spectator, chosen at random, on a daily basis, to enjoy a show worthy of an emperor - an individual opera or ballet show. A magnificent show for one person. It is possible that this idea will be implemented in the case of cinemas with a sidenote: films won’t be made for just a person, but rather for a limited number of spectators, depending on the capacity of the room. This is a first step towards adapting to the crisis.

One solution for movie screenings could be drive-ins, even if it’s not a possibility for all cinemas out there. In addition to the often insurmountable financial costs involved in setting up a drive-in cinema (only the equipment needed to play sound in FM radio can cost between $ 5,000 and $ 10,000), there are also logistical problems to consider: the space required to place the panel , car parking etc.

In Florida, USA, the owner of Epic Theaters removed an old screen from a warehouse, built a frame from a PVC pipes, then hung the screen along the largest wall of the cinema. He was later forced to remove the screen due to storms but found an extremely effective solution: he painted the exterior wall of the cinema white. He then also acquired a sound system, and he is now trying to implement the project in two other cinemas in Deltona and St. Augustine. Yet another step towards adaptation completed.

We talked about the possibility of people watching movies in cinemas. But it is important to mention that they will be able to watch new productions, not just old, archived movies. So, if we talk about movies or TV productions, we can take Australia as an example, which resumed filming for the series "Neighbors". Social distancing is of course adopted on sets and during filming special angles of the camera are used to make the characters appear closer. The "new normal" will allow for a maximum of 100 people a day in any filming area. Intimate scenes will be banned, male actors will not wear makeup and there will always be a nurse on stage.

In Russia, all VOD (Video on demand) platforms have continued the production of TV series throughout this period. Of course, the productions have been adapted to the current situation. The actors filmed from home using either equipment delivered to their homes by the production companies, or their own cameras or mobile phones. The scenarios are inspired by current realities, all protagonists having restrictions on leaving their home and having to communicate with friends, colleagues, families, etc. through video conferences. Obviously this isn’t a simple procedure for actors. They must first participate in online trainings where they learn to use the sound and video equipment, how to mount lights or where and how to download and save all video and audio materials that will later be used for editing. In short, the actors are at the same time make-up artists, costume designers, lighting designers, set directors, props, sound engineers, image operators, cameramen and of course, actors. It's not easy, but this is what it takes in order to adapt to the current situation.

The age old question arises: where does the money for these productions come from? Restrictions on staying at home have brought benefits for some online streaming services (video on demand). Netflix, for example, not only doubled its subscribers in the first quarter of 2020, but also enjoyed record share values. However, there may be some delays or disruptions towards the fall, as filming is currently interrupted. But as I said earlier, it seems that production will resume soon and funding will come from those not affected by the crisis in the current period.

In other words, the productions of films or animated series will dominate the film industry in the next period, given that this genre can be created and made at home.

Certainly, we are living in a time that we would have never wished for. But if we refer to past, more or less tragic events, we can say that we’ve learned one thing: that we are adaptable. Therefore, I’ll conclude on a positive note, with hopes that in the end everything will be fine.