Even though lounging on a couch in your most comfy pajamas with some yummy popcorn and a chilled drink sounds like a perfect movie plan, nothing can beat the traditional theater experience. Agree?
For a long time, theaters have been an exceptional part of the entertainment industry. But with the spread of the pandemic-causing virus, like all other industries, they too have been jeopardized. Lately, several awaited projects have either been pushed forward or canceled due to the lack of a theatrical release. And voicing concern over this issue at the Oscars 2021 was Frances McDormand, the lead actress of the 2020 movie, Nomadland.
Let’s find out what McDormand said, shall we?
McDormand’s Plea
On April 25, 2021, the ceremony for the 93rd Academy Awards was held at the Union Station in LA, where McDormand received the Academy Award for Best Picture and Best Actress for Nomadland. Post her victory, when the 63-year-old actress gave her acceptance speech, she urged fans and followers to watch her movie in the “most important display doable.” She recommended they visit theaters with their loved ones and experience every film represented at the ceremony on the big screen as soon as the situation gets better.
The condition of the movie theaters
McDormand’s request was both eye-opening and concerning, as most theaters worldwide are on the brink of a collapse. According to the Motion Picture Association’s 2020 data, box office receipts have slumped 72% worldwide and 80% in the U.S. Many theaters and companies which were once at the top of their game have come close to a shutdown. AMC Leisure Inc., which dominated the theater chains throughout the past years, has become insolvent.
However, now when theaters started bouncing back post a year and a half’s break, no one knew whether moviegoers would visit the big screens or not. Experts were not even sure about people streaming movies from the comfort of their homes. They believed that most people who had been vaccinated or had at least taken the first dose of the vaccine, felt uncomfortable visiting crowded places like cinemas, even after wearing masks and following social distancing norms.
Recently, 60% of theaters reopened in the U.S., and many more are on the verge of opening. In such a situation, theater owners were hoping that people participating in the Oscars event would spread awareness about their condition. However, it was only McDormand who spoke about them and their importance in the entertainment industry. The issue was quite disturbing as several people from Hollywood itself were disagreeing whether theaters should be functioning or not in such trying times.
A quick look at the winners…
Many records were broken at the 2021 Oscars. Firstly, Chloé Zhao became the second woman after Kathryn Bigelow to receive an award in the category of Best Director. Secondly, 83-year-old Anthony Hopkins, who received an award for Best Actor, became the oldest winner in the acting category. Moreover, Best Supporting Actress winner Youn Yuh-jung became the first Korean actor and the second Asian woman to win an award in the acting category.
