Effects of Coronavirus (COVID-19) On Entertainment & Tourism Industry

[Nick]

It should also be noted that a lot of the new cases in the northeast - that are forcing the northeast to shut down AGAIN - are confirmed to be coming from young adults who traveled to Florida and Myrtle Beach. Seems kinda relevant to HHN.

TBad notes that the conversation will intensify as HHN makes new announcements. It will also intensify as everything else gets closed or cancelled - the GOP convention in Jacksonville just announced it is sharply limiting plans, Texas (with numbers comparable to Florida) is moving towards lockdown, the northeast is locking down, the SEC will probably cancel the football season in the next few weeks...

At this point, every single exec at Universal and WDW should be focused on an exit strategy, a way to close before the PR impact grows unmanageable.

WDW had an easy exit strategy - they were able to see the current trends and could’ve postponed reopening. Instead they marched on.

 

[Casper Gutman]

Well, if that’s the situation then it’s obvious. But I think less will then you might otherwise think. The ones that stand to make a lot in theaters will still get held back.

Although, I can see Black Widow being released on PVOD simply because Disney doesn’t want to delay the MCU any further and Black Widow wasn’t all that anticipated.

Black Widow is tricky. The MCU is so linked that holding back Black Widow also holds back the Disney+ shows, which would be huge hits right now (well, at any time, but particualrly right now). But the MCU films have a unique place as perhaps the most "shared" theatrical events of the last decade, and that's a role that Disney will be very loath to risk. Plus, Black Widow is only the second female-led MCU film, which makes "dumping" it on VOD even trickier.

And I just can't see anything happening with BW while the New Mutants is still not on VOD!

 

[Nick]

Black Widow is tricky. The MCU is so linked that holding back Black Widow also holds back the Disney+ shows, which would be huge hits right now (well, at any time, but particualrly right now). But the MCU films have a unique place as perhaps the most "shared" cinematic events of the last decade, and that's a role that Disney will be very loath to risk. Plus, Black Widow is only the second female-led MCU film, which makes "dumping" it on VOD even trickier.

And I just can't see anything happening with BW while the New Mutants is still not on VOD!

I fully expect once the August movies get pushed back for it to be announced that The New Mutants is going to VOD so Disney can start bringing in *some* money from the studio.

 

[Casper Gutman]

I fully expect once the August movies get pushed back for it to be announced that The New Mutants is going to VOD so Disney can start bringing in *some* money from the studio.

This is not really a practical notion but... since production does seem possible in NZ and places in Europe, I shut down the "main" MCU until the pandemic abates and start shooting some films and mini-series based on all those alternate realities Endgame opened up. The real prize, of course, would be the alternate-universe, nothing-in-these-films-impacts-the-mainstream-MCU adventures of 1940s Agent Carter and Captain Ameri... sorry, Nomad. Or just Carter, if you want to keep it really cheap.

 

[Nick]

This is not really a practical notion but... since production does seem possible in NZ and places in Europe, I shut down the "main" MCU until the pandemic abates and start shooting some films and mini-series based on all those alternate realities Endgame opened up. The real prize, of course, would be the alternate-universe, nothing-in-these-films-impacts-the-mainstream-MCU adventures of 1940s Agent Carter and Captain Ameri... sorry, Nomad. Or just Carter, if you want to keep it really cheap.

They already had a 2-season Agent Carter show about 5 years ago.

 

[Casper Gutman]

They already had a 2-season Agent Carter show about 5 years ago.

Oh, I know. It was the most enjoyable TV show Marvel's done (including the Netflix stuff). Bring it back, raise the budget, limit the episodes per season, stick some Chris Evans in there if the money makes sense, and you've got something cookin' for Disney+ that doesn't effect all your other longterm MCU plans. You can also build some alternative-universe series around well-liked but cheaper actors. How about the Adventures of the Grandmaster? Dum Dum Dugan and the Howling Commandos? Wong vs. Evil? The Warriors Three? What if Jeff Bridges had wound up as Iron Man? Don Cheadle's War Machine hasn't gotten enough love.

Basically, Marvel needs to get some content out there soon, and this prevents the uncertainty from screwing up the plans for the films and Disney+ series they've already planned. We were already in the longest period without a Marvel film in a decade when the current crisis began. (Not that that's really the main issue in the world at the moment, but still.)

 

[JungleSkip]

Re: The HHN discussion

I won't deny that I'm disappointed in Universal that they're pressing forward with it as well as angry that I will miss the event because it's just irresponsible to travel to Florida right now. Disappointed because HHN just is not an event that can happen as it as meant to be while also being safe for performers. It just can't. So the event is either going to be significantly hamstrung for its 30th anniversary, or performers will be asked to do things we *know* is dangerous.

And yea, I'm mad as hell that the 30th anniversary year is going to happen in a year where me and many other fans will not find it safe to attend. And it's gross that, if the merch is any indication, the year will still be attempting to build hype and draw people in with nostalgia in such a climate.

I hope people that go stay safe, and hope the TMs all stay healthy, but I think it's absolutely an understandable position to be disappointed and salty that the 30th year is still going to press ahead in this environment.

 

[Scott W.]

Yea, a big movie is going to get released on VOD.

It sucks but they have to be planning for this scenario. If a vaccine is released sooner, then they will have movies ready to go and can easily move their plans up.

Plan for the worst, hope for the best.

The other scenario I see is that masks become more common place and become the norm which might also allow for theatres to open sooner.

Masks became mandatory in Scotland this week and the first few days were a bit of a pain but it's amazing how quickly they become normal.

 

[Casper Gutman]

It sucks but they have to be planning for this scenario. If a vaccine is released sooner, then they will have movies ready to go and can easily move their plans up.

Plan for the worst, hope for the best.

The other scenario I see is that masks become more common place and become the norm which might also allow for theatres to open sooner.

Masks became mandatory in Scotland this week and the first few days were a bit of a pain but it's amazing how quickly they become normal.

I really hate to believe this, but while universal masking would allow a lot of things to return to normal, I don't think cinemas are one of them. The cinema situation is so high-risk - lots of people, indoors, recirculated air, mask-lowering for food and drink - I don't see it returning before the development of an effective vaccine.

And I've thought the studios must be planning for an extended pandemic since March, but its July, and not a single one has rolled out anything resembling a coherent plan. There is simply an amazing refusal to acknowledge the potential depth of the crisis and to act accordingly.

 

[Mad Dog]

Looking at how slow the Orlando theme parks have been, seems like people in Florida are basically getting infected just about everywhere but. I would bet the beaches are still crowded as all heck. I realize Florida's contact tracing has been kind of shabby & incomplete, but it would be beneficial to see where the bulk of cases are coming from, and then see why those specific sectors haven't been shut down. Up here, they know where the problem is from the tracing, and are addressing those segments. I would guess the problem areas in Florida are similar.

 

[OhHaiInternet95]

Alright, I’m sorry, but I don’t believe people who are following the rules and wearing masks should have to suffer because of people who aren’t.

 

[Scott W.]

I really hate to believe this, but while universal masking would allow a lot of things to return to normal, I don't think cinemas are one of them. The cinema situation is so high-risk - lots of people, indoors, recirculated air, mask-lowering for food and drink - I don't see it returning before the development of an effective vaccine.

And I've thought the studios must be planning for an extended pandemic since March, but its July, and not a single one has rolled out anything resembling a coherent plan. There is simply an amazing refusal to acknowledge the potential depth of the crisis and to act accordingly.

That’s all very valid points. You’d probably need to extreme social distance and at that point, is anybody going to want to go and will the studios want to release to smaller crowds.

 

[TommyJK]

Alright, I’m sorry, but I don’t believe people who are following the rules and wearing masks should have to suffer because of people who aren’t.

But this is already happening all over the US. People who have followed the rules and worn masks are suffering with wide spread re-opening freezes, roll backs and new shut downs because of people who didn't follow the rules (or politicians who decided to ignore the advice of scientists and didn't make appropriate rules).

It boggles my mind how the US is one of the only countries in the world who can't unify their nations response to collectively battle and squash this pandemic's spread. Edit: I mean Georgia's governor just banned cities from being allowed to mandate masks. O:

It's like the movie Independence Day should be re-made with the aliens winning because 1/2 the people believed the aliens weren't that much of a threat.

 

[RevFreako]

Alright, I’m sorry, but I don’t believe people who are following the rules and wearing masks should have to suffer because of people who aren’t.

The world doesn't operate on shoulds.

 

[OhHaiInternet95]

The world doesn't operate on shoulds.

Maybe not, but I’m just stating why I’m annoyed at people who are angry at the parks for reopening.

 

[RevFreako]

Maybe not, but I’m just stating why I’m annoyed at people who are angry at the parks for reopening.

Your annoyance is noted, but children get annoyed when you stop them from sticking a penny in the electrical outlet too.

 

[JungleSkip]

Alright, I’m sorry, but I don’t believe people who are following the rules and wearing masks should have to suffer because of people who aren’t.

Maybe not, but I’m just stating why I’m annoyed at people who are angry at the parks for reopening.

I'm not sure how these two posts are related

 

[TommyJK]

Maybe not, but I’m just stating why I’m annoyed at people who are angry at the parks for reopening.

I'm not angry at the parks.

I'm angry at those who had no real handle on the severity of the issue that allowed them (and other places of high risk spread like bars, night clubs etc) to re-open, as well as those who behave in such ways that will continue to greatly delay/eliminate my ability to safely go to the parks.

 

[Teebin]

People must be seeing that Maine is the only state in green on news infection rates maps. The town is very busy today.

 

[Mad Dog]

The CDC just extended the no sail order for cruises to Oct. 1st.