Christopher Nolan is arguably one of the best directors working today. With such films as THE DARK NIGHT TRILOGY, MEMENTO & DUNKIRK under his belt, Nolan truly cares about the moviegoing experience and he has tailor-made his films to be viewed exclusively in the theatrical format. Nolan has long been a supporter of seeing cinema in its purest form so it's no wonder that Nolan is passionate about the recovery of movie theater chains that have shuttered all over the world due to the coronavirus pandemic and he knows they're going to need all the help they can get.
Nolan wrote a passionate piece for the "Washington Post" and he wanted to remind readers first and foremost that having our movie theaters isn't about the stars or the glitz and glamour, it's all about the people and the many engines that make all of that work:
"When people think about movies, their minds first go to the stars, the studios, the glamour. But the movie business is about everybody: the people working the concession stands, running the equipment, taking tickets, booking movies, selling advertising and cleaning bathrooms in local theaters."
Nolan also stressed how going to the movies is a huge part of social living and not just for all of us going to the movies but for the workers as well who help bring his vision to life:
"Movie theaters are a vital part of social life, providing jobs for many and entertainment for all. As a filmmaker, my work can never be complete without those workers and the audiences they welcome."
Nolan's piece for the "Washington Post" comes as John Fithian, president, and CEO of the National Association of Theatre Owners told "Variety" that it could be the end of the road for the movie theater business if Congress doesn't pass the trillion-dollar coronavirus relief bill. Fithian said the situation is "dire" and that "overnight, we went from an industry that makes $15 billion a year — $11 billion in ticket sales and $4 billion in concessions — to one that is not going to make a penny for three or four months." Nolan is aware that it's going to take extra help and he's calling on the studios to help provide that aide:
"The moviegoing experience has for generations been reinforcing the notion that “we’re all in this together." We need strategic and forward-thinking partnership from the studios. The past few weeks have been a reminder, if we needed one, that there are parts of life that are far more important than going to the movies. But, when you consider what theaters provide, maybe not so many as you might think."
What drove a lot of this home for me as a fan of films myself and the collective experience of seeing a movie in a packed theater was this quote from Nolan:
"When this crisis passes, the need for collective human engagement, the need to live and love and laugh and cry together, will be more powerful than ever. We need what movies can offer us. Maybe, like me, you thought you were going to the movies for surround sound, or Goobers, or soda and popcorn, or movie stars. But we weren’t. We were there for each other."
There is so much going on in the world right now that it might seem mundane to think about the entertainment industry but just bringing down to the theater chains themselves and so many people that lost jobs when they had to close, that's part of the tragedy here and this is true of many other industries that had to close their doors abruptly, leaving many unemployed and figuring out their next steps. In terms of the moviegoing experience, I have to say I miss it. The last film I saw in theaters was THE HUNT on March 12 and that date will stick with me because it was the last time I'll have that experience for the foreseeable future. Seeing movies is one of the universal things that we all collectively love and it is disheartening seeing it all shut off right now. I think the industry will need all the help it can get and I agree with Nolan that the studios need to do their part to help because it's a necessity for them as well. Hopefully, sooner rather than later we'll all be back in front of the big screen as we put the crazy movie we're living in behind us.
What help do YOU think movie theaters need from thee studios? Where should the help come from?