Covid19: Contingency Plans for Filmmakers


Corona virus pandemic has spread to 177 countries since it was first reported in Wuhan, China on the 1st of December 2019. Drastically affecting the global economy, including the entertainment industry. From cancelled film festivals, awards and cinema releases, this pandemic looks to affect the livelihood of many within the film industry including the more vulnerable self-employed creatives. This is why we think it is perhaps interesting and timely to discuss what this means for the film industry in Nigeria and the world as it relates to filmmakers, investors and filmlovers.

Film releases, locations, festivals, and award shows postponed
The global film industry hasn't faced such a damning crisis in recent history, the damages covid19 poses to the film business investors and their employees are massive.

With cinema closures, a halt on film releases, award postponements and cancellations, not forgetting productions currently on hold, TV and SVOD remain the only safest source of distribution for filmmakers. The industrial loss so far is estimated more than $20bn [The Guardian]

The losses cut across producers, studios and distributors all having to reconsider the pros and cons of straight digital release, while festivals decides the next viable steps.


The release of Minions: The Rise of Gru (3 July), Les Misérables (24 April), Black Widow (1 May), Disney's Mulan: The New Mutants, Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway and the Bond film: No Time to Die have all been postponed. While the hit 'Lost in Russia' has quickly been pushed to SVOD platforms.


Large-scale cinema closures have been occuring in Iran, China, India, Poland, South Korean, Kuwait and Italy. While France, UK, US cinemas closed partially with operation below 50%. Most major cinema chains, including Cineworld, Odeon, Vue, Picturehouse and Everyman are completely shut.

So far, Brussels International Fantastic film festival (7-19 April) is cancelled but in an innovative move has been moved online. Human Rights Watch film festival (20 March), Beijing (April), SXSW (13-22 March), Hong Kong (24 March to 6 April) film festivals are also cancelled [See The Guardian]

The Disneyland Paris and Disneyworld in US, Universal Studios theme park all closed. International Indian Film Academy Awards (Bollywoods Oscars) has been postponed from 27 March., While crew members, actors, government classification, publicists and equipment rentals are still counting their loses here in Nigeria.


Movie tickets slashed due to social distance order
According to the weekly CEAN report, Nigerian box office makes averagely 100m naira (272 thousand USD). A physical survey at Genesis cinema, The Palms Lekki on Sunday 22nd March showed low patronage. The usual long queue of fans hawking around for the next show, or to purchase tickets in the aesthetically pleasing hall was left solemn.  Further investigation revealed that, tickets usually sold for N1500 to N2500 were going for N1000 max. Imagine the gap in days to come.

What lies ahead? What are the contingency plans for Nollywood?
Due to production shut down, this industrial crisis might also present unique opportunities in the near future, especially for Nollywood filmmakers. Now and when the virus will eventually be contained, viewers (audience) would be tired and bored of classical or few new releases making the rounds. New releases immediately after the end of the virus could potentially make up to tripple sales. All things being equal, fans would irk for outings, while TV and stream media might drop. The longer Hollywood production studios are on hold, the bigger the opportunities for Nollywood movies in cinemas afterwards. Finish all preliminaries (Remotely) that doesn't involve much people now, hurry that post production, push that release date till further notice.


Now that we all are indoors, what are you watching?
Here are few movie suggestions you might want to check out while observing distance and other official safety guidelines from www.ncdc.gov.ng or @NCDCgov via Twitter.

Nollywood
93 Days, Confusion Na Wa, Ojukokoro, Kasala, Taxi driver, Lionheart, October 1, UpNorth, Figurine, Living In Bondage: Breaking Free, Green White Green, Isoken, King of Boys, New Money, Royal Hibiscus Hotel, Excess Luggage, God Calling, The Ten Virgins, Celebrity Marriage, Potato Potahto.

Hollywood
Contagion, The Omega Man, World War Z, Pandemic, 2012, The Irish Man, It Comes At Night, Outbreak, 28 Weeks Later, The Host, Day of The Dead, Blacklist, My big fat Greek wedding, Atomic Blonde, The Man From Uncle, Logan [See a New York Times list]

What are you watching during your social distancing or self quarantine period? Please share with us.

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