Are Movie Theaters Going to Survive?

This afternoon I heard that the next Wonder Woman movie was skipping the theaters and heading towards streaming.  A quick search later and it looks like that may actually happen, though Patty Jenkins', Wonder Woman's director, is sending this warning: "If we shut this down, this will not be a reversible process.  We could lose movie theater-going forever."

3 days ago it was announced that Regal theater will be shutting down 536 theaters, affecting 40,000 employees.  AMC has been suffering as well.  Cineworld is closing theaters across the US and UK.

And all this while major blockbusters are getting pushed back: James Bond, Black Widow, etc.  I appreciate the fact that TENET came to the theaters that are open, but I guess its box office gross (either $150 million-$200 million global, depending on the source) is scaring other movies from being released.

Problem is, if you hold back a movie hoping for more money, but the holding back causes movie theaters to close because they can't survive, then will blockbusters ever make the money they once did?  You have to have theaters for that, unless streaming really is a goldmine.  I find that questionable.  Besides, the whole multiple streaming services has become fatiguing, and I canceled Netfix last month over moral reasons concerning a certain French film.  You can't release a movie to a theater if there are no theaters left to release movies into.

I've been to the movies a few times now, and there isn't anything to fear, if there are people holding back for that reason.  The theaters are clean, and much care is being taken to ensure safety for those that are worried.  I don't like to see anyone lose their jobs, especially in this market, and when it comes to the movies there are a lot of people, from all walks of life and situation, that keep the film industry going.

Time will tell.  I love entertainment and stories, and I would be sad if theaters go away.  I also have a huge imagination and love different forms of storytelling.  Times are tough, true, but we're all suffering.  And we have priorities.  But also, I do hope large screen storytelling survives, but the industry needs to wake up before it's too late.

Give Me a World and I Shall Live, an original poem, and other doodads

(15 yrs. old, The Fantasticks)

(Written nearly 2 decades ago, sometime when I was 17 or 18.)

Sonnet VIII

Give me a World and I shall live.  Wrap me

up in the land of fantasy.  Beyond

the words and stage are my dreams, and I long

for this reality.  Please, let me see

where imagination has no borders.

Where I have no limits.  Where I am free.

Give me this World, let me escape to be

all that I could wish to be, forever.

Illuminated saw dust tickles my

nose as I stare beyond lights.  Sweet voices

of laughter and love surrounds and rejoice.

And I stand, waiting, breathing, as I fly.

Excitement lingers through all of my soul.

All of my heart sings as I lose control.

~ Sarah Stufflebeam

(I did tweak the words a little.)

I went through a Sonnet writing phase when I was in High School.  Since then I haven't written any, but I found this one and a few others, not all sadly, while sorting through old papers.  It brings back memories.  I haven't performed in a play since college.  Mainly all of my performances have been through chorus, some vocal solos, and the handful of videos online.  Honestly I miss it.  This was my passion when I was younger.  I craved the stage.  Begged my parents to do community theater.  Tried out whenever I could.  Kinda miss the hunger.

 (Kindergarten)

 One of my first performances was when I was in Kindergarten.  I don't remember it, though my Mom said I had the lead, memorized all the lines, and told the kids their lines when they forgot.  Totally was that kind of kid.

I do remember the Christmas performance when I was in Kindergarten, mainly because it was performed in the auditorium.  I memorized all those parts as well and would get my brothers and friends to perform the play in the backyard as I directed.

The very first time I was on stage was when I was four, a dance recital, and I remember every detail. It was a series of moments that woke my spirit. Totally electrifying.

(7th Grade)

The last dance recital I was in was the 7th grade.

Honestly, I haven't been to dance in a year.  I've talked with my dance teacher and even pre-paid several months for the Fall, so I'm committed to get back into it.  I also want to get back into music and doing videos.  That's more of an early next year thing.  I'm going to start learning the guitar, got a video program I'm going to work through, and buckle down on understanding the music software.

Oh, and the VR game my brothers and I have worked on is close to an update.  I'm waiting for the game to get to a certain point, and for other projects to get going, before I talk about it in full. It's a process.

It's good to remember our past and past dreams.