Live Events
Delta Variant Prompts New California Protocols for Indoor Events
Effective September 20, 2021, California will require proof of vaccination or a negative coronavirus test to attend indoor gatherings of 1,000 or more people. The new rules will replace the current standard, which applies to events with 5,000 or more attendees. The new guidance from the CDC will affect large gatherings like sporting events and concerts but won’t cover places like malls or museums “that are open to public circulation as part of their regular operations,” unless they host a large indoor event. While churches are exempt, public health officials strongly suggest they follow the new guidelines. “The Delta variant has proven to be highly transmissible, making it easier to spread in large crowds where people are near each other for long periods of time,” Dr. Tomás J. Aragón, California’s public health officer, said in a statement. “By requiring individuals to be vaccinated, or test negative for COVID-19 at large events, we are decreasing the risk of infection, hospitalization and death.”
Industry
On the Move (Again): Some Studios Start Another Round of Shuffling
Back in the beginning of the summer, the industry was feeling fairly optimistic about a true box office recovery. Studios arranged their scheduled rollouts accordingly, hoping that the late summer would look somewhat normal. But thanks to the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus, comfort levels plummeted, and many moviegoers opted to stay home. Confidence levels between June and August dropped from 81% to 64%. Once again, studios have found themselves reshuffling release schedules to accommodate some bigger films. But will this shuffle be the last? “If I knew six weeks ago what I know now, I would have moved everything as far out as early next year,” said one anonymous studio executive. According to box office analyst Paul Dergarabedian or Comscore, “In traditional times, once a release date is ‘locked,’ then everything else keys off of that, and so studios would only move a film under the most dire or unimaginable scenarios lest the prospects for a solid run in theaters be derailed.” Still, theaters are open and welcoming guests, and according to Boxoffice Pro’s Shawn Robbins, “We’re at a stage in this long recovery period where I think studios are less intent on big sweeping changes to the release calendar and more focused on short-term adaptations to the market.”
Film
Bravery Beyond the Camera: Cannes-Winning Afghan Director Fights To Escape Kabul
While the tragedy of last week’s international events has far greater importance than its effect on film, one of Afghanistan’s best-known film directors, Shahrbanoo Sadat, is currently on the ground in an attempt to flee the country. Sadat, the 2016 winner of the top Director’s Fortnight award in Cannes, explains, “It’s a great shock—we didn’t expect this to happen so soon.” Of course, she is referring to the Taliban’s accelerated takeover of Afghanistan. “Living in Afghanistan, your ears get used to hearing about how the Taliban are on the way, the Taliban are in this part of the country and that part of the country,” she says. “So, you don’t really differentiate the danger anymore, because you hear these sentences all the time.” Taking the moment to heart, Sadat vows, “If I survive this and I have the chance to make more films, my cinema will have changed forever. I feel like I’m observing... I’m watching injustice and something really horrible, and I just need to save it in my body, remember it and put it in films later, to share it with the world. If I survive this, I will make films about what happened.”
Theater
The Return of ‘Hamilton’: Hollywood Pantages Theatre Finally Reopens
17 months after the Hollywood Pantages Theatre was forced to halt its production of Hamilton during the COVID-19 pandemic, doors finally reopened for Tuesday night’s premiere. The atmosphere in Hollywood was electric, with fans dressed head to toe in Hamilton merchandise as they lined the blocks around the theater. The feeling of anticipation was over a year in the making. Of course, Los Angeles County is taking no chances with the pandemic. Pantages made the recent decision to require that ticketholders provide proof of vaccination to gain entry. The screening process seemed to go off without a hitch, pleasing the venue and their guests. “I’m so incredibly proud of the Los Angeles audience because they showed up fully vaccinated, fully masked and raring to go,” said Pantages general manager Jeff Loeb. The night was a good omen, as many new shows are set to open in the coming months, marking a return to live performances. “This building is special,” Loeb added. “But what I learned over the last 17 months is that it’s only magical when people are in the building. That’s when it sings.”
Music
Life Is a Mystery, but This Deal Isn’t: Madonna and Warner Music Join Forces
In a huge deal that spans her entire recording career, Madonna has joined forces with Warner Music Group to bring her 17 studio albums, singles, soundtrack recordings, live albums, and compilations under one roof. In a statement, the Material Girl said, "Since the very beginning, Warner Music Group has helped bring my music and vision to all my fans around the world with the utmost care and consideration. They have been amazing partners, and I am delighted to be embarking on this next chapter with them to celebrate my catalogue from the last 40 years.” This is not Madonna’s first go-around with Warner Music Group, as she signed a deal with their own Sire Records back in 1982. But now that Madge has returned home, she’s ready to celebrate the 40th anniversary of her recording career in 2022. Madonna’s longtime manager Guy Osear adds, “Over the past 30 years, I’ve been fortunate enough to meet and spend time with many of Madonna’s incredible fans, and this new partnership will bring to fruition what so many of them have been patiently waiting for: a celebration of her groundbreaking catalogue. My partner Sara Zambreno and I are working closely with Warner Music Group to bring new life to these iconic works.”
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