Music
Coachella Is Freebirdin’ It
For the first time in two years, Coachella will return to Indio, California this April. Requirements for entry have been updated, and attendees need not show proof of vaccination, wear masks, or be tested before entry. According to pre-pandemic numbers, Coachella drew up to 125,000 festivalgoers a day, making it one of the music events around. A new advisory notice on the festival’s website notes that there is no guarantee attendees will not be exposed to COVID-19, and that their policies might still change in accordance with public health conditions. Another April music festival, Stagecoach, will do away with vaccine requirements for guests. During the pandemic, the live events and touring industries became very familiar with sudden policy changes and cancellations. Coachella itself has been canceled three separate times. Last summer’s Lollapalooza event drew over 400,000 attendees, all of whom were required to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test for entry. The city of Chicago, which hosted the event, released data showing that infection rates were low.
Film
Sitting on the Edge of Your Seat: ‘Free Solo’ Climber’s New VR Film
If you got nervous watching the daring documentary Free Solo, just wait until you hear about Alex Honnold’s next project. On March 3, Oculus TV and Meta VR Headset users can enjoy a two-part virtual reality experience called Alex Honnold: The Soloist VR. Jonathan Griffith, who owns the production company behind the experience, said in a statement that the production “employed the latest in high resolution 3D 360°… [Filmmakers] purposefully kept the film as raw as possible to use the power of VR to bring the viewer into the scene in an authentic way.” Griffith was also behind several popular mountain climbing documentaries and series, such as The Alpinist and Reel Rock. This new film will show Hannold continuing to push boundaries while free climbing in familiar and exotic places, while meeting with climbers from around the world. Alex Honnold is the first person to climb the El Capitan rockface in Yosemite National Park without the aid of ropes. Executive Producer Eric Cheng has seen early versions and warns the audience that, like him, your hands might get sweaty as you watch Hannold live dangerously in a beautiful alpine setting.
Industry
Looking Towards a Streaming Future: ViacomCBS Rebrands as Paramount
During a virtual investor day that covered corporate strategy and upcoming programming, ViacomCBS Chairwoman Shari Redstone announced that the company's name was changing. The rebrand comes two years after the formation of ViacomCBS, a combination of media company Viacom and broadcasting network CBS. Less than a year ago, the company placed a big bet by entering the streaming space with Paramount+, a platform that has since gained 32.8 million subscribers and is forecasted to reach the 100 million mark by 2024. According to Redstone, “Our strategy has always been to harness the strength of our traditional business to build something new.” This rebranding demonstrates a lot of the movement that is currently happening in the entertainment world, where industry giants are continuing traditional operations while facing a new league of competitors in the form of streaming. While the company is continuing to grow in revenue, this change was met with skepticism from investors and a drop in stocks. The presentation had appearances by Hollywood A-listers like J.J. Abrams and Tom Cruise, who also announced some future movie and TV content that would stream on Paramount+. All movies created by Paramount are headed to the streaming services when current licensing expires, so the catalog is expected to grow immensely in the next few years.
Festivals
We Want Film Festivals! Key Takeaways From Berlin’s In-Person Event
The Berlin Film Festival, which began on February 10, is under way and set to end on February 20. This festival, which was in-person for the first time since 2020, added a last-minute virtual segment for the European Film Market. The festival still attracted a lot of buyers and sellers, and attendees enjoyed the human connection that was created through these in-person meetings and screenings. The festival was able to transform several buses into COVID testing centers, allowing attendees to be screened daily in order to keep the infection rate down. Arguably the most notable part of the Berlin Festival was its lineup. The festival highlighted many independent projects, focusing on stories about underrepresented groups. On-screen representation was at a high as well, with seven of the 18 competition films directed by women. International cinema from the likes of Germany and France were the biggest attractions of this year's festival, and these films are now being screened across the globe.
Incentives
Battle of the Tax Credits: States Compete for Productions With Incentive Programs The state of California has done a wonderful job attracting productions to shoot locally with tax incentives. But since 2015, at least 28 local shows have left LA for better credit offerings. Georgia, New Mexico, Louisiana, and several others have now become film hubs, attracting a lot of crew talent who choose to remain local. California wants to get back into the production incentives race. In July, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill that would grant an additional $330 million in tax credits on top of the $330 million the state already offers. Another bill that was unanimously passed by the state senate will extend these credits through 2030. California is trying to keep up with the competition, and Colleen Bell, director of the California Film Commission, says “We can’t always compete directly with other incentive programs, but we have to make sure that the gap isn’t too wide.” While many states are actively trying to lure film production away from California, the state it is still the premier shooting location for TV and film. Tax credits play a pivotal role in production budgeting, and it's harder than ever for films to be financed without taking production incentives into consideration. So, while many productions maintain flexibility with shooting options, it is up to states to create programs that help put their landscapes on the silver screen.
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