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With the World Health Organization declaring coronavirus, COVID-19, a pandemic, and governments all over the world locking down industries and cultural centers, entertainment organizations in the United States are bracing for measures limiting crowd sizes. From Broadway to movie theaters to labor unions, industry leaders are bracing for entertainers and audiences to get sick—and for an industry that relies on social gatherings to undergo long-term financial effects.
Over the past few days, the United States has experienced a surge in diagnoses of the flu-like coronavirus across regions. With no vaccine available and specific demographics vulnerable, the nation has seen schools and universities cancel classes, businesses limit services, and the stock market plummet. Below, Backstage updates you on what the film, television, and theater industries are doing to prepare for the escalating impacts of coronavirus.
This article will be updated as new information becomes available.
Audition Season and EPA Sign-ups
Springtime is audition season, and many actors are worried about how coronavirus will impact hiring. Actors’ Equity has updated guidelines for waiting rooms and audition halls in addition to warning members not to show up to an audition if they’re feeling ill. “We know this is a difficult thing to ask for many of you, but hope you will take this practice to heart as an act of solidarity that can help keep not just your fellow members and EMCs [Equity membership candidates] healthy, but also Equity staff and countless others around you,” stated the union.
The union is also suspending its demerit policy (which the union, confusingly, calls "strikes") if actors miss an EPA [Equity principal audition] until April 15.
Broadway Cuts Ticket Prices
In New York, stage door lines have gotten shorter as actors opt-out of signing memorabilia and shaking fans’ hands. The Broadway League is reportedly meeting with producers and theater managers to create a plan for keeping Broadway houses sanitary and preparing for a dip in attendance. Producer Scott Rudin is hoping to get ahead of the slump by offering $50 tickets to the once-exclusive productions he’s co-producing including “To Kill A Mockingbird,” “West Side Story,” “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf,” and “The Book of Mormon,” and “The Lehman Trilogy.” In an announcement, Rudin spun the situation: "As long as New York City is open for business, its beating heart remains the Broadway stage. This is an unprecedented opportunity for everyone to see a show that they otherwise might not have had easy and affordable access to.”
The Film Industry Postpones Premieres
With movie attendance expected to go down, the highly anticipated addition to the blockbuster James Bond franchise, “No Time to Die” has been pushed to a Thanksgiving season opening. With additional cancellations or postponements anticipated to follow, movie theaters are fearing mandated shutdowns (as they are in Italy), and experts are projecting a $5 billion loss to the industry because of the virus’ effects. And while it might seem like streaming companies like Netflix would see a boom with the rise of social distancing and isolation, experts remind stockholders that revenue doesn’t rise when services are subscription-based.
Actors’ Equity Association Calls for Relief Funding
Today, Actors’ Equity—the nation’s union for stage talent and management—released a statement calling on governments limiting public gatherings to provide relief funding to arts organizations and artists. The union’s statement came in light of Washington state governor Jay Inslee’s restrictions, which prohibit crowds of more than 250 people. Washington has seen the most dramatic impacts of the virus with a growing number of casualties in the Evergreen State.
“Limiting public gatherings also means the prospect of lost income, health insurance and retirement savings – to say nothing of the financial crisis those workers will face if their workplace closes down, due to a pandemic,” said Equity President Kate Shindle. “Now is the time for Congress and local governments to put workers first with a strong economic relief package to ensure that everyone who works in the arts and entertainment sector has access to healthcare and unemployment benefits. Payroll tax cuts won’t help those whose theaters are now dark. For every middle-class actor you see onstage, there are dozens more working behind the scenes and in an administrative capacity.”
Shindle’s statement references President Trump’s recent proposal to eliminate payroll taxes for the remainder of the year, to avoid a severe economic downturn as a result of the virus’ impact on businesses. In her statement, Shindle points out that theaters are not the only businesses that could experience hard times because of limited audiences—restaurants, bars, and local economies could also feel the impacts when audiences dwindle.
Theatre Communications Group (TCG) Calls for Action and Assistance
Citing the economic impacts of coronavirus as a threat to nonprofit theaters around the country, the Theatre Communications Group is calling for Congress to provide federal relief to arts and entertainment organizations that will be walloped by falling ticket revenues. Along with the Performing Arts Alliance, TCG has created an online campaign to send messages to politicians in D.C., encouraging artists to be “as specific as you can about the current and projected impact on your theater.”
SAG-AFTRA Releases a Statement on “neXt” Production in Chicago
Fox and Disney recently informed the Chicago cast and crew of the production “neXt” that a person on the set tested positive for COVID-19. The union reports that they are “working with the production company regarding this matter to determine the timeline and scope of potential exposure to members and others,” and have sent a notice to Chicago-area members.
SAG-AFTRA Cancels or Reconfigures In-Person Meetings
In a recent update from union President Gabrielle Carteris and Executive Director David White, the nation’s union for screen, broadcast, and media talent announced that all in-person meetings would be canceled, postponed, or reconfigured. Union leaders encourage membership of over 160,000 not to attend SAG-AFTRA functions if they are feeling ill and to follow social distancing guidelines.
Regional Stages Encourage Cleanness—and Cancelled Tickets
Regional theaters have been sending audiences updates on health and sanitation measures being implemented in venues across the nation. From adding hand sanitization stations to increasing cleaning schedules, theaters like Atlanta’s Alliance and Boston’s Huntington are trying to keep houses clean—and keep sick audience members away. Patrons who are feeling ill are encouraged to not attend performances, with many theaters loosening their ticket cancelation or refund policies. Some theaters like the American Repertory Theater have cancelled performances and fundraisers.
Large-scale events like the Humana Festival of New American Plays at Actors Theatre of Louisville—scheduled to take place from late March to mid-April—have yet to announce postponements or cancellations.
2020-03-12 15:01:46Z
https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/coronavirus-impact-broadway-film-industry-hollywood-70258/
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