Virtual cinema is a term referring to

video-on-demand Video on demand (VOD) is a media distribution system that allows users to access videos, television shows and films digitally on request. These multimedia are accessed without a traditional video playback device and a typical static broadcasting ...

streaming services A streaming media service (also simply called a streaming service) is an online platform that allows users to watch or listen to content, such as film, movies, Television show, TV shows, music, or podcasts, over the internet. Instead of downloadi ...

facilitated by independent film distributors and art-house theaters to release new films and to share profits. Under the service, part of the admission price supports a physically located theater.

Background

As a result of the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...

, movie theaters were closed down for public safety. In 2020 from March through April, virtual cinema proliferated during the theaters' closures. Several distributors of independent films, including

Kino Lorber Kino Lorber is an international film distribution company based in New York City. Founded in 1977, it was originally known as Kino International until it was acquired by and merged into Lorber HT Digital in 2009. It specializes in art film, art ho ...

, Film Movement, and

Music Box Films Music Box Films is a distributor of foreign and independent film in theatrical, DVD/Blu-ray, and video-on-demand markets in the United States. Based in Chicago, Music Box Films is independently owned and operated by the Southport Music Box Corpo ...

, were early adopters. The initiative grew to involve theater chains and film festivals that were affected by the pandemic. Major specialty chains

Alamo Drafthouse The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema is an American cinema chain founded in 1997 in Austin, Texas, which is famous for serving dinner and drinks during the film, as well as its strict policy of requiring its audiences to maintain proper cinema-going etiq ...

and Laemmle Theaters began partnering with the distributors. The strategy is recognized as a way for distributors to make up for lost box office sales and to empower moviegoers to support their local theater.

Examples

In April 2020, in response to the

COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic. The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever ...

crisis, the re-release of actress turned director

Lee Grant Lee Grant (born Lyova Haskell Rosenthal; October 31, during the mid-1920s) is an American actress, documentarian, and director. In a career spanning over seven decades, she won an Academy Award, two Primetime Emmy Awards, and a Directors Guil ...

's documentaries (including the 1986 Oscar-winning '' Down and Out in America'') was re-imagined as one of the first examples of virtual cinema and became "the first virtual repertory series." Other "virtual cinema" examples included the animated films ''

Trolls World Tour ''Trolls World Tour'' is a 2020 American animated musical fantasy film produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Universal Pictures, based on the Good Luck Trolls dolls created by Thomas Dam. The sequel to ''Trolls'' (2016) and the ...

'' and ''

Scoob! ''Scoob!'' is a 2020 American animated mystery comedy film produced by Warner Animation Group, and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. It is a reboot of the theatrical'' Scooby-Doo'' film series and the third theatrical film based on the ...

'' alongside the

Studio Ghibli is a Japanese animation studio based in Koganei, Tokyo."Studio Ghibli Collection - Madman Entertainment". ''Studio Ghibli Collection - Madman Entertainment''. Retrieved 2020-12-14. It has a strong presence in the animation industry and has exp ...

library provided by

GKIDS GKIDS is an American film and television distributor owned by Toho International. Based in New York City, GKIDS releases mostly international animated films and television series to North American audiences, as well as American films by indepe ...

.‘Trolls World Tour’ and ‘Scoob!’ Aren’t Only Options for Kids Who Love Movies — Streaming Wars, IndieWire
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External links

Virtual Cinema articles at IndieWire

References

{{reflist, refs= {{cite news , last=Erbland , first=Kate , url=https://www.indiewire.com/2020/04/virtual-cinema-guide-1202226844/ , title=Streaming Wars: Virtual Cinemas Offer Haven for Cinephiles and Struggling Theaters Alike , work= IndieWire , date=April 24, 2020 , access-date=April 26, 2020 {{cite news , last=Faughderstaff , first=Ryan , url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2020-04-08/your-local-cinema-is-closed-because-of-coronavirus-heres-how-you-can-help-save-it , title=During coronavirus closures, indie movie theaters turn to online 'screenings' , work=

Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' is an American Newspaper#Daily, daily newspaper that began publishing in Los Angeles, California, in 1881. Based in the Greater Los Angeles city of El Segundo, California, El Segundo since 2018, it is the List of new ...

, date=April 8, 2020 , access-date=April 26, 2020 {{cite news , last=Kenigsberg , first=Ben , url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/24/movies/streaming-vod-guide.html , title=VOD, Streaming or Virtual Cinema? Your Guide to Digital Movie Options , work=

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

, date=April 24, 2020 , access-date=April 26, 2020 Film distribution Video on demand services 2020s in film Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cinema

Background

Examples

See also

External links

References