Netflix is changing the way you watch movies but Steven Spielberg wants the viewer to have a theatrical experience. These two clashing points of views can block Netflix from future Oscar disputes.
Jeff Bock, senior box office analyst at Exhibitor Relations said that it is the feud between the old guard and the new guard with the industry at a crossroad about how people are enjoying their entertainment.
In response to the plans of Spielberg, Netflix tweeted “We love cinema”.
The company has also stated that the Company also loves access for people who cannot afford to watch theatres or live in towns where no theatres exist. Netflix wants and loves to give access to people everywhere so that everyone can enjoy the fresh release at the same time. It will give more opportunities to the filmmakers to share art.
The tweet did not mention the name of Spielberg but was tweeted after Indie Wire, a Hollywood trade publication, reported that Spielberg said that he will ensure that no race ever watches “Roma”, a Netflix film. Roma, backed by massive sums, did not play on the same terms as its analog-studio competitors.
Spielberg feels strong about the present scenario and the huge difference between the theatrics and online streaming as per the spokesperson of Amblin, Spielberg’s production company.
It is still unclear whether any change in rules will take place at the Academy’s annual board meeting of the governors of which Spielberg is the most powerful member. Spielberg has also stated that films which do not follow a theater run or have a theatrical release should not be nominated for Oscars.
While Spielberg wants only movies giving a motion picture theatrical experience to the audiences to be nominated for Oscars, Netflix believes in creating exclusive content for its subscribers and generally release its original films in theatres and on its service at the same time.
Netflix method of releasing the films poses a threat to the theatre industry which makes its sales from concession sales and box office.
