Everything we all need to know about how we’ll be watching “TV” next week. (Or maybe even today.)
by Kate Erbland
With streaming dominating the industry — and suddenly becoming the “new normal” in a changing world — IndieWire is taking a closer look at the news cycle, breaking down what really matters to provide a clear picture of what companies are winning the streaming wars, and how they’re pulling ahead.
By looking at trends and the latest developments, Streaming Wars Report: Indie Edition offers a snapshot of what’s happening overall and day-to-day in streaming for the indie set. Check out the latest Streaming Wars Report for updates to the bigger players in the industry.
Buzzy Originals
Embracing the Virtual Experience
In just three weeks, indie outfits like Kino Lorber, Music Box Films, and Film Movement have already rolled out theatrical-at-home plans (otherwise known as “virtual cinema”) that not only bring first-run films into your living room, but also share revenue with the theaters initially booked to show their films. Only weeks into their new initiatives, the distributors are already adding on new films and new theaters.
This week, Kino Lorber announced that its Kino Marquee “virtual theatrical experience” will next host the charming sci-fi comedy “Extra Ordinary,” which debuted at last year’s SXSW and was just digging into its theatrical release when most theaters were shut down. Film Movement’s Virtual Cinema, only days old, is already pivoting to include first-run “theatrical premieres” of some of its films. While the new initiative has so far only hosted films that did receive a theatrical run, if even a truncated one, on April 17, it will debut its inaugural first-run premiere: Hlynur Palmason’s “A White, White Day,” which was Iceland’s official Oscar submission earlier this year.
Elsewhere, the Alamo Drafthouse, after already joining forces with other virtual cinemas options through Kino Lorber, Film Movement, and Magnolia Pictures, is now beefing up its own online offerings through its “Alamo-At-Home” initiative, which includes the (virtual) return of its longest-running programming series, Terror Tuesday and Weird Wednesday. In addition to first-run films, the boutique cinema chain will now offer online screenings featuring pre-show content, introductions, and discussions conducted on Alamo Drafthouse’s content and editorial website, BirthMoviesDeath.com.
And other distributors are rapidly following suit with virtual cinema plans of their own, giving not only their indie brethren a run for their money, but also the handful of studios that are continuing to hold off on more robust VOD concepts….
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