Will L.A. Fires Help the Box Office?

 

Angelenos go to cinema to escape realities of fires

Angelenos flocked to the cinema in L.A. to escape the realities of the fires. "It's been a very sad week" says Cheyanne Shannon, a talent agent in Hollywood, "coming to the movies is a way to get away from everything and be distracted by a different story."

Going to the movies to escape from the deluge of bad news is a coping mechanism for many in Los Angeles and across the U.S. The number one place for admissions, last week was New York City, followed by Burbank and Orlando.

Going to the cinema in NYC this weekend

It represented the enduring symbol of the cinema as the core of a community. "Local cinemas represent a safe haven to movie patrons looking for a temporary escape," noted ComScore analyst, Paul Dergarabodian.

The L.A. fires came at a bad time for the box office in general. It needs to be at top performance this year and a trip to the cinema as a distraction and for entertainment is needed by not just Angelenos but everyone.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences donated $250,000 that it had earmarked for this year's Oscar Nominees' Luncheon, which brought the total contributions by the Academy to the L.A. Fire Relief Fund to over $1 million. This is a small token but one that show the unity of the Hollywood elite and their determination to rebuild Hollywood into the mecca of film production and distribution worldwide. And, I agree, that the Oscars Show should not be canceled and should be aired as planned. 

The U.S. needs to take back its dominance of the entertainment business that it built from scratch and make the movie business a Hollywood driven endeavor once again. This will require the full backing and commitment of everyone involved in the movie business, as well as the government at the Federal, State and local levels. California's State and Los Angeles' government leaders have to understand the necessity to make the movie industry their highest priority. 

The fight has started to save the movie business and return it as the central and most important form of entertainment on a global scale.

By: Jim Lavorato