Cedars, Spring 2021

Spring 2021 Others, however, love the experience that the theater brings. Farrah Rawlings, a sophomore Theater major, reminisced on pre-COVID days, on the wonders of buttery, overpriced popcorn and the big-screen movie theater environment that just can’t be replicated at home. “My brother and I used to go to the theater every Tuesday. It’s an activity we could do to bring us closer together,” she said. For people like Farrah, the theater provides more than just a movie to watch: it is an experience all on its own. However, many theaters around the country are beginning to close their doors for good. Does this mean an end to theaters as we know them? At this point, the answer to this question is unclear, but what is quite clear is the uproar from big names in the movie industry over Warner Bros.’ HBO Max announcement. Director Christopher Nolan (“Inception,” “The Dark Knight”) stated that he and his fellow filmmakers “went to bed the night before thinking they were working for the greatest movie studio and woke up to find out they were working for the worst streaming service.” Meanwhile, director Denis Villeneuve (“Arrival,” “Blade Runner 2049”) lamented that the announcement may kill his upcoming remake of “Dune,” a project he’s been working on for over three years. Many view the theater as the context in which film is meant to be experienced. At least for now, movies are still created primarily for that environment, and removing them from this context subtracts from the full experience of the film. Others argue that going to the cinema is a bonding experience for movie-goers. Going to see the latest blockbuster or arthouse film is something that brings people of different backgrounds together. On the other hand, streaming is the more convenient option. For some, it might be the safest option as well, with COVID-19 still being a real factor to consider. We will face a day, however, when COVID-19 is not the looming concern that it is now. Theaters will have the opportunity to open back up. What will happen then? Will they be doomed to fail? Or will there be a rise again for the theater industry? I personally love going to the movies because I think something special happens in that theater. A room full of total strangers sits down to enjoy a story and feel something together. Whether it’s heartbreak or triumph, laughter or sadness, anger or fear, everyone rides the emotional rollercoaster together. There are very few places where people are unified like that. Some people might think that this debate doesn’t matter and that a movie is just a movie, whether it’s watched at home or in a theater. I think that mentality underestimates just how powerful the cinematic experience can be. I remember my first time going to a midnight premiere. I was four years old and “Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith” had just come out. I was seated in the front row as the opening credits started and the musical score boomed over the theater’s speakers. I watched in awe as good and evil battled it out on a screen a hundred times bigger than me. It was a universe completely different from my own that my four-year-old self could experience in a colossal way. That was one of my “movie magic” moments, something that still means so much to me. It is these moments that remind me how important the experience of the movie theater is. Once theaters begin to fully open up again, it will be on us to keep those moments alive. Our support will be the determining factor in whether streaming will become the new norm or the magic of the theater-going experience will be preserved. Sam Acosta is a sophomore Theatre Comprehensive Major and an A&E writer for Cedars. He likes spending his time watching movies, drinking Dr Pepper, and writing plays. Photo by Ben Hiett COVID-19 has now kept theaters closed for over a year, leaving buildings abandoned with empty parking lots and outdated posters.