‘Over one hour everything was cancelled’ – how coronavirus devastated the film industry
From directors to independent cinema owners, freelancers to company owners: people in the film business on their struggles in a time of crisis
This time last week, it still seemed feasible the film industry might weather coronavirus. Only a handful of big-name blockbusters had been postponed in the UK and US, Cannes remained bullish and box office numbers weren’t wobbling too much.
By Monday, the picture was radically cracked. Ticket sales in those territories were pitiful. Distributors cancelled release after release. Cinema chains started shutting their doors. And, behind the scenes, the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of people were destroyed.