Broadway Bound: The Entertainment Industry’s Shift Away from Film
“The theater is the only institution in the world which has been dying for four thousand years and has never succumbed.” — John Steinbeck
It was lights out on Broadway last year, when the coronavirus pandemic forced theaters everywhere to shut down. The world has since fundamentally changed in almost every aspect: office workers are spending more time at home, students and teachers have adapted their classrooms on Zoom, and inequality that was once swept under the rug has become unavoidably present in public consciousness.
All of these changes were perhaps inevitable, but the pandemic served as the perfect catalyst for an increasingly digital world. Which brings us to an interesting turning point in the entertainment industry — in a society that is continuously churning out video content, will theater ultimately replace film?
The invention of film has undoubtedly revolutionized entertainment, defining eras throughout history. The invention of the 1920s flapper was created on screen, and the medium has always served as a direct reflection of the society that created it. In that sense, video content will never truly go away. But the past decade has seen advancement unlike any other, and for the first time, filmmakers are no longer at the mercy of powerful producers to create content.
Martin Scorsese famously went to film school just to get his hands on a camera. Today, there’s a camera attached to every iphone, and publishing platforms are just a few clicks away. For content creators, the internet has invited a sense of freedom, allowing anybody to make a movie anywhere at any time.
Conversely, for film production studios, the battle to stand out has never been more challenging. Streaming has caused an abundance of new content, and the rush to push new films in front of viewers is reflected in the quality. In a recent interview with NPR, Barry Diller set his sights on Broadway, stating that he finds theater to be “far more creative” than film today.
Creativity aside, the film industry is floundering after the pandemic forced movie theaters to close. Between the one-two punch of saturated streaming platforms and a lack of in-person venues to enjoy box office films, Hollywood as we know it may never return to its former glory.
As the world begins to reopen post-pandemic, there could be a mass resurgence of movie theaters. The shared smell of popcorn and the energy of an audience can never be replaced by Netflix or its counterparts. But audiences may also find themselves craving something deeper. After over a year of Zoom meetings, mindless scrolling, and social distancing, it may become far more engaging to sit in a dark room and see people, real people, live in front of you performing.
The connection and community of the theater industry has historically been captivating, almost cult-like, in its essence. The “theater-kid” brand has become its own subculture in the United States and beyond, luring in people who thrive on the catharsis of live theater. In a digital world that is desperate for connection, the theater provides a sense of belonging. The bright lights of Broadway and simple lack of screens might just become the next wave of mainstream entertainment, bringing humanity back to the basics of sharing our stories with each other.
