Joining the likes of Edgar Wright, who previously penned an essay in Empire raising awareness for movie theaters in the US, famed director Christopher Nolan has now written his own op-ed for The Washington Post, pleading the nation to keep theaters afloat during the coronavirus pandemic.
"When people think about movies, their minds first go to the stars, the studios, the glamour," writes Nolan. "But the movie business is about everybody: the people working the concession stands, running the equipment, taking tickets, booking movies, selling advertising and cleaning bathrooms in local theaters. Regular people, many paid hourly wages rather than a salary, earn a living running the most affordable and democratic of our community gathering places."
"The past few weeks have been a reminder, if we needed one, that there are parts of life that are far more important than going to the movies. But, when you consider what theaters provide, maybe not so many as you might think," Nolan continues. "Movie theaters have gone dark, and will stay that way for a time. But movies, unlike unsold produce or unearned interest, don't cease to be of value. Much of this short-term loss is recoverable. When this crisis passes, the need for collective human engagement, the need to live and love and laugh and cry together, will be more powerful than ever. The combination of that pent-up demand and the promise of new movies could boost local economies and contribute billions to our national economy. We don't just owe it to the 150,000 workers of this great American industry to include them in those we help, we owe it to ourselves. We need what movies can offer us."
For the full op-ed, head over to the Washington Post now.
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