How will Hollywood get back to full speed after coronavirus? Normal service may never resume
- Cautious optimism reigns as US cinemas open and film production has restarted
- Some of the work on films, such as visual effects, may be done remotely in the future
In Los Angeles, Hollywood’s awakening from the Covid-19 pandemic has been visible to anyone walking the city streets in the last several months.
The usual signs of activity for the film and TV industry – production crews taking over car parks, yellow signs telling workers where to go – are back. Cinemas are open and actually starting to show big films. Prop houses and other local businesses dependent on the film and television industry are returning to life. Major studios have been issuing guidelines for eventually returning to offices.
Certain film and TV business dealings can be done remotely – including scriptwriting, deal making, pitching, animation, visual effects and casting – and some of the shifts in how people work together using technology may never completely revert.
But this is still a business that depends on spontaneous, in-person interaction, according to filmmakers, executives and other insiders.
That’s definitely the case for Mike Larocca, co-founder and vice-chairman of AGBO, the production company of Avengers: Endgame directors Joe and Anthony Russo.