A debate about the relevance of streaming services and whether streaming releases should be considered for awards and recognition rages in Hollywood. Director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (The Revenant, Birdman) weighs in on the debate and actually sides with Netflix.
The filmmaker conducted an interview with The New York Times to speak about the big cinema issue. Most directors (Steven Spielberg to Pedro Amoldovar) take the side of Hollywood, but Inarritu isn’t standing with them. The directors say that streaming takes a huge chunk of the revenues from theaters.
It is the theater experience that the filmmakers aim to save, as more and more people pass on theaters to stay home and stream. Inarritu says that directors in his realm thrive with the introduction of streaming, allowing their smaller films to see the light of day:
“Some of the films will only get to you through streaming services, but I think the big problem is that when it comes to the way films are being produced, distributed and exhibited, the system is homogenized.
It leaves almost no space for other kinds of films in the world. The easy way out has been to blame Netflix – they have been the scapegoat.
But my point is that there’s nothing wrong with Netflix. Netflix is capitalizing on the lack of diversity in cinemas and putting it on TV.
I’m very privileged to have the position that I can do ‘Revenant,’ but how many young filmmakers do not have access to those budgets and films? They have to now consider TV as their only choice”
Inarritu Pleads Compromise
Inarritu says that Netflix’s gain is theaters loss, but there has to be a compromise somewhere:
“I want to be very clear that I support Netflix 100 percent. At the same time, we have to make a point that exhibitors and distributors have a great responsibility here.
We are all letting this medium die, and just becoming a franchise-entertainment park. And if those studios, distributors, and exhibitors don’t find a way forward, Netflix will eat them alive.”
Inarritu adds that if Netflix can work with exhibitors to give audiences a choice on how they want to view films, both could thrive. It is something that the director hints Netflix may compromise, but Hollywood would need to work with them as well.
