After Roma swept the Oscars, Steven Spielberg seeks to block streaming films

[Muda69]

https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2019/03/steven-spielberg-will-campaign-to-bar-streaming-movies-from-the-oscars/?comments=1

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A spokesperson for Amblin, the production company run by director Steven Spielberg, has told IndieWire that Spielberg plans to support an effort to change the rules of the Oscars to bar some films primarily distributed via streaming platforms like Netflix from nomination for Academy Awards.

"Steven feels strongly about the difference between the streaming and theatrical situation," the spokesperson told the publication. "He'll be happy if the others will join [his campaign] when that comes up [at the Academy Board of Governors meeting]."

The conversation in Hollywood about the legitimacy of films made for streaming has been fierce since critical darling Roma—a Netflix-backed film from Y Tu Mamá También, Children of Men, and Gravity director Alfonso Cuarón—took home Best Director, Best Foreign Language Film, and Best Cinematography in an unprecedented sweep for a streaming film. However, Roma lost Best Picture to controversial film Green Book, which Spielberg backed.

Some industry figures have proposed a requirement that films run in theaters for at least four weeks before they can be considered for Oscars. Others have said they believe the amount of money Netflix spent lobbying for Roma (estimates range from $25 to 50 million—much more than is common, IndieWire reports) was unfair. But there is not yet any consensus on which specific changes to the rules will be proposed or potentially ratified.

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Currently, films do not need to run exclusively in theaters to qualify for Oscars, but they must play for one week in New York and Los Angeles and receive reviews in print newspapers—qualifications Roma met. (In fact, Roma played for as long as three weeks in some theaters, and it ran in theaters outside of New York and LA as well.)

The Academy holds a post-Oscars meeting every year. Spielberg reportedly will seek to promote the changes at that meeting. The Academy gave a comment acknowledging that it would discuss the issue of streaming: "Awards rules discussions are ongoing with the branches. And the Board will likely consider the topic at the April meeting."

Good luck Mr. Spielberg.  As one of the comments to this story states "The lashing out of a wounded business model."    The slow dying of traditional movie theaters is akin to the death of video arcades in the 1980's.