Steven Spielberg hates the way Warner Bros. and HBO Max treat films and directors

If before the pandemic cinemas were already more empty than any director could wish for, COVID devastated the seventh art when theaters were closed and then fear prevented audiences from returning. Some production companies / distributors with their own streaming platforms or agreements They decided not to save their previews for the arrival of the new normal and throw them in the house, which caused the anger of figures such as Denis Villeneuve and Christopher Nolan, now joined by Steven Spielberg.

King Midas of Hollywood gave an interview to the New York Times for the premiere of ‘The Fabelmans’ (in the United States on November 23 and in Spain on February 10), his new semi-autobiographical film, and in her he has particularly railed against Warner Bros and, by extension, against HBO Max. “The pandemic was an opportunity for streaming platforms to increase their subscriptions to record levels and they even threw some of my best friends on the dance floor, since, without much ceremony, his films have not been released in theaters “says Spielberg, “They got paid and the movies were suddenly relegated, in this case, to HBO Max. The case I’m talking about. And then everything started to change. “

But although it was necessary for us to stay home at the time, Spielberg defends the cinematic experience as something unique, no matter how big your TV screen is: “I think the older audience was relieved not to have to step on sticky popcorn.”Muses of Spielberg, “But I really think that the same older audience, once they enter the theater, the magic of being in a social situation with a group of strangers is energizing. Are you glad we came to the movies tonight? It’s up to the movies to be good enough that everyone audiences tell each other this when the lights come back on. “

And what is the kind of cinema that will enthusiastically return audiences to theaters? For Spielberg it is still a mystery to be solved, but there is hope: “I was encouraged that ‘Elvis’ crossed the $ 100 million mark at the national box office. Many older people went to see that movie and it gave me hope that people were starting to return to the movies as the pandemic becomes endemic. I think the movies will come back, really. “. What he continually refers to with the “older audience” is not necessarily the senior audience, but simply the audience that isn’t as attracted to superheroes or action productions, which Spielberg must consider younger: “There is no doubt that the great sequels and films from Marvel, DC and Pixar and some animated and horror films have a fantastic place in society. And hopefully the comedies will make a comeback, because you can’t laugh as much at home as with more audiences. I don’t see many of my films with an audience, but my wife told me, “You have to see ‘The Fabelmans’ in Toronto. We can sit in the back row, but you have to do it once ”, and it was a great experience. I was terrified, but the film was shown in front of a large audience of 2,000 people and in the funny parts it looked like a great comedy. “

It is up to the directors to fight

Although distributors have re-released their films on the big screen, many of them have followed a simultaneous release strategy in theaters and platforms, and others have shortened the showcases of the show. Faced with this entrepreneurial movement, Spielberg believes it’s time for creative men and women to stand up and fight for cinema: “I think filmmakers should make a united effort to demand that the streaming services that pay the bills for most of these films give them the opportunity to be screened in theaters and not just four theaters in order to qualify for the awards. it will have to come from all of us: the WGA [el gremio de escritores]the DGA [el gremio de directores] and, finally, the Academy.

When you are just starting out and a streaming service gives you the opportunity to direct your first movie, of course the streaming service will make the decision, but I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t like their movies to be seen on a big screen. I don’t know anyone who would say no, I prefer to watch them on an iPad or in the living room. “

At least he, as a powerful and important figure in the sector, from his production company, Amblin Partners, deals with these types of negotiations: “Some movies fit perfectly on the iPad or the living room”Spielberg continues, “So the decision that executives like me at Amblin have to make is, ‘Should we send this movie to a streaming service or this other movie to a four or six week window?’ These are decisions I make based on my other job, which is running a small film production company. ” And it is above all that what Spielberg wants is that cinemas should no longer be closed, but he sees an opportunity in the ability of platforms to reach huge audiences at the same time: “To be very honest, I made “The Pentagon Files” as a political statement about our times that reflects the Nixon administration and we thought it was an important reflection for many people to understand what was happening to our country. I don’t know if they would have accepted that post-pandemic script or if I would have preferred to make that movie for Apple or Netflix and reach millions of people. Because the film had something to say to millions of people and we would never get those millions of people into enough theaters to make a difference. Things have changed enough for you to tell me. ”

In any case, for now, “The Fabelmans” will debut exclusively in theaters at Universal on February 10th.