Otis Jones
Contributing Writer
As movie theaters remain on life support, what do the students think about funding its medical treatment?
Movie theaters have been an essential part of student life.
Now, the theatrical experience has become another addition to the pile of thoughts and stresses the ESU student undergoes leading to the preference for streaming.
“I don’t see a lot in the middle,” said Psychology and Counseling Services Director Dr. Jennifer Young, when talking about students who are either dismissive of the virus or very cautious about it.
Many students show no issue with staying at home and living the movie life in their private quarters.
“I believe that most vaccinated students would feel safe going with friends, as theaters are taking steps to ensure cleanliness,” said English professor Dr. Sandra Eckard.
“I Just had an optional movie day at Pocono Cinema for Education Majors, most showed up in person, using masks and social distancing, and enjoyed the day.”
Warriors have had an abrupt uprooting of the activities that once upon a time were thoughtless munches of buttery popcorn with an overstimulating 30-foot screen.
“I honestly haven’t been back to a theater since everything closed down the first time,” said fourth-year English and Applied Psychology major, Shane Sullivan.
“It’s the enclosed space and the fact that everyone’s eating which requires them to remove their mask that concerns me the most.”
Fourth-year English Major Daniel Stevens says he prefers HBO Max generally and theaters for him are only for a special occasion where he’s meeting a friend he hasn’t seen in a long time.
“Besides with streaming I can watch the movie with my dog,” said Stevens.
However, students also feel the theatrical experience is irreplaceable and can capture immersion into universes that cannot be replicated in private life or streaming services.
“They said when the VHS came out theaters would be irrelevant, but theaters survived because it’s more than that,” said third-year English Major, Byron Jara.
“A social experience, a place where you take dates, a place where you can bond with family.”
With the multitude of movies being released this fall, they play a heavy role in the individual student’s decision to make the trip to their local theater.
“If I were to go to theaters it would have to be something like Shang Chi or another loud action and sci-fi movies for me to risk it and go the distance,” said Sullivan.
There is a predicted range of 430,000 to a 1,520,000 number of cases likely to be reported by Oct. 2, 2021, according to the CDC website.
This increase excludes the number of citizens who choose not to report their infection.
For the students who do not fear the virus, these numbers could cause potential future shutdowns in the theatres excluding the opportunity for a return to the absence of thought when planning a theatrical event.
“We are not out of the woods yet, and producer and theaters are doing their best to go with where the country, and the world, will be. That means that delays to ensure theater safety will happen,” said Eckard.
While any theatrical shutdowns may increase the presence and likelihood of more high-budget streaming exclusives, it also runs the risk of delaying movies for students who wish to experience it in the biggest and loudest environment they can.
“My advice to the students would be found as many alternatives as you can,” Young said.
“It’s not just about if I can’t go to the movies, it’s about if we all go to the movies what are we doing that potentially puts others at risk.”
“[Covid-19] will end. In the near future hopefully, but it will end.”
Email Otis at:
ojones4@live.esu.edu
