Here’s how you can help indie movie theaters open through the pandemic!

How to Support Indie Movie Theaters Open Amidst the Pandemic

While the mall movie theatres may survive the financial backlash of the pandemic, smaller family-owned movie theatres are facing the financial brunt of COVID-19 as the government imposed strict quarantine protocols against crowds and confined spaces.

As each day progresses, more and more indie movie theatres are slowly shutting down permanently due to lack of funds. What more is that hundreds of theatre employees are also starting to lose their jobs.

How can Indie movie-loving people support independent movie theaters? Like everything else, the Indie Movie Theater industry has started to go online through a streaming service that shows movies that bug theatre mall complexes do not usually deliver. How it works is fairly simple: All movie-goers have to do is buy a ticket online, and they can stream the movie all in the comforts of their homes while supporting the Indie Movie theatre industry.

A pilot session was conducted by Keif Henley, the Guild Cinema owner in Albuquerque. He decided to stream Phoenix, Oregon, which is an Indie Comedy about a graphic novel artist and a chef who quit his job to restore an old bowling alley and to serve the best pizza in the whole world. This Indie film was directed by Gary Lundren and starred celebrities like Lisa Edelstein and Kevin Corrigan.

The movie’s release would typically start in a handful of theatres and, depending on audience reception, will be streamed in popular streaming services such as Hulu or Amazon Prime. However, the movie producers decided to support local indie movie theaters by providing viewers the option to buy an e-ticket through a “Theatrical at Home” initiative.

A drop-down menu will appear, and viewers can choose what theatre they will support. Once purchased, viewers have three days to watch the movie once they receive the link, and forty-eight hours to finish the film once they start streaming it.

The price for Oregon, Phoenix, is at $6.50, which is noticeably higher than the average, in-person movie ticket. However, it’s a small price increase to pay to support local, independent indie movie theaters to stay afloat during the lockdown period.

What’s even better is that since this feature is available throughout the US and Canada, it reaches a broader audience that is no longer dependent on location. This is a smart way to stay at home, be entertained, and help support locals.

With this new initiative, other movie producers and theaters are following suit. Kino Lober launched a virtual theatrical exhibition initiative, and other indie movie theaters are opening private screening rooms through their respective screening platforms.

Indeed, the world of the movie industry is changing, and Indie movie theatres must adapt to the signs of the times. If you want to support indie movie theaters open, please purchase a ticket and avail of their unique streaming service!

In the entrepreneurial world, men would often dominate the field. With times changing, more and more females are conquering the business world to make a mark and let their voices be heard. One example is Heather Sanders, the CEO of the fashion label, Sorella Boutique.

Her fashion line started with humble beginnings of having only ten products in her line that, with her determination, boomed into a full product line with a shop at Melrose Avenue to boot! Indeed, Sanders is an inspiration to many aspiring female entrepreneurs who want to make it in the cut-throat industry.

When asked what her secret to success is, Sanders mentioned that a big portion of her success is her ability to stay true and authentic. In fact, here are some of Sanders’ words of wisdom to anyone who wants to pursue their dreams of launching a business.

Sanders’ Food for Thought:

1. “Only compete with yourself.”

In any field, whether it’s dancing, school, or even a yoga session – you should only compete with yourself. Yes, there may be tough competition out there, but you will never go anywhere if you are too busy checking out the competition instead of focusing on yourself and your growth potential.

While it is good to check what are the edge of other companies that you have to watch out for, invest your time, energy, and resources on building the good things of your brand, and you can never go wrong in growing your business.

2. “Support each other!”

In a heavily male-dominated sector, there are only a few brave females who would even attempt to try it out in business. Instead of being catty and pulling each other down, do what females do best, and that is to support each other. Create a social group and maybe share best practices.

Have a session solely dedicated to talk about everything and anything under the sun EXCEPT work. Get to know each other on a personal level, and it gets easier to have each other’s back.

3. “Use fear as a motivating factor.”

Being a newbie in any industry can be quite scary. Use this fear as a motivating factor to reach even greater heights! Do not be afraid to ask questions or speak out your ideas in board meetings or conferences. After all, this is your chance to be heard.

Engage in mentoring sessions with other leaders and experts in the field. The main objective is for you to learn as much as you can and apply it to let your business grow.

4. “Practice determination.”

Some people say that determination comes naturally, but determination requires discipline and lots of it! Choose a goal and make sure that you contribute every single day towards achieving that goal. For example, if you want to promote your brand, there are plenty of ways to do so!

You can host meetings to gather feedback from your colleagues, share best practices with your female group, take online lessons on digital marketing, and up your marketing strategy in your social media accounts. 

5. “Stay true to yourself.”

Some leaders, once they have achieved their perspective of what success is, often divert from the path they once called their true selves. However, many successful leaders remain true to their authentic and genuine selves. In fact, they thrive because of it!

Hopefully, the tips above can help budding female entrepreneurs to launch their new businesses.

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed a lot of what was considered ‘normal’ before. For example, gone are the days when you can have a fun night out with friends while drinking and partying. Another aspect that the pandemic changed is everyone’s ability to travel freely (as long as their passport, budget, and visas will allow).

With everyone expected to stay home, the airline industry strongly felt the pandemic’s effects as the majority of the flights got canceled due to travel restrictions in an attempt to contain the spread of the deadly virus. Because of this, the airline industry has been forced to lay off employees or, worst, declare bankruptcy. 

The Aftermath

Government regulations in countries such as the United States and Europe have reiterated that any canceled travel plans because of the Covid-19 pandemic should be refunded in whole to the ticket holders.

Despite this regulation, many airlines have failed to comply with as they have felt the financial brunt during the pandemic. Some airlines opted to provide travel vouchers (that can be claimed until 2022) instead. Still, government regulations were specific in their guideline to give back the refund.

Statistics show a decline of 10% in early March 2020 as the pandemic started to boom globally. By late March, statistics showed a 40% to 60% decline in the aviation industry, with more flights being canceled and fewer individuals attempting to travel, including the imposition of travel restrictions by multiple countries. By April 2020, there was an 80% decline, with flight movements restricted in all countries.

What’s Next?

Because of the aftermath of the pandemic to the aviation industry, many airlines are cutting off employees, including flight attendants. US airlines have cut down flight attendants ranging from 30% to 60% because of the low demand for flights.

Because of these, flight attendants all over the world became creative in ways to earn more money now that their current jobs are unstable because of the pandemic. For example, Susannah Carr, a flight attendant from United Airlines, mentioned she rejoined AppWag to walk dogs through making extra money now that there is a lull in her flights.

Making Ends Meet

In an interview, she mentioned that her previous paycheck was just enough to cover her monthly rent, a place she co-rents with a fellow flight attendant. Since Carr has previous experience in freelance jobs such as online translations and wedding event planner, she is now busy applying for other freelance types of jobs to make ends meet.

She acknowledges that while it is not the dream job, she hoped for right off college, the sense of urgency to make a living so she can survive the pandemic remains to be a top priority.

On the other hand, another flight attendant, Joan Marie Santos, turned to bake cupcakes and pastries during the flight lull. Her passion truly lies with baking, a hobby she only got to do in-between flights. But with the ongoing pandemic and approximately one flight per month (as opposed to her usual 15 flights per month), she started baking and selling her pastries to nearby communities to make ends meet.

With the uncertainty of the pandemic, people, not just flight attendants, have to be flexible and adaptable to the changing times.