The news that Warner Bros will release its entire 2021 slate of films on streamer HBO Max, which is also owned by the Hollywood studio, rather than solely in US cinemas has created a furore in the entertainment industry.
"Some of our industry's biggest filmmakers and most important movie stars went to bed the night before thinking they were working for the greatest movie studio and woke up to find out they were working for the worst streaming service," Batman Begins and Tenet director Christopher Nolan told The Hollywood Reporter this week.
But what does this mean for cinema-goers next year, and why are filmmakers getting so up in arms about the straight to streamer model? Let us explain …
What films will be available on HBO Max?
Warner Bros has approved a slate of 17 films which will bypass the standard 90-day waiting period between appearing at the cinema before being made available on other platforms.
The Suicide Squad, Godzilla vs Kong, Dune, The Matrix 4, Lin Manuel Miranda's In the Heights, Clint Eastwood's Cry Macho, Space Jam: A New Legacy and the hugely anticipated Sopranos prequel, The Many Saints of Newark, are just some of the titles being sent straight to streaming.
The 2021 slate also includes Denzel Washington's The Little Things, Judas and the Black Messiah, a Tom and Jerry remake, a Mortal Kombat adaptation, the Will Smith-starring King Richard, Angelina Jolie's Those Who Wish Me Dead, James Wan's Malignant, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It and Reminiscence starring Hugh Jackman.
Wonder Woman 1984 will also be released on HBO Max on Friday, December 25, the same day it's in cinemas, it was also announced last month.
Why is Warner Bros putting films on HBO Max?
It’s likely Warner Bros saw this as a way to win a lot of new subscribers on its streaming platform. The studio would also avoid the potential of severe losses at the box office should cinemas remain closed or movie-goers continue to stay away in 2021.
"Many in Hollywood think WarnerMedia opted for this drastic move to play to streaming-infatuated Wall Street and redo the botched launch of HBO Max, which has netted a dismal 8.6 million 'activated' subscribers so far," notes The Hollywood Reporter. For comparison, Netflix has 195 million subscribers globally.
Will 'Wonder Woman 1984' be at cinemas?
Yes. All films will be simultaneously released on HBO Max and at cinemas, Warner Bros said. The titles will appear on HBO Max for one month before being removed from the platform, while at cinemas, "films will cycle through the usual release 'windows', leaving theatres when interest has run out", the New York Times reports.
After that, they will follow the familiar process of being made available on iTunes and DVD, before returning to HBO Max.
Warner Bros said it will still release its films in cinemas in countries which don’t have access to HBO Max, such as the UAE.
Why are theatre owners angry with Warner Bros?
Traditionally, films are released at the cinema first. A window of around 90 days is then observed before the film is made available on other platforms. Also, in order for a film to be considered for an Academy Award nomination, it must have had a theatrical release, which is why Netflix and other streamers began releasing their pictures for limited runs to qualify.
This year, however, films that debut on a streaming service without a theatrical run are also eligible for Oscars, in response to how the pandemic has impacted the film industry.
Cinemas fear they will collect reduced or no revenue from these releases. They are also afraid customers won't return to cinemas if they get used to watching new films from the comfort of their sofas.
Why are Hollywood stars upset about the move?
In addition to their salaries for starring in a film, the agents for top Hollywood stars also negotiate “points” for their A-list clients, which is a share of the profits (“the back end”). They receive this once the film goes into profit.
If a film isn’t released globally at the cinema, it is unlikely to break even, let alone move into the black. Thus, actors and actresses don’t get their share of the profits.
Why are talent agencies against this move by Warner Bros?
The big talent agencies in Hollywood include CAA (Creative Artists Agency) and WME (William Morris Endeavour). Between them, they represent most of the top-tier literary, acting, producing and directing talent. Sources told The New York Times that the agencies were not kept in the loop about the move to streaming.
"To prevent the news of the 17-movie shift from leaking (and to make the move speedily rather than get mired in the expected blowback), WarnerMedia kept the major agencies and talent management companies in the dark until roughly 90 minutes before issuing a news release," the NYT reported. "The surprise move left agencies on a war footing."
Will the Covid-19 vaccine bring audiences back to the theatre?
Despite industry talk from other major studios that the vaccine will be a magic solution for an industry that was already struggling even before the pandemic, Warner Bros aren’t of the opinion that audiences will flock to US cinemas once they reopen.
"Like a lot of businesses, theatres are in a tough spot right now," Jason Kilar, WarnerMedia's chief executive, told The New York Times. "We are all in the middle of a pandemic, and we are all trying to figure our way through it. One of the things we can do to be helpful to them is to provide them with a steady stream of big-budget, well-told stories."
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Toss: Rajputs, elected to field first
Sindhis 94-6 (10 ov)
Watson 42; Munaf 3-20
Rajputs 96-0 (4 ov)
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Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Lasith Malinga, Angelo Mathews, Thisara Perera, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Mendis, Isuru Udana, Milinda Siriwardana, Avishka Fernando, Jeevan Mendis, Lahiru Thirimanne, Jeffrey Vandersay, Nuwan Pradeep, Suranga Lakmal.
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Notable salonnières of the Middle East through history
Al Khasan (Okaz, Saudi Arabia)
Tamadir bint Amr Al Harith, known simply as Al Khasan, was a poet from Najd famed for elegies, earning great renown for the eulogy of her brothers Mu’awiyah and Sakhr, both killed in tribal wars. Although not a salonnière, this prestigious 7th century poet fostered a culture of literary criticism and could be found standing in the souq of Okaz and reciting her poetry, publicly pronouncing her views and inviting others to join in the debate on scholarship. She later converted to Islam.
Maryana Marrash (Aleppo)
A poet and writer, Marrash helped revive the tradition of the salon and was an active part of the Nadha movement, or Arab Renaissance. Born to an established family in Aleppo in Ottoman Syria in 1848, Marrash was educated at missionary schools in Aleppo and Beirut at a time when many women did not receive an education. After touring Europe, she began to host salons where writers played chess and cards, competed in the art of poetry, and discussed literature and politics. An accomplished singer and canon player, music and dancing were a part of these evenings.
Princess Nazil Fadil (Cairo)
Princess Nazil Fadil gathered religious, literary and political elite together at her Cairo palace, although she stopped short of inviting women. The princess, a niece of Khedive Ismail, believed that Egypt’s situation could only be solved through education and she donated her own property to help fund the first modern Egyptian University in Cairo.
Mayy Ziyadah (Cairo)
Ziyadah was the first to entertain both men and women at her Cairo salon, founded in 1913. The writer, poet, public speaker and critic, her writing explored language, religious identity, language, nationalism and hierarchy. Born in Nazareth, Palestine, to a Lebanese father and Palestinian mother, her salon was open to different social classes and earned comparisons with souq of where Al Khansa herself once recited.
Changing visa rules
For decades the UAE has granted two and three year visas to foreign workers, tied to their current employer. Now that's changing.
Last year, the UAE cabinet also approved providing 10-year visas to foreigners with investments in the UAE of at least Dh10 million, if non-real estate assets account for at least 60 per cent of the total. Investors can bring their spouses and children into the country.
It also approved five-year residency to owners of UAE real estate worth at least 5 million dirhams.
The government also said that leading academics, medical doctors, scientists, engineers and star students would be eligible for similar long-term visas, without the need for financial investments in the country.
The first batch - 20 finalists for the Mohammed bin Rashid Medal for Scientific Distinction.- were awarded in January and more are expected to follow.
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Avengers 3: Infinity War: an American superhero film released in 2018 and based on the Marvel Comics story.
Sholay: a 1975 Indian action-adventure film. It follows the adventures of two criminals hired by police to catch a vagabond. The film was panned on release but is now considered a classic.
Lucifer: is a 2019 Malayalam-language action film. It dives into the gritty world of Kerala’s politics and has become one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films of all time.
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Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
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Tailors and retailers miss out on back-to-school rush
Tailors and retailers across the city said it was an ominous start to what is usually a busy season for sales.
With many parents opting to continue home learning for their children, the usual rush to buy school uniforms was muted this year.
“So far we have taken about 70 to 80 orders for items like shirts and trousers,” said Vikram Attrai, manager at Stallion Bespoke Tailors in Dubai.
“Last year in the same period we had about 200 orders and lots of demand.
“We custom fit uniform pieces and use materials such as cotton, wool and cashmere.
“Depending on size, a white shirt with logo is priced at about Dh100 to Dh150 and shorts, trousers, skirts and dresses cost between Dh150 to Dh250 a piece.”
A spokesman for Threads, a uniform shop based in Times Square Centre Dubai, said customer footfall had slowed down dramatically over the past few months.
“Now parents have the option to keep children doing online learning they don’t need uniforms so it has quietened down.”
Draw for Europa League last-16
Istanbul Basaksehir v Copenhagen; Olympiakos Piraeus v Wolverhampton Wanderers
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Sevilla v AS Roma; Eintracht Frankfurt or Salzburg v Basel; LASK v Manchester United
WOMAN AND CHILD
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Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
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If you go...
Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.
Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50
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Bayern Munich 2 Borussia Monchengladbach 1
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Gladbach: Pavard (37' og)
Man of the Match: Breel Embolo (Borussia Monchengladbach)
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
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Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
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