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Coronavirus continues to stick around, notably in the United States. With COVID-19 numbers skyrocketing in many locales, cinemas eagerly await the go-ahead to open up. AMC revealed its plan to enact a mask policy and provided details on stringent cleaning policies. But many movie theatres have turned to another arena to provide a source of income: virtual cinemas.
Durham’s historic Carolina Theatre isn’t just one of Bull City’s hottest spots, it’s a veritable national treasure. Nestled in the heart of downtown Durham, North Carolina, CTD screens indie and arthouse movies as well as hosting many live events ranging from concerts to ballets. And its Retro Film Series is a unique offering that’s unrivaled. Most Fridays, Carolina Theatre of Durham hosts a pair of old school flicks. So long as the film had a theatrical debut and is at least 20 years old, it’s fair game. The wide-ranging cinematic goldmine ranges from classics to cult classics, and everything in-between. Plus, regular weekend-long festivals such as Fantastic Realm, an homage to swords and sorcery, SplatterFlix, a horror and slasher fest, and Nevermore, a weekend celebration of the macabre, keep cinephiles full juicy flicks.
Now, faced with a novel coronavirus and shuttered doors, cinemas like Carolina Theatre turn to the online realm. Carolina Theatre rolled out virtual film screenings, a new offering. Its lineup includes 2020 Sundance Shorts, documentaries such as “Rebuilding Paradise,” and “Helmut Newton: the Bad and the Beautiful,” indie horror flick “Amulet,” and more. It’s a treat for fans to be able to experience new releases at home, and a great way to support your favorite theatres. What’s more, the Retro Film Series features free screenings of movies on its Facebook page each Wednesday and Friday.
Similarly, Alamo Drafthouse offers its Alamo on Demand. Here, you can rent a variety of movies, but there’s an onus on cult classics and arthouse flicks. You;’ll find recent hits like “Parasite,” or under-the-radar gems such as “Spider Baby,” and “Hard Ticket to Hawaii.”
Likewise, AMC Theatres has AMC on demand. Here, you can buy and rent movies ranging from recent releases like “Birds of Prey,” and “The Invisible Man,” to old school classics such as “Jaws.” And it’s a growing trend that extends from major chains to indie theatres. New Plaza Cinema offers virtual film screenings, as does Laemmle. Lincoln Center hosts a 2020 lineup of online movies. You can catch virtual cinema care of San Fransisco’s non-profit Roxie. And AFI boasts a solid collection of digital movies for rent.
If you’ve got a beloved theatre nearby that’s offering virtual cinema, definitely support them. As is, theatres have remained shuttered, and while it’s not nearly as much fun watching from the comfort of your own home as it is in a movie theatre, this is a great way to keep up your watching habits while supporting businesses.
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