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12:46 p.m. PST 11/09/2020
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Pamela mcclintock
More than 95% of theaters have reported losses of 70% or more this year due to the pandemic.
The National Theater Owners Association on Monday called on the lame Congress and the Trump administration to pass relief legislation that would provide immediate help to local theaters devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“American cinemas need help now,” NATO Chief Executive Officer John Fithian said in a statement two days after Democratic candidate Joe Biden was declared the winner of the 2020 presidential race , defeating Donald Trump. President-elect Biden will not take office until January.
“Soon a vaccine will get our industry back to normal, but without bipartisan action now in the lame session of Congress, hundreds of theaters will fail. Local communities across the country are and will be permanently damaged. Congress and the Administration still have a job to do, ”said Fithian.
According to NATO, 96% of theaters reported more than 70% losses in 2020. Even in places where theaters have reopened, reduced capacity and an anemic slate of films have resulted in low attendance.
NATO says Congress can save cinemas by including $ 15 billion in grants for independent venues in a COVID-19 relief program. The lobbying organization says the “Save Our Stages” proposal is the solution that will provide the bridge theaters need to see them next year, when the industry has a chance to recover.
Theater owners have also called for continued help for workers on leave. A sample letter and automatic contacts for individual members of Congress are available here.
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