Hollywood Shutdown: Production, Distribution, and Exhibition in the Time of COVID

(University of Texas Press)

Abstract: Hollywood Shutdown examines the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on Hollywood beginning with the closure of movie theaters in China over Chinese New Year and ending with Mulan’s bumpy September release on the streaming platform Disney+. One goal of this book is to answer the question: What happened when the coronavirus closed Hollywood? In order to answer this question I look at the pandemic’s effect on production of film and television, the various changes and trends in distribution, and finally the influence on the theatrical exhibition. In each section I consider different aspects of the business and examine studio, network, distributor, and exhibitor choices made during the evolving crisis. This book will be short (30,000 words) and aimed at a general audience.

Kate Fortmueller 

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