Steven Spielberg Says Netflix Films shouldn't Quality for Oscar Noms.

[JamesG.]

Steven Spielberg Argues Netflix Films Shouldn't Qualify for Oscar Nominations
by Nick Romano
March 24, 2018


Add Steven Spielberg to the list of filmmakers who are concerned about the rise of Netflix.

The director spoke about the “clear and present danger” the streaming platforms pose to filmgoers in a recent interview with ITV News, and why, he argues, a Netflix film should not qualify for the Academy Awards.





While Spielberg praised our golden age of television as the greatest it’s “ever been in the history of television,” he also called it a “challenge to cinema” in that it pulls people away from the movie theater.

“A lot of studios would rather just make branded tentpole, guaranteed box office hits from their inventory of branded, successful movies than take chances on smaller films,” he said in reference to world-building franchises like Marvel, DC, and Star Wars.

“And those smaller films the studios used to make routinely are now going to Amazon, Hulu, and Netflix.”





This isn’t all that farfetched. The streaming platforms have been entering the cinematic arena by picking up the rights to indie films that typically go to distributors like Fox Searchlight (which released this year’s Best Picture winner The Shape of Water), Focus Features (which released Darkest Hour), and Sony Pictures Classics (which released Call Me By Your Name).

The Big Sick, one of 2017’s most talked about indie releases, was an Amazon release that partnered with Lionsgate for theatrical, while Netflix continued to go for Oscars gold with films like Mudbound, Strong Island, and Icarus.





“Few and few filmmakers are going to struggle to raise money or to go to compete in Sundance and possibly get one of the specialty labels to release their film theatrically, publicly, and more of them are going to let the SVOD business finance their films — maybe with the promise of a slight one-week theatrical window to qualify them for awards,” Spielberg predicted.

“But in fact, once you commit to a television format, you’re a TV movie. The good show deserves an Emmy, but not an Oscar.”





According to the official Academy rules, narrative feature-length films are required to screen in Los Angeles county for seven consecutive days in order to be considered for Oscar nominations. Netflix, as a result, has been releasing some of its titles in limited theaters.

Spielberg reiterated, “I don’t believe films that are just given token qualifications in a couple of theaters for less than a week should qualify for the Academy Award nomination.”

http://ew.com/movies/2018/03/24/stev...etflix-oscars/

[kylor]

Netflix's response:

[Doctor Jack]

“maybe with the promise of a slight one-week theatrical window to qualify them for awards,” ... How is this any different than when you and your contemporaries get your movies in 2 theaters on December 31st so you can qualify for Oscars. Or am I reading this wrong?

[cinemaphile]

He's not wrong

[cynatnite]

Let me get this straight. He's saying that Netflix shouldn't qualify because people can watch it in their homes....kind of like HBO who also distributes films in theaters, too.

[SarahS]

Originally Posted by cynatnite

Let me get this straight. He's saying that Netflix shouldn't qualify because people can watch it in their homes....kind of like HBO who also distributes films in theaters, too.

Hence the moral of the story is....it has to be in a theater. There are others awards for "TV" programming.

[mar3o]

Originally Posted by cinemaphile

He's not wrong

Yes, he is. Netflix is just another means of distribution, to compete against overpriced cinema tickets. And it is not television.

All movies are TV movies. They spend several weeks in the theatre if they're lucky, followed by an eternity of being viewed on TV going forward (streaming, discs, cable).

[CyberpunkCentral]

Originally Posted by mar3o

Yes, he is. Netflix is just another means of distribution, to compete against overpriced cinema tickets. And it is not television.

Then I guess we should consider all TV made movies for the Oscars.

[cinemaphile]

Originally Posted by mar3o

Yes, he is. Netflix is just another means of distribution, to compete against overpriced cinema tickets. And it is not television.

All movies are TV movies. They spend several weeks in the theatre if they're lucky, followed by an eternity of being viewed on TV going forward (streaming, discs, cable).

So are people of the opinion that all this time made-for-network-television movies should have been eligible for Oscars as well? What about straight-to-VHS and DVD movies?

...and yes, Netflix is television

[s2mikey]

Originally Posted by mar3o

Yes, he is. Netflix is just another means of distribution, to compete against overpriced cinema tickets. And it is not television.

All movies are TV movies. They spend several weeks in the theatre if they're lucky, followed by an eternity of being viewed on TV going forward (streaming, discs, cable).

Actually, I dont find movie tickets that expensive overall. My issue is more that the home experience is so good and the theater experience can be so iffy that I choose to watch stuff at home these days.

As for Spielberg? I can sort of see what he means but it still sounds like a "get with the times" type of thing. The world is changing. Video delivery is changing too. Either accept it or get out of the industry. Right?

[CyberpunkCentral]

Originally Posted by AmrlKJaneway

Yes he is. He admits that it's harder for smaller films to make it to cinemas these days. Hence, more and more will wind up DTV, and should start qualifying for Oscars, otherwise there'd be nothing but Star Wars and superheroes at the awards, which would just lead to further whining from film fans and makers alike.

It's the dawn of a new day. He's from a generation passed. He needs to accept the change.

And you need to learn how to read. Because Steven also clearly acknowledges that the content that Netflix produces are high quality art. The fact that he says that Netflix is a threat to movie theaters is actually a compliment, if anything. But no, you guys just want to find something to cry about. What he says about Netflix films being TV movies is factual. Whether you like it or not. I find it very hypocritical of you guys that you only make this exception towards Netflix. But when other TV channels create their own movies, I'm pretty damn sure you guys would think they don't qualify for an Oscar either. So lets just cut the crap. Yes, things are changing and Steven knows that. Just because Netflix put out some of the best stuff, doesn't change the fact that they are a TV service. Hell, their shows is what makes Netflix, not the movies. So I don't why you guys are getting this triggered when Netflix are not there yet when it comes to films.

[mar3o]

Originally Posted by CyberpunkCentral

And you need to learn how to read. Because Steven also clearly acknowledges that the content that Netflix produces are high quality art. The fact that he says that Netflix is a threat to movie theaters is actually a compliment, if anything. But no, you guys just want to find something to cry about. What he says about Netflix films being TV movies is factual. Whether you like it or not. I find it very hypocritical of you guys that you only make this exception towards Netflix. But when other TV channels create their own movies, I'm pretty damn sure you guys would think they don't qualify for an Oscar either. So lets just cut the crap. Yes, things are changing and Steven knows that. Just because Netflix put out some of the best stuff, doesn't change the fact that they are a TV service. Hell, their shows is what makes Netflix, not the movies. So I don't why you guys are getting this triggered when Netflix are not there yet when it comes to films.

It's called having an opinion. Obviously, you're not ok with some of us having one different from yours.

[CyberpunkCentral]

Originally Posted by mar3o

It's called having an opinion. Obviously, you're not ok with some of us having one different from yours.

You mean like how some people here aren't okay with Steve's opinion? The irony.

Originally Posted by AmrlKJaneway

Nah. Not true. They're movies.

Movies are filmed and projected digitally now, and weren't before. And they qualify for Oscars. Now the screen has changed. Same deal. Still movies. Still someone's hard work. Still worth considering for awards. If he admits they're ace quality, that makes his statement that they don't qualify for awards even worse.

I'm pretty sure I said all this already. Maybe it's not me who has trouble reading.

Steven never said they don't deserve awards. He clearly said that they do. It's not the movie themselves, it's the method that Netflix chose to go with that qualifies them for an Emmy instead. That's not a bad thing. You just can't ignore the fact that there has always been this separation of cinema and television well established for over 60 years. So just because Netflix puts out great content, doesn't mean we should all of a sudden pretend what was established before never existed. It's funny that you are basically arguing that quality matters at the end of the day, regardless of whether they are released in theaters or not, yet you make sound like being nominated for an Emmy is something to be ashamed about because it's all television. Kinda hypocritical don't think? If anything, Netflix and other streaming services could bring more weight to the Emmys.

[Mr.F]

If this is about saving theaters, then the Oscars need to change the rules so that any film wanting to qualify needs to play in at least 1000 theaters across all 50 states before starting opening day and for at least two weeks. It's only fair as NYC and LA are not the only places that have movie theaters. Sorry, no more one-week qualifying runs to get Julianne Moore an Oscar nomination and hope that it will drive audiences to see it. Either you're all in from the get-go or you don't play.

[WestMan]

Regardless of how something is released, there should be two sets of award shows.

1. TV - Anything in a season format, including mini-series.
2.Movies - Anything in a single format. Obviously there are sequels, but typically movies are a stand alone presentation.

This would end almost all of the debate.

[cynatnite]

Netflix is NOT a television network.

[OneWayFilms]

I hereby nominate SHARKANO 5 for an ACADEMY AWARD!!!!!!!

(See? There IS a difference.)

[imsounoriginal]

Originally Posted by Doctor Jack

“maybe with the promise of a slight one-week theatrical window to qualify them for awards,” ... How is this any different than when you and your contemporaries get your movies in 2 theaters on December 31st so you can qualify for Oscars. Or am I reading this wrong?

You're not, that's why his argument falls apart. Sneaking movies into theaters on Christmas to barely get the one-week qualifying run has been going on for a while.

[Kazutaka]

[Hoke Moseley]