Will a Night at the Movies Change Forever? MOVIE THEATERS IN POST-PANDEMIC TIMES
CAN YOU USE TRAFFIC CAMERA FOOTAGE As Evidence in Your Case?
Out of all the businesses hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, few were affected more than movie theaters. For the past year, as movies have debuted on streaming services rather than in theaters, many industry leaders, critics, and theatergoers alike have raised the alarming question: Did COVID-19 kill the movie theater industry?
We’ve talked many times about the importance of evidence for our clients’ cases. In motor vehicle accident cases, you’ll need to prove that the other driver’s negligence is what caused the accident and any injuries you sustained. That proof comes in the form of different kinds of evidence including witness statements, photographs, and police reports.
In short? No. Not by a long shot. Though the past year has left the industry somewhat beleaguered (AMC closed 60 theaters permanently, Cineworld reported losses totaling $2 billion, and the Alamo furloughed more than 5,000 employees). Yet, despite all of this, a night at the movies is here to stay.
Another valuable resource is traffic camera footage of the accident. But can you get access to that footage?
The short answer is yes, but you’ll probably need an attorney. These traffic cameras may be privately owned or owned by the government. Either way, they may be reluctant to give up the footage. The attorneys and staff here at The Law Offices of Marc L. Shapiro, P.A. help our clients obtain this important footage by submitting a subpoena for it to the court.
There are few things to consider when it comes to using camera footage as evidence in your case:
When a Vox reporter reached out to various moviegoers about whether they would attend theaters once the pandemic ends, many of them said yes because streaming a film in their living room just can’t provide the same experience. Watching a movie in a theater completely immerses one in the experience — you can’t pause the film to watch later or do chores. And you’re in it with the whole theater. Comedies are funnier when you laugh with others. A hero’s triumphs are more spectacular when you cheer them on together. (Who didn’t go nuts when Captain America caught Thor’s hammer in “Avengers: Endgame”?) When you leave the theater, you feel a little closer to the strangers around you, and having been immersed in the movie alongside your friends, you can discuss how you liked the movie on the way home. Of course, movie theaters will still change as a result of the pandemic. Theaters are working to become more digital, some even moving to eliminate paper tickets and creating options to order concessions before your arrival. More theaters may promote private viewings of movies so people can be more careful about whom they watch movies with. Some theaters are also trying to create more of an “experience” for moviegoers by offering a wider array of food and even comfier seats. However, these changes, especially given the circumstances of the past year, are hardly surprising. The movie theater industry has been evolving for over 100 years, and it certainly won’t stop evolving now.
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