Ep. 144: Cinema Saves The World

Warner Bros. (which is now owned by AT&T, which also owns CNN, HBO, the Turner Networks, etc.) announced this week that all of it's 2021 films will be streamed immediately on it's new HBO Max streaming platform, bypassing the usual "window" that movie theaters get to run films first. While streaming all films is obviously necessary during the pandemic, this move is rightfully being interpreted as a death blow to movie theaters that movie studios (particularly ones owned by wireless phones companies) have been inevitably heading towards regardless of COVID-19. What is AT&T/Warner Bros. trying to accomplish with this move? What might it mean for the future of our streaming bills (and internet bills and phones bills)? And what does this mean for the future of movies? Michael Moore, whose debut film "Roger & Me" was distributed by Warner Bros. in 1989, and who runs two non-profit movie theaters in Traverse City, Michigan, shares his thoughts on this latest blow to the art of cinema. You can share your thoughts to Michael at: [email protected]