Midday at the Movies: How COVID-19 Challenges the Entertainment Biz

On today's edition of Midday at the Movies, two of our favorite film aficionados -- Washington Post film critic Ann Hornaday and Maryland Film Festival founder Jed Dietz -- join Tom for a discussion of the widening impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the entertainment industry. Late Wednesday, we learned that actor Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson, have tested positive for the virus. Amid a steady stream of public health advisories warning people -- especially folks over 60 -- to avoid large, dense crowds and confined spaces to reduce their risk of infection -- a new survey shows many Americans have serious concerns about whether it's safe to attend public art performances or go to movie theaters. Growing numbers of public art & film events across the country -- including all Broadway plays in New York City and the huge South By Southwest Festival (SXSW) in Austin -- have been canceled or postponed in the face of the spreading virus.But life goes on...and today the movie mavens also discuss a couple of interesting new films, including: The Burnt Orange Heresy, which stars the veteran Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger, a rock icon who was kind enough to speak with Ann about his role for her Post feature; and the latest rendition of Jane Austen's classic novel Emma.Email us at [email protected], tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.