Film Industry Trends We’re Likely To See In 2021

2020 has been something of a write-off for many people globally due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Everyone is slowly adjusting to a ‘new’ normal way of life but still wishes the ‘old’ normal could come back soon.

One of the industries impacted hard by COVID-19 is film. The media is awash with stories of new movies repeatedly delayed for release because movie theaters aren’t allowed to open in many nations.

Everyone is hoping (and probably praying) that 2021 will mark the return to life before COVID-19. Of course, the date when that will happen is anyone’s guess. Keeping that in mind, what film industry trends are people likely to see next year?

More movies filmed across the Atlantic

The cost of making even a low-budget movie is high, and both new and veteran filmmakers alike may struggle to justify Hollywood movie-making costs. It might sound strange, but we could potentially see more movies filmed in the United Kingdom.

Britain is presently thrashing out a last-minute Brexit deal with the European Union as their Brexit transition period ends at the end of this month (December 2020). After that date, it’s likely the Pound will tumble in value compared to the US Dollar.

How does that benefit American filmmakers, you might ask? The cost of making movies in the UK will be cheaper compared to the United States. Britain has a lot of talent and many people who will be looking for work in film.

We might even see a surge of people in the film industry moving to Britain from the U.S. to take advantage of such a cheaper talent pool (and more affordable film locations). Of course, immigration lawyers will have a part to play in migrating film professionals, too!

More movies going straight to online streaming

One of the effects COVID-19 has had on the movie-watching world is that most people have turned to services like Netflix for their entertainment needs. It’s not great news for movie theaters, of course, but it’s something film studios can use to their advantage.

Delaying the release of new Hollywood blockbusters, for example, is both expensive and painful for everyone involved. Sending new movies straight to streaming services could be a viable alternative for film studios.

More social distancing during filming

Lastly, the only way filmmakers can keep on schedule is by enacting social distancing on film sets. COVID-19 is something people can easily catch near each other, and so filmmakers have a legal and moral duty to make film sets safe.

Social distancing measures will likely include transparent screens between actors, scenes filmed with actors separately, and even greater use of CGI wizardry behind the scenes. Social distance is going to be around for some time, even when COVID-19 cases drop.

People are generally able to adapt to changing situations. While COVID-19 poses many challenges for the film industry, it won’t stop filmmakers in their tracks. It just means things will need to get done differently.