Hollywood Red Carpets Look for Coronavirus Makeover
2020-05-30
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1People watching Hollywood awards ceremonies on television often see stars walk the red carpet in costly clothing.
2But the worldwide coronavirus has changed even Hollywood: America's movie production center in California.
3Red carpets of the future might be very different - if the custom happens at all.
4Photographers and fans stand along the red carpets, while celebrities stop to have their picture taken.
5It is a usual part of publicity efforts that come with a new film opening.
6But, social distancing may put a stop to it.
7"Everybody is desperate to get back to a normal version, where we get to be with people in person," said one Hollywood publicist who asked not to be identified.
8"I don't see it coming back fully until we've got some kind of vaccine," the publicist said.
9A big test will come in July when Christopher Nolan's film "Tenet" for Warner Bros. and Walt Disney's "Mulan" are expected to open.
10They will be the first big movie releases since the new coronavirus closed movie theaters worldwide.
11Movie production companies delayed the opening of many films until the end of 2020 or even 2021.
12Warner Bros. and Disney have not announced their plans for the opening of the two movies.
13Television's Emmy Awards usually take place in Los Angeles in September.
14Organizers have not said what they will do if social distancing measures are still in place.
15In Los Angeles, there are companies that plan red carpet events, like 15 40 Productions.
16The business has planned more than 200 Hollywood movie openings.
17Now, it is talking with several movie companies about ways to add social distancing.
18"We took the red carpet and we had to re-envision how it would work...keeping people apart," said Craig Waldman.
19He is president of 15 40 Productions.
20Usually, TV cameras and photographers are in a small space together.
21Now, they will be separated by large, heavy pieces of plastic.
22Distance barriers will keep reporters at least 2 meters away from actors.
23Celebrities will not be able to talk to fans.
24"Having a live fan element is going to be a thing for the future, once a vaccine is found," said Waldman.
25That number of cameramen and photographers on the red carpet will have to be decreased, and everyone will wear face coverings.
26"I don't know that we will see Emmy-nominated actresses walking the Emmy red carpet wearing masks," said Hollywood Reporter writer Chris Gardner.
27The biggest unknown is whether important celebrities will attend these events.
28Mike Zimet owns a New York security company. He works with people like actors Alec Baldwin and Lin-Manuel Miranda.
29He said tight security measures will need to be in place.
30"I know one (celebrity) I'm protecting right now is staying away from everything," said Zimet.
31He expects red carpets to return in New York in autumn or possibly winter.
32Zimet said celebrities "have to decide if your health, of the family and yourself, is worth it."
33Publicists now are holding movie openings online and talking to actors on Zoom or Skype from their homes.
34This method has worked well for films with small budgets because it has cut travel costs. Actors appear to like it as well.
35"It's more like chit-chatting with a sort of new friend they have just met on their computer," said one publicist.
36But it lacks the excitement of a red carpet.
37It "is quite, quite strange," British actress Kristin Scott Thomas said on Zoom from her home.
38She was discussing her new film "Military Wives."
39"It's...a lot more comfortable because you're wearing your own dress," she said with a laugh.
40I'm Susan Shand.
1People watching Hollywood awards ceremonies on television often see stars walk the red carpet in costly clothing. 2But the worldwide coronavirus has changed even Hollywood: America's movie production center in California. Red carpets of the future might be very different - if the custom happens at all. 3Photographers and fans stand along the red carpets, while celebrities stop to have their picture taken. It is a usual part of publicity efforts that come with a new film opening. But, social distancing may put a stop to it. 4"Everybody is desperate to get back to a normal version, where we get to be with people in person," said one Hollywood publicist who asked not to be identified. 5"I don't see it coming back fully until we've got some kind of vaccine," the publicist said. 6A big test will come in July when Christopher Nolan's film "Tenet" for Warner Bros. and Walt Disney's "Mulan" are expected to open. They will be the first big movie releases since the new coronavirus closed movie theaters worldwide. Movie production companies delayed the opening of many films until the end of 2020 or even 2021. Warner Bros. and Disney have not announced their plans for the opening of the two movies. 7Television's Emmy Awards usually take place in Los Angeles in September. Organizers have not said what they will do if social distancing measures are still in place. 8In Los Angeles, there are companies that plan red carpet events, like 15|40 Productions. The business has planned more than 200 Hollywood movie openings. Now, it is talking with several movie companies about ways to add social distancing. 9"We took the red carpet and we had to re-envision how it would work...keeping people apart," said Craig Waldman. He is president of 15|40 Productions. 10Usually, TV cameras and photographers are in a small space together. Now, they will be separated by large, heavy pieces of plastic. Distance barriers will keep reporters at least 2 meters away from actors. Celebrities will not be able to talk to fans. 11"Having a live fan element is going to be a thing for the future, once a vaccine is found," said Waldman. 12That number of cameramen and photographers on the red carpet will have to be decreased, and everyone will wear face coverings. 13"I don't know that we will see Emmy-nominated actresses walking the Emmy red carpet wearing masks," said Hollywood Reporter writer Chris Gardner. 14The biggest unknown is whether important celebrities will attend these events. 15Mike Zimet owns a New York security company. He works with people like actors Alec Baldwin and Lin-Manuel Miranda. He said tight security measures will need to be in place. 16"I know one (celebrity) I'm protecting right now is staying away from everything," said Zimet. He expects red carpets to return in New York in autumn or possibly winter. 17Zimet said celebrities "have to decide if your health, of the family and yourself, is worth it." 18Publicists now are holding movie openings online and talking to actors on Zoom or Skype from their homes. This method has worked well for films with small budgets because it has cut travel costs. Actors appear to like it as well. 19"It's more like chit-chatting with a sort of new friend they have just met on their computer," said one publicist. 20But it lacks the excitement of a red carpet. 21It "is quite, quite strange," British actress Kristin Scott Thomas said on Zoom from her home. She was discussing her new film "Military Wives." 22"It's...a lot more comfortable because you're wearing your own dress," she said with a laugh. 23I'm Susan Shand. 24The Reuters News Agency reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr.was the editor. 25________________________________________________________________ 26Words in This Story 27celebrity- n. one who is famous from movies or television 28red carpet- n. a carpet that is red and rolled out for an important person to walk along 29desperate - adj. in a state of extreme panic 30envision-v. to think ahead and imagine what something will look like 31mask- n. a bit of clothe that covers the mouth and nose 32chit-chat- v. to talk about unimportant things 33comfortable- adj. at ease, not tense