'Ready Player One', Steven Spielberg's latest project, hit UK cinemas just this week. The film offers up a homage to pop culture and is adapted from Ernest Cline's novel of the same name. Taking advantage of the film's press run, Spielberg has decided to open up on one of the most controversial issues affecting cinema today: Netflix.
During an interview with ITV News, Spielberg revealed what he thought about the streaming giant, and believe us when we tell you, he did not hold back. The 'Jurassic Park' and 'Indiana Jones' director criticised the company for the lack of time it allows their films to be screened in cinemas and concluded that they should be considered TV films. Those filmmakers attracted by Netflix's offer to finance and produce their films were also on the receiving end of Spielberg's criticism:
"Fewer and fewer film makers are going to struggle to raise money in order to compete in Sundance or possibly get one of the specialty labels to release their films theatrically, publicly. More of them are going to let to SVOD (subscription video on-demand) businesses finance their films, maybe with the promise of a slight one week filming, theatrical window to qualify them for awards as a movie. But in fact, once you commit to a television format, you're a TV movie. You certainly, if it's a good show, deserve an Emmy, but not an Oscar" he mentioned, concluding that all this is happening at a time where "the Television is greater today than it's ever been in the history of television".
Cinema vs Netflix
As well as Spielberg, many other directors have seen it fit to weigh in on Netflix; Pedro Almodóvar did so during the last Cannes Film Festival, and Christopher Nolan even had to offer up an apology for what he said. For his part, Quentin Tarantino revealed he's not a fan of on-demand services.
