Sean Baker Says “Filmmakers Need to Put Our Foot Down” in Response to Netflix–Warners Deal
The indie filmmaking hero said he’ll insist on a 100-day theatrical run for his next feature and has no plans to “go for the $150 million studio thing,” despite fresh opportunities after his four Oscar wins for 'Anora.'
Multi-Oscar winner Sean Baker has some straightforward structural advice for how the film industry should respond to Netflix’s seismic acquisition of Warner Bros.
“We should actually be expanding theatrical windows, not shortening them,” Baker said Sunday during a public appearance at Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea International Film Festival, where he is serving as head of the event’s competition jury this week.
“I mean, you can’t wait an extra three months to get your streaming money or your VOD money?” he added. “Filmmakers have to put our foot down.”
Baker appeared at a packed career conversation event in Jeddah on Sunday night, drawing an enthusiastic crowd of festival attendees and regional filmmakers.
The director was responding to a moderator’s question about how he thought the Netflix–Warner Bros. deal might affect the future of the movie business and what support was necessary for theatrical filmgoing. He declined to comment directly on the acquisition, saying he didn’t yet know the details of Netflix’s plan or “how the deal is going to play out.” But he was unambiguous about the importance of movies getting a healthy run on big screens.
“When you’re going directly to streaming, or day-and-date, it diminishes the importance of a film,” he said. “The theatrical experience elevates that importance. The way you present it to the world is a very important thing.”
