Zack Sharf reports on IndieWire that Netflix has responded to Steven Spielberg’s lobbying for rule changes (that would make it harder for the streamer to win more Academy awards) with a tweet:

We love cinema. Here are some things we also love:

-Access for people who can't always afford, or live in towns without, theaters
-Letting everyone, everywhere enjoy releases at the same time
-Giving filmmakers more ways to share art

These things are not mutually exclusive.

— Netflix Film (@NetflixFilm) March 4, 2019

From the Orlando Sentinal:

“Spielberg, an Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences governor representing the directors branch, reportedly is planning to propose rule changes that would prevent streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon and Hulu from competing in the Academy Awards without their projects getting a full theatrical run first.”

He makes his case next month, per Anne Thompson:

“Last Thursday, an Amblin spokesperson confirmed that Academy governor Spielberg will bring up at the next Board of Governors rules meeting in April proposed changes that would force streamers such as Netflix to fulfil a more robust theatrical distribution requirement than the 2012 rules demand to qualify for Oscar consideration. It’s not at all clear that Spielberg has enough backing from the 54-member board to put through those rule changes.”

Netflix has won many awards, including their first Academy Award in 2017.

My take: I think Spielberg is afraid of change and the massive buying power of the streaming platforms. He loves movies and cinemas. I too would hate to see the theatre-going experience fade away. But that’s partly the film industry’s fault since they put so much emphasis on movies based on comic books. Imagine how interesting cinemas would look like if comic book movies were banished to TV.