There was a whole lot of controversy at the Oscars earlier this year. Not only did the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences generate contention after attempting to create a Popular Film category to make room for major blockbusters at the 2019 Oscars, but legendary director Steven Spielberg also sparked controversy when he made a petition against Netflix films at the Academy Awards.
Now, Spielber backtracks his comments, saying that the issue between him and Netflix has been blown out of proportion by the media. Writing an email to the New York Times, the director of major films like Jurassica Park, Jaws, Shindler's List and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial has decided to clarify his statement regarding streaming sites like Netflix.
"I want people to find their entertainment in any form or fashion that suits them. Big screen, small screen — what really matters to me is a great story and everyone should have access to great stories," Spielberg explains in his email, "However, I feel people need to have the opportunity to leave the safe and familiar of their lives and go to a place where they can sit in the company of others and have a shared experience — cry together, laugh together, be afraid together — so that when it's over they might feel a little less like strangers. I want to see the survival of movie theaters. I want the theatrical experience to remain relevant in our culture."
Apparently Spielberg's issue wasn't with Netflix producing films for homeviewing, but instead with theater chains that have turned the streaming giant away from showcasing its original films because of the 90-days exclusivity window.
Instead of motioning against Netflix for the Oscars, Spielberg says he also wants to see Netflix films on the big screen, advocating for the continuation of the experience one has when viewing films in cinemas. This clarification is very different from the directors original comments which were described as an attack on Netflix and streaming content as a new medium of entertainment.
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Read: Disney Says It Doesn't Want To Dethrone Netflix
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