Movies - TV
David Cronenberg Never Would Have Written The Shrouds If It Hadn't Been For Netflix
By SHAE SENNETT
While there are many arguments around streaming services and their effects on filmmaking and cinema, some like David Cronenberg firmly believe this new way of watching movies is the industry’s future. In fact, Cronenberg’s upcoming film “The Shrouds,” originally written as a Netflix series, wouldn’t have happened if not for the company.
Although Netflix walked away from his initial project, Cronenberg said, “I still thanked them because I wrote a script and I wouldn’t have done that if it hadn’t been for their enthusiasm.” Although Cronenberg believes the company is “very conservative,” he pointed out the difficulties independent filmmakers could face without Netflix’s support.
He explained, “If you make a movie for Netflix, it might never be seen on a cinema screen, but in one day it will be released in 190 countries.” For some, streaming services like Netflix could never replace the theater, but others believe it will become a form of nostalgia; as Cronenberg commented, “It will be a retro activity, going to a cinema [...] [like] people who still type on typewriters.”