VOA慢速英语2020--美国电影院预计将逐渐重新开张

American movie theater operators hope to fully¹ reopen their businesses across the United States by late July. The theaters were forced to close last month to slow the coronavirus spread.

Operators are planning for a slow reopening. They aim to open some theaters in parts of the U.S. where infection numbers are dropping.

The limited business could begin as early as mid-June, said Patrick Corcoran, spokesman for the National Association of Theater Owners. However, he said the timing² of the reopening is not decided³ yet and will depend on guidance from health officials.

Hollywood production companies are unlikely to release big-budget films during a limited reopening of theaters. Blockbusters such as Walt Disney Company's Mulan and Wonder Woman 1984 from Warner Brothers are currently planned for nationwide release in late July and August.

Will the public return?

One issue the movie industry faces is whether the public will feel safe and at ease about returning to theaters.

"There are two schools of thought," Corcoran said. "People will be very tense and careful and nervous, or people will just be desperate to get out of the house. It's going to probably be a mixture."

During their early weeks back in business, theaters likely will show old movies, or films that were playing in March when theaters closed, Corcoran said.

That could mean showing a beloved musical such as Grease or a series of movies like Back to the Future or Harry⁴ Potter, said Brock Bagby, a top official with B&B Theatres. The Missouri-based company operates theaters in seven states.

Movie theater companies are considering special efforts to get people back into theater seats. Ideas include audience costume competitions linked to Harry Potter or serving butterbeer, Potter's favorite drink, at theaters, Bagby said. But, he added "sad or very heavy dramas" are not part of the plan.

"We want the movies we bring back to bring joy to people," Bagby said.

Operators also are debating how to demonstrate new safety measures they establish for reopening, such as increased cleaning. Corcoran questions if seeing the measures in action will make the public more at ease or less. He also said safety measures may differ among theaters depending on local guidance.

Bagby said B&B Theaters will establish social distancing rules if health officials advise it. Several days before closing in March, the company cut the number of permitted theater visitors by 50 percent. Bagby said the theaters had no problems carrying the measure out. He said some showtimes sold out at half-full.

Difficult financial situation

During the shutdown, theater companies and independent operators have been seeking government aid or loans to avoid financial failure. Cinemark Holdings Inc., for example, said on Monday that it had raised $250 million through a sale of debt.

However, a return to usual for Hollywood movie releases will involve more than the U.S. Studios will need sales from around the world to support their costliest⁵ films, said Chris Aronson, president of Domestic Film Distribution at ViacomCBS Inc.'s Paramount⁶ Pictures.

Paramount currently plans to release the family film, Sponge Bob: Sponge on the Run on July 31. The studio moved another expected summer blockbuster, Top Gun: Maverick⁷, to December.

China, the world's second-largest movie market, reopened theaters in March after an extended closure. Two weeks later, however, China closed them again without explanation.

"If there is great uncertainty⁸ in major parts of the world," Aronson said, "I think there are going to be issues opening major films."

Words in This Story

blockbuster –n. something that is very large, costly⁹, or successful

desperate –adj. involving or employing extreme measures in an attempt to escape defeat or frustration¹⁰

audience –n. a group of people who gather together to listen to something (such as a concert) or watch something (such as a movie or play) : the people who attend a performance

costume –n. the clothes that are worn by someone (such as an actor) who is trying to look like a different person or thing

drama –n. a play, movie, television show, or radio show that is about a serious subject and is not meant to make the audience laugh

1 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

2 timing   

n.时间安排，时间选择

参考例句：

• The timing of the meeting is not convenient.会议的时间安排不合适。
• The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。

3 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

4 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

5 costliest   

adj.昂贵的( costly的最高级 )；代价高的；引起困难的；造成损失的

参考例句：

• At 81 billion dollars, Katrina is the costliest natural disaster in American history. “卡特里娜”飓风造成了近810亿美圆的损失，是美国历史上最严重的自然灾难之一。 来自互联网
• Senator John Kerry has proposed a tax on the costliest health plans sold by insurance companies. 参议员约翰？克里(JohnKerry)已经提议对保险公司销售的高价值的保险计划征税。 来自互联网

6 paramount   

a.最重要的，最高权力的

参考例句：

• My paramount object is to save the Union and destroy slavery.我的最高目标是拯救美国，摧毁奴隶制度。
• Nitrogen is of paramount importance to life on earth.氮对地球上的生命至关重要。

7 maverick   

adj.特立独行的；不遵守传统的；n.持异议者，自行其是者

参考例句：

• He's a maverick.He has his own way of thinking about things.他是个特异独行的人。对事情有自己的看法。
• You're a maverick and you'll try anything.你是个爱自行其是的人，样样事情都要尝试一下。

8 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。

9 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

10 frustration   

n.挫折，失败，失效，落空

参考例句：

• He had to fight back tears of frustration.他不得不强忍住失意的泪水。
• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。