Hollywood hype machine plots virus-proof red carpets

Red-carpet premieres are the pinnacle of any new Hollywood blockbuster's publicity blitz.

Their A-list entourages, elbow-to-elbow fans and showbiz photographers vying for the perfect snaps of glamorous stars, are also a nightmare for social distancing.

But with California coronavirus restrictions easing, and major movies like "Tenet" eyeing July release dates, Tinseltown's marketing gurus are scrambling for ways to safely roll out those carpets once again.

These include plexiglass barriers between journalists and stars, screened-off "pods" for interviews via video link, and drop-off zones where pre-selected fans appear on LED screens to engage with actors.

 A conceptual rendering of press interview pens separated by plexiglass for red-carpet arrival events.

Entourages will be asked to enter socially-distanced theaters via "bypass lanes" that free up the red carpet for the stars alone.

Temperature checks for all guests are being considered, while fans would be physically barred from attending.

With everyone left surrounding the carpet spaced out, "the carpet's just going to be a little wider and the carpet's going to be a little bit longer," he added.

'Hope it happens'

-        

Even so, publicists do not expect lavish Los Angeles after-premiere parties -- and their crowded open bars and buffets -- to return for several months, or possibly until a vaccine emerges.

 US actor Jason Momoa (R) and his wife actress Lisa Bonet arrive for the "Game of Thrones."

Pop-up immersive experiences, a growing part of the Hollywood hype machine, may also need a rethink, with the focus now solely on building awareness rather than drawing crowds.

More immediately, with streaming giants such as Netflix and Amazon continuing to launch major titles during lockdown, "virtual" press junkets in which interviews are conducted entirely online are growing in popularity.

15|40 has created a mobile studio in a trailer which can be carted between movie stars' homes, fitted out with the branding of whichever film or television show is being launched.

The firm has even drawn up plans for "drive-in" premieres, where celebrities park up in the front row or sit on branded picnic blankets to interact with fans via camera link.

Still, almost all of this year's biggest blockbusters have been delayed until traditional movie theaters reopen, and publicists are itching to get back to famous venues such as Hollywood Boulevard's TCL Chinese Theatre for their launch events.

READ MORE

Hollywood actress Uma Thurman gives her daughter a home haircut amid the coronavirus lockdown

Giant Denzel Washington celebrated by Hollywood

Geena Davis says Hollywood gender imbalance an embarrassment

While glitzy premieres might jar at a time when people are dying and unemployment is soaring, major entertainment and sport events can provide a welcome distraction for stir-crazy fans, he added.

The big test will be Warner Bros.' "Tenet," the latest mega-budget thriller from director Christopher Nolan ("Inception," "The Dark Knight,") who has reportedly pushed hard for it to be the first Hollywood blockbuster back in theaters.

Tellingly, its July 17 US release date has yet to shift.