“Lorrie, look…..isn’t that Eddie Murphy walking right in over there?”

It was a warm yet misty November night: I was surrounded by 30-odd fellow members of the African-American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) and we were sitting at assorted tables and marble countertops, sipping on cocktails and nibbling petit fours after the private Netflix-hosted screening of Dolemite Is My Name at a palatial mansion in Los Angeles. Director Craig Brewer was in the midst and speaking to journalists and AAFCA to describe the journey of the film, but it was the access to Saturday Night Live alumni and stand-up comedian-turned box-office king, Eddie Murphy, that was the evening’s highlight.

It’s hard to imagine that type of unfettered access now: dozens of critics and insiders densely packed on a terrace awaiting their turn to meet, connect to and even taking side-by-side photos with an on-screen legend. Whether or not we can ever return to that level of casual ease remains to be seen, but what cannot be allowed is the subversion of access to coverage and connections to people of color as new models take shape in the post-Covid era.

“The virus has caused a permanent shift to the predominant usage of virtual technology to reach audiences,” Gil Robertson IV explains. The author, co-founder and President of the AAFCA spoke to me by phone recently about how the ways the entertainment industry would now adapt for the sake of consumers and creators. “Until there’s a cure or a trusted, effective therapy for treating the virus, there will be a lot of streaming and the way that we interact with talent, such as the red carpet environment and one on-one interviews, will have to change. I think the age of the press junket is probably over as studios and distributors realize the cost savings of doing things virtually. We’re all going to likely going to become dependent on it, just because of the space that Covid-19 has placed us all in.”

With governors across the nation gradually moving from ‘shelter in place’ to ‘back to work,’ some venues will still have to tread cautiously, such as performance arenas and even theaters for stage performers and showcasing films. “The film sand tv industry needs to employ the highest levels of sensitivity to get viewers to return, because no content out there is worth anyone risking their lives.” said Robertson. “The idea of going to the drive-in is cool and appealing, for example, but that’s still going to limit the box office potential because there’s only a couple of showings possible each evening, versus for a multi-screen cinema-plex able to can run all times of the day and night. It comes down to money and there will eventually be a way.”

In addition to entertainment’s employment opportunities across the country, films and performances, now more than ever in recent history, provide an escape and release for dismal unemployment numbers, rising living costs and a never-ending news cycle filled with stories about the latest trials and tribulations concerning Covid-19. AAFCA, according to Robertson, will continue to shape the conversation and the flow of information regarding quality content for those still sheltering at home, educating children and looking for worthwhile content to enjoy.

“We were fairly early adopters of streaming access that have allowed our members opportunities and create exposure to the talent and product still being released. the AAFCA Virtual roundtables, a forum for talent creators and thought leaders can still share their coverage. We’ve been hosting different roundtables with veteran talent like Jeffrey Wright, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Kenya Barris, and Tachina Arnold, still providing content and making sure members keep a seat at the table, quite frankly. There are also entertainment platform options in the works with Hulu, Apple, Hulu, HBO, even some of the more traditional networks like ABC and NBC.”

“We’re not going to be deterred by Covid-19 or any other obstacle when it comes to our commitment and purpose to providing a platform for all creators, especially creators of color. It has never been more important than now to promote awareness about highlighting worthy content and where discerning viewers, children and adults, should spend their time and money.”

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