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AMC January 29, 2021
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Are meme stocks the new trend to losing your bread? We investigate

What in the world occurred on the stock market this late-January? Do Redditors run the world now? Also what on Earth does the term “meme stocks” mean? Why is GameStop poppin’ again? And is Robinhood robbing the hood?

We have the answers…

via GIPHY

The first month of 2021 has turned into a full-fledged sequel to Wolf of Wall Street, thanks to Redditors on r/wallstreetbets.

Companies like Gamestop, AMC, Nokia, and Blackberry are rising into the mainstream financial conversation because of r/wallstreetbets manipulating the market and increasing the stock prices of each company.

@YouTube

Let’s get into what exactly happened over the last few days with these “meme stocks.” And how creatives can protect themselves in investments during this time.

So what happened with these meme stocks?

The markets for Gamestop, AMC, Koss, and many others are volatile at the moment. Meaning that the prices are fluctuating at a rapid pace, thus making investment predictions difficult.

Gamestop sat at about $18 per share three Fridays ago but has since doubled in four days. The Redditors on the “WallStreetBets” page have been encouraging each other to buy GameStop shares in order to push its value.

It’s a clear manipulation of the market because anyone in the gaming mainstream knows that Gamestop has been a failing company for years and has been steadily losing money over time.

For some companies that were on the verge of bankruptcy like AMC, these recent actions may have saved them. And it’s all due to the power of the people and their investments into these meme stocks.

Like a modern-day proletariat vs. the bourgeoisie.

https://twitter.com/reddittrading/status/1354999205232840704?s=20

The short squeeze

According to Investopedia, a short squeeze can be defined as:

A short squeeze occurs when a stock or other asset jumps sharply higher, forcing traders who had bet that its price would fall, to buy it in order to forestall even greater losses. Their scramble to buy only adds to the upward pressure on the stock’s price.

Most hedge funds were betting on GameStop’s stock to fall by going through a process called “shorting,” where investors borrow shares and immediately sell them in the hopes that they can get them again later at a lower price.

gamestop meme stocks
Tweeted by Jordan Deeb @Jordan_Deeb

This of course has backfired for them due to the market manipulation by Redditors, which encouraged much of the internet to buy into GameStop and the other companies to sell their shares off quickly and make some money.

Still, the GameStop boom was just as unexpected as the losses were for the hedge fund billionaires…

Robbing the hood…

Hedge fund investor Leon Cooperman puts the billionaire’s perspective on this situation plainly.

https://twitter.com/Khanoisseur/status/1354907723368960005?s=20

And that’s how many wealthy investors feel. Still, this prompted a response by popular investing app “Robinhood” to take action.

“Robinhood” for a period of time blocked the sales of stocks to these skyrocketing companies. This was in order to slow down the market and bring balance again for wealthy investors.

The result was an outcry from people upset that the market was blatantly manipulated against them. And then this recently led to a class-action lawsuit being filed against “Robinhood.”

This action by the company is even prompting political figures on both sides of the aisle like progressive Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Republican Ted Cruz to agree on investigating why this action was done in order to inhibit the free-trade market.

Robinhood has since reopened the ability to buy into these meme stock companies like GameStop. But for a company that prided and marketed itself as a place for the every-man to get into stock trading, the damage is already done.

So what should creatives do?

A lot of people have gotten into the stock game over the last year. If you were able to get into these surging meme stocks early on and flip them for profit, then great for you.

For everyone else, don’t fall into the temptation to invest in these GameStop shares. More and more each day this situation is presenting itself as a bubble that will inevitably burst.

The safe bet is to always invest in companies that are profitable or also have the true potential to be. Research their quarterly earning reports and more into the background of a company before you invest. There’s never really a good time to invest in failing companies.

But, if you got into GameStop way before this recent stock rise, now is the time to sell while it’s high and flip that money into a larger company like Tesla or Apple.

The choice is up to you. But it’s always better to take smarter risks rather than just any kind of risk.

And try not to rely on only a short squeeze, the trends on wallstreetbets, or what redditors might have some luck in predicting. Good luck!

AMC June 24, 2020
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The future of movie theaters depends on innovation and care

Popcorn no-more.

When the pandemic hit full-steam in the US in mid-March, moviegoers realized that it would be much time before they would be gobbling snacks in front of the big screen again.

It was a loss for everyone, as film studios were forced to delay their releases into Q4 2020 and beyond. Big-blockbuster film productions such as The Batman and Mission Impossible 7 would have to halt all work activity. The cash spent marketing films that were delayed was all but wasted.

Theaters too have lost mountains of money by staying closed upwards of three months. AMC Theaters in particular nearly filed for bankruptcy due to its A-List program, pushing the company into massive debt. However, it was able to announce an official reopening this week, starting on July 15 nationwide.

AMC has since faced backlash for dramatic policy changes regarding its safety precautions. Per Variety, the company originally exclaimed that it would not require guests to wear masks inside of the theaters.

This likely was not a malicious attempt; rather the company just wanted to offer an open and free environment for moviegoers. And, let’s be real, to try to maximize profits above all else.

CEO Adam Aron said that the company had first made a decision because they did not want to impose masks on people who felt they were not necessary. The backlash, unfortunately, showed how critical the public takes to safety, especially in an environment which will have several strangers sitting inches away from each other.

Following the outrage, AMC announced on Friday that they would now require all attendees to wear masks.

“At AMC Theatres, we think it is absolutely crucial that we listen to our guests,” the company said.

“Accordingly, and with the full support of our scientific advisors, we are reversing course and are changing our guest mask policy. As we reopen theatres, we now will require that all AMC guests nationwide wear masks as they enter and enjoy movies at our theatres.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBoESC7HTv-/

Rival theater chain Regal also made changes to its reopening plan by stating that Regal too will require masks. It is a shockwave of strict measure that will flow across the theater industry, making certain that people feel comfortable to return to the movies.

There might be a solution right under our noses, though. The Miami Dolphins’ Hard Rock Stadium has been transformed into a drive-in theater for the summer. Guests can drive their cars right onto the field and enjoy the films from a designated “tailgate” space, with proper masks and distancing, or from their own vehicles. Tickets of $39 per automobile will be donated to the Miami Dolphins Foundation Food Relief Program.

 

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Drive-up or Chill out 🚗🎬🍿 Join us this summer for movies at our outdoor theaters! For 🎟 visit the link in our bio.

A post shared by Hard Rock Stadium (@hardrockstadium) on

This is an ingenious solution that can subsequently transfer football games to the theaters themselves, with field-play taking place in the lobbies, and locker rooms opening behind the screens. Snack bars will likely have to serve as medical tents, and wishful spectators can view the event behind retractable-belt stanchions.

This does raise the cause for more drive-in theaters however, as the added safety element of vehicle enclosure is something that theater chains can consider. Moviegoers as well would feel safer venturing out to see a new film in their whip, instead of having to weigh the risk of exposure and mask requirement.

Drive-in theaters have been something of an afterthought for nearly two decades now, but these strange circumstances could breathe new life into the concept.

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It shows a level of necessary innovation for the movie theater business to stay afloat in the age of digital media. Even before the pandemic, several factors keyed into the slow demise of movie theaters. As the digital age rose with countless streaming services, patrons started to find a lack of incentives in going to the theater.

First and foremost, it can be a hassle. Especially in rural areas, the local movie theater can be at least 30-45 minutes away. Films can play at a variety of times, making it an inconvenience in one’s schedule.

When planning a showing with friends, it is much more convenient to meet at someone’s house. There, friends can comfortably watch whatever they want whenever they want, and can do so with whichever beverage or drinks that they choose.

This leads to the next point, which is that movie theaters are strict and expensive. In 2019, the average price for a movie ticket in the United States was $9.16. This does not incorporate tax, gas money, snacks, or bundling of tickets.

 

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One more day before we open all week long. Who’s ready for another summer under the stars? 🌙✨

A post shared by Fairlee Drive-In (@fairleedrivein) on

A night out to the movies with three friends can end up costing well over $60. Added onto this, most theaters do not allow patrons to bring their own foods or drinks.

Finally, as nearly everyone knows, moviegoers are annoying. People chew, text, laugh, scream, spit, and kick seats like no tomorrow at the movie theater. And these are the good ones. The moviegoing experience has been significantly hampered by distracting and disrespectful people for years, and this has raised the demand for home entertainment forms.

Video-on-demand and streaming services are making a huge run in 2020. Disney+, HBO Max, and Amazon Prime are all giving Netflix a run for its money when it comes to original and accessible content.

These services offer a community engagement that theaters struggle to maintain, and have even made a cultural impact. The phrase “Netflix and Chill” is no longer even a giggling matter, it is a reality that people are incentivized to take part in due to the advantages over a classic theater date.

While the future for theaters is not looking especially great, directors like Christopher Nolan and Denis Villeneuve are fighting to keep the experience alive.

Tenet and Dune are two of the most anticipated upcoming flicks of 2020, and they are advertised to be best enjoyed in a theater experience.

“Movie theaters have gone dark, and will stay that way for a time,” Christopher Nolan said.

“But movies, unlike unsold produce or unearned interest, don’t cease to be of value. Much of this short-term loss is recoverable. When this crisis passes, the need for collective human engagement, the need to live and love and laugh and cry together, will be more powerful than ever.”

Nolan brings up the point of the joy of people. While it is true that people can easily meet up at a house for a streaming night, there is a lack of authenticity. Movie theaters give that classical and treasured experience.

When everything goes right, there is nothing quite like having the lights go dark as a Hans Zimmer score erupts through the surround-sound speakers.

There is nothing quite like turning to your best bud in awe after experiencing a shocking event unfold on a massive and towering screen. There is nothing like gathering with your friends in the lobby after the credits have rolled, laughing and praising the work of art that was just shown.

Movie theaters have a challenging path ahead, but with innovation and care, nothing is impossible. The truly classical experience can continue to go on, and provide for generations to come. As Mr. Nolan says:

“Maybe, like me, you thought you were going to the movies for surround sound, or Goobers, or soda and popcorn, or movie stars. But we weren’t. We were there for each other.”