On Dec. 21, nearly a year after the first cases of COVID-19 were diagnosed in America, the U.S. Senate passed a $2.3 trillion coronavirus relief package and government spending bill.
It includes billions in relief for movie theaters and live venues battered by the pandemic — which could save some 70 percent of small and midsize theaters that would otherwise be forced to close or file for bankruptcy protection, according to John Fithian, president of the National Association of Theatre Owners.
The bill also expands unemployment benefits for workers who, like many in the entertainment business, combine traditional and freelance employment.