"Substantially fewer films will be produced over the next year or two. And a significant portion of the production costs of the reduced slate will be borne by hedge funds and other investment groups"

This quote by Peter Bart recommends that the movie market will be dealing with a decline in production over the next year or more. This reduction in production will be mainly moneyed by hedge funds and other financial investment groups, implying that these groups will be taking on a significant portion of the expenses associated with the decreased slate of films. This might be due to the present financial climate, along with the effect of the pandemic on the film industry. It is most likely that these investment groups are taking on the expenses in order to make sure that the film industry can continue to produce films, even in the face of reduced production. This could be seen as a sign of confidence in the industry, and a dedication to its future.