by Thinus Ferreira
South Africa's battered cinemas are breathing a sigh of relief after the country's move to an adjusted Lockdown Level 2, as Nu Metro, Ster-Kinekor, Cine Centre and independents are opening auditorium capacity from 50 to 250 cinemagoers and adding evening showtimes due to the adjusted curfew that has been moved later.
South Africa's bruised cinema industry has lost millions of rand because of Covid-19, with Ster-Kinekor in business rescue, and with some cinema venues of independents and large chains in shopping malls throughout South Africa that might never reopen after the end of the coronavirus pandemic.
"Nu Metro Cinemas is pleased with the return of lockdown level 2 as it enables us to entertain more movie fans with unique, safe, out-of-home cinema experiences," Chantelle Burrows, Nu Metro Cinemas marketing and content executive, tells TVwithThinus.
Nu Metro's cinemas will continue to operate on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays and during school holidays only as part of the chain's current operational strategy to keep unneccesary expenditure at bay and to keep the cinema chain's business viable.
From 1 October Nu Metro will be open daily for 7 days a week, for the duration of the school holidays.
"Adjusted lockdown level 2 also means that we can no re-introdce our popular evening shows at most of our cinemas due to the later curfew. We also believe that lockdown level 2 will improve general consumer confidence to leave their homes for safer entertainment options - to also ease the devastating blow the pandemic has had on box office and confectionary sales, which are key in generating turnover for the cinema industry".
Nu Metro will for instance release the 25th James Bond film, No Time to Die, in South Africa on 1 October, a week before the American release date.
"The impact of lockdown level 3 meant that we could only sell movie tickets to a maximum of 50 people per auditorium and we has to cut our evening shows due to the earlier curfew."
"Under level 2,we can now host a maximum of 250 cinemagoers or 50% of the available seats per smaller auditoria taking into account social distancing requirements. With the curfew only coming into effect from 22:00 it opens up the potential for more shows."
"In essence, we can now safely present more movie shows and allow more customers into our venues," she says.
"All precautionary Covid-19 safety protocols remain in place for cinemas, as has been the case since last year. Cinemas remain one of the safest indoor spaces to be in - with no infections or outbreaks traced back to cinemas anywhere in the world."
Masks are compulsory for entry into cinemas in South Africa where customers are screened upon entry and with cinemas that are thoroughly cleaned and sanitised after every showing, around every 2 to 3 hours, including a daily deep-clean of all facilities. Auditoriums also have advanced HVAC ventilation systems, managing the flow of air in closed venues.
Extended trading hours
With the move to lockdown level 2, Ster-Kinekor's new extended trading hours will come into effect this Friday 17 September with Ster-Kinekor that will now have the last show ending at 21:50 on Fridays, Saturdays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and with the last shows on a Sunday ending at 18:50.
Ster-Kinekor says that none of its cinemas will operate on a Monday but will however trade on all public holidays.
"Following President Cyril Ramaphosa's address on Sunday with South Africa moving to adjusted alert level 2, Ster-Kinekor
cinemas will continue to operate with all Covid-19 safety procedures that
ensure compliance with directives set out by government," Lynne Wylie, Ster-Kinekor's head of marketing, tells TVwithThinus.
"Seating capacity varies across the circuit and each theatre
will now be operating at a 50% capacity to accommodate social distancing with
the maximum number of guests not exceeding the new regulation of 250 guests per
auditorium."
"Ster-Kinekor will continue to screen all our staff before we
open the cinemas each day, as well as at each shift. We will continue to wear
face masks and our staff have been trained on safe work practices to ensure
safety for themselves and for our guests."
"We will continue to sanitise the
cinemas before and after each show and have increased our cleaning times
between every show to make sure all our seats and surfaces are clean and safe."
"Ster-Kinekor
is Covid-19 compliant, and we have exceeded requirements by further limiting
contact between staff and patrons with contactless purchases to ensure our
guests enjoy great moments at their greatest."
