CORONAVIRUS. Cinemas, theatres, galleries, museums, libraries and casinos can open again as South Africa moves to an adjusted Level 3 lockdown for Covid-19.

by Thinus Ferreira

Cinemas, theatres, galleries, museums, libraries, archives and casinos in South Africa are allowed to open again from today as the country moves to an adjusted Level 3 lockdown during the ongoing Covid-19 global pandemic, although they will be limited to 50% of capacity and must close at 21:00 so workers and customers can be home at 22:00 when the curfew kicks in.

The latest adjusted Lockdown Level 3 regulations were published on Sunday night after president Cyril Ramaphosa announced that South Africa is moving back from an adjusted Level 4 lockdown.

Under the new Level 3 regulations, spectators at sporting events still remain a no-no while night clubs also remain closed.

Public swimming pools, beaches and public parks, game parks, botanical gardens, aquariums and zoos, gyms and fitness centres can open.

Restaurants, bars, shebeens and taverns are allowed to open their doors and have customers "subject to a limitation of a maximum of 50 persons or less for indoor venues or 100 persons outdoors observing a distance of at least one and a half metres from each other, then not more more than 50% of the capacity of the venue may be used".

South Africa's theatre and cinema industries have been decimated by the lockdown regulations, resulting in temporary and permanent closure and thousands of people who have lost jobs and income.

Earlier this month Ster-Kinekor implored the South African government to allow cinemas to reopen, saying that the move to Level 4 lockdown that also meant the forced closure of movie theatres is a "devastating blow"is "a devastating blow" to the industry.

In 2020 South Africa's total box office revenue at cinemas plunged by a massive R1.2 billion to a measly R214 million compared to 2019 - the lowest in over a decade - according to a recent industry report.

Cinema chains like Cine Centre, Nu Metro and Ster-Kinekor are struggling immensely, with Ster-Kinekor that entered voluntary business rescue at the beginning of 2021.

After just a few months that they were open again, trying to lure back wary patrons with spaced-seating, packaged popcorn, rigorous cleaning and disinfecting protocols and even opting for cashless transactions, cinemas were once again forced to shut down the projectors and close their doors in late-June this year.

Chantelle Burrows, Nu Metro cinemas marketing and content executive, told TVwithThinus on Monday morning that Nu Metro cinemas will reopen from this Friday 30 July.

"This reopening also includes Nu Metro's specialised cinema formats: 4DX, VIP and Xtreme. We will initially be trading Fridays to Sundays, and on public holidays, only – in line with our responsible trading strategy under Covid-19 lockdown regulations"."

"Some of the blockbuster movies which will be showing in our cinemas from Friday include Space Jam: A New Legacy, featuring NBA superstar LeBron James and the Looney Tunes crew of iconic cartoon characters in a family movie adventure; as well as Fast & Furious 9: The Fast Saga, after this blockbuster’s record-breaking run at the box office was cut short at the end of June."

"Nu Metro joins the local industry in celebrating the return of the unique, shared out-of-home entertainment experience that only cinemas can bring," says Chantelle Burrows.

"Cinemas remain one of the safest spaces to be in, with extensive precautionary protocols in place to halt the spread of Covid-19, even exceeding governmental requirements."

"All our cinemas are sanitised after every show, social distancing and access controls are strictly managed, and all guests are seated facing in one direction inside auditoria, with minimal interaction between cinemagoers."

"Advanced HVAC ventilation systems, fitting universal health and safety requirements, are also installed in cinemas. We look forward to welcoming cinemagoers this weekend with a great line-up of the best big screen entertainment for young and old."

ALSO READ: CORONAVIRUS. Devastated Ster-Kinekor begs South Africa's government: Open cinemas says chain that warns 'impact of current lockdown will have a devastating impact on the business'.

Coronavirus: After 5 months Nu Metro to reopen most of its cinemas in South Africa including in-cinema VIP dining from 28 August on Fridays and weekends with new Covid-19 health precautions and 'buffer' seats.

by Thinus Ferreira

After 5 months of being shut because of the national lockdown period in South Africa because of the global Covid-19 pandemic Nu Metro on Friday told TVwithThinus that the cinema chain will also start to reopen most of its cinema complexes, similar to Ster-Kinekor, on 28 August, also with stringent new health protocols in place.

Ster-Kinekor on Wednesday said that it would be reopening the first batch of 32 of its cinemas on 28 August, followed by another 21 on 18 September.

Nu Metro will now also reopen its cinema complexes in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban, Bloemfontein, Port Elizabeth and Giyani (Limpopo) on Friday 28 August for the first time after 5 months.

Nu Metro will initially only open its cinema complexes on Fridays, Saturdays,Sundays and public holidays, with limited showtimes per day and films times staggered as to limit the number of people entering, exiting and standing in cinema foyers.

Nu Metro cinemas not opening on 28 August will temporarily remain shut in what Nu Metro calls part of its "responsible reopening strategy".

"Nu Metro is very excited to go big again with the magic of the movies," says Chantelle Burrows, Nu Metro cinemas marketing and content executive.

"Nothing can ever replace the cinematic experience of enjoying movies in the way they were meant to be seen. Our commitment and responsibility towards customers have never been stronger as we face this 'new normal' together."

"The public’s safety, as well as the safety and health of our team members, is our highest priority. Nu Metro has been anxiously anticipating this moment to reopen our doors to movie fans once again, as part of a coordinated industry effort to restart this business we love to call showbiz."

Nu Metro will initially only open its cinema complexes on Fridays, Saturdays and public holidays, with limited showtimes per day and films times staggered as to limit the number of people entering, exiting and standing in cinema foyers.

Apart from Nu Metro's regular 2D and 3D cinemas,most of their premium cinema experiences will also reopen on a limited basis in select complexes - including multi-sensory 4DX, “Premium Large Format” Xtreme and luxurious VIP theatres.

Nu Metro says that its VIP cinema experience will include bar- and sit-down restaurant services with the required social distancing and other preventative measures being implemented. 

"In-cinema dining ordered from Nu Metro’s VIP menu will also be served, according to the health and safety regulations in place for restaurants." 

 Director Christopher Nolan’s TENET will be the first major new movie scheduled for cinemas’ reopening. 

Nu Metro says that along with other new releases, Nu Metro will also offer a selection of recent box office hits and other audience favourites being re-released during the first phase of its reopening. 

"This scheduling strategy is due to the limited availability of new filmed content for cinemas worldwide, caused by the postponement of films’ release dates globally following the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic."

No Metro is encouraging moviegoers to use its numetro.co.za website for online bookings before visiting cinemas to buy tickets, and to also use the self-service terminals at cinemas to buy tickets, although the confectionary counters will be open for sales, as well as ticket counters.

Mask-wearing will be mandatory for all customers and staff within all Nu Metro’s cinema complexes nationwide although masks can be taken off while eating and drinking.

Temperature checks will be done on arrival for all customers at access points to cinema complexes, in addition to hourly temperature and hygiene check-ups being done on staff by each complex’s appointed compliance officer.

Nu Metro will also adhere to social distancing by introducing at least 1.5 metre of distance between booked seats by blocking 2 "buffer" seats on either side of a customer’s selection. 

These blocked seats will appear in a zigzag pattern throughout each auditorium. Only two customers per booking can be seated next to each other, with "buffer" seats blocked on either side, in front and behind them.

Nu Metro cinema capacity is also capped at below 50 visitors, in compliance with the recommended specifications from the South African government.

Nu Metro says that all cinemas will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before and after each and every show, with a nightly deep-cleaning of all complexes, while all high-touch point areas such as kiosks, self-service terminals, serving counters, door handles, rails, benches, booths and bathroom areas will be disinfected on a regular basis daily – with the cleaning frequency for service counters every 30 minutes.

Popcorn seasoning shakers and dispensers have been replaced by sealed, disposable sachets, along with other precautionary measures at confectionary/catering counters.

Here are the Nu Metro cinemas opening:

1. Nu Metro Hyde Park (JHB) – including 4DX and VIP theatres; VIP cinema complex.

2. Nu Metro Emperors Palace (JHB) – including 4DX, VIP and Xtreme theatres.

3. Nu Metro Clearwater Mall (JHB) – including VIP and Xtreme theatres.

4. Nu Metro The Glen (JHB) – including VIP and Xtreme theatres.

5. Nu Metro Westgate (JHB).

6. Nu Metro Menlyn Park (Pretoria) – including 4DX, VIP and Xtreme theatres.

7. Nu Metro Woodlands (Pretoria) – VIP cinema complex.

8. Nu Metro Canal Walk (Cape Town) – including VIP and Xtreme theatres.

9. Nu Metro Worcester.

10. Nu Metro Ballito Junction (Ballito, KZN) – including VIP and Xtreme theatres.

11. Nu Metro Cornubia Mall (Durban) – including 4DX, VIP and Xtreme theatres.

12. Nu Metro The Pavilion (Durban) – including 4DX and VIP theatres.

13. Nu Metro Galleria (Amanzimtoti, KZN) – including VIP and Xtreme theatres.

14. Nu Metro Boardwalk (Port Elizabeth).

15. Nu Metro Loch Logan (Bloemfontein).

16. Nu Metro Masingita Mall (Giyani, Limpopo).

Six Nu Metro cinema complexes in South Africa remain temporarily closed. 

The Nu Metro Arcades Mall in Zambia reopened today (Friday), already with re-release titles, and Nu Metro Maputo in Mozambique will reopen in September.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus: After 5 months Ster-Kinekor to reopen cinemas in South Africa from 28 August with stringent hygiene rules and 'misting device', tickets and snacks only sold through its website.

Coronavirus: South Africa's Nu Netro on shuttered cinemas: 'The day will come when all movie fans can again join in the shared entertainment experience'.

by Thinus Ferreira

The popcorn machines are turned off and cinemas in South Africa remains shuttered as the country endures Level 4 of the national lockdown period to try and curb the spread of the Covid-19 virus but Nu Metro remains optimistic that the seats - with one open in-between - will be filled again and that moviegoers will return for the big screen experience.

Nu Metro Cinemas in South Africa has been monitoring the unfolding developments of the Covid-19 pandemic ever since alarm was raised early in 2020. 

Nu Metro, Ster-Kinekor and independent cinemas across the country at first remained open, although some independents shut their doors, and then implemented precautionary measures including moviegoer distancing and increased sanitising regimes until president Cyril Ramaphosa in March announced the total lockdown.

Even before South Africa's national lockdown period began, Nu Metro already closely followed the international news around the film industry was suddenly being impacted by the spread of Covid-19, the international distribution and release disruption and how cinema theatre owners were forced to turn of the projector lights and lock the doors.

In terms of business impact, the negative effects of the pandemic on the cinema industry started surfacing when more and more of the major blockbuster movies' release dates started shifting since the beginning of March, Nu Metro tells TVwithThinus.

"Such changes in release dates from the international film studios had an early knock-on effect for our revenue projections and budget plans," the theatre chain explains.

"Many strategic projects had to be moved out or completely cancelled, with budget already spent on development of such projects. The direct impact locally was felt when government imposed restrictions on public venues just before the hard lockdown was announced."

Nu Metro says that not only did attendances decrease because customers started growing weary of going out in public but that Nu Metro also implemented social distancing, increased cleaning, enhanced sanitising and other precautionary measures in cinemas to protect its staff and moviegoers' health and safety.

"The social distancing-policy enabled us to limit seating capacity booked per movie show to fit the governmental directives – which of course all had a negative impact on the amount of customers we could serve."

Then came the regulations mandating a nationwide lockdown in South Africa - something usually reserved for the fictional drama of a big screen Hollywood blockbuster.

"It prompted the immediate closure of all our cinema operations and offices in Southern Africa, and placed a severe limit on our general business potential," Nu Metro says.

"We look forward to reopening our cinemas in the very near future and are ready to implement the same health and safety precautions that were introduced at all Nu Metro cinemas just before the lockdown," says Nu Metro.

Some of the major films moved to later this year include Marvel Studios’ Black Widow, Universal’s No Time to Die which is the new James Bond movie, Warner Bros’ Wonder Woman 1984, Paramount’s Top Gun: Maverick, Disney’s Mulan and various independent studio titles such as The Secret Garden.

Nu Metro says that all release dates for films are currently tentatively scheduled and are completely dependent on governmental regulations on when cinemas in South Africa can reopen again.

"Cinema is an art form, an expression of culture, creativity and the human spirit," says Chantelle Burrows, Nu Metro's marketing and content boss. "It primarily offers an escape from reality with the magic of the movies."

"The day will come when all movie fans can again join in the shared entertainment experience of watching the world’s latest and greatest films on the big screen. Nothing can ever replace or substitute the joy of watching a movie in a cinema, with popcorn, drinks, sweets, movie fun, big sound and prime quality visuals on the best screens, and all the other treats which make going to the movies such a social special outing for people of all ages."

"While our cinemas and offices remain closed, some of our head office staff have been working behind the scenes on a standby basis to prepare and plan for the future," says Chantelle Burrows.

"What we miss most are all our devoted movie fans and everyone just looking for that 'going out'-option that is so popular with hundreds of thousands of South Africans, for whom cinema-going is a release from the worries and stresses of the real world."

"When we are allowed to return, Nu Metro remains committed to ensuring the health and safety of everyone craving to again experience the power of the silver screen in our cinemas," she says.

"We've been inundated with messages on our social media platforms during this time – our customers simply can’t wait for cinemas to again reopen."


ALSO READ: Coronavirus: Nu Metro cinemas will remain open for now as the Covid-19 virus spreads in South Africa.
ALSO READ: Coronavirus: Nu Metro shuts down its movie theatres in South Africa with immediate effect before Covid-19 national lockdown starts; cinemas in Mozambique and Zambia remain open.