Inside Out 2 lifts the South African box office as the Pixar picture becomes the top animated film of all time globally.

by Thinus Ferreira

A rising animation film will always lift all cinema attendance, with Pixar's Inside Out 2 which has now become the top animated film of all time at the global box office and also helped propel South African cinema somewhat out of its box office slump.

Inside Out 2 from Disney's Pixar has officially surpassed Frozen 2 at the global box office with an estimated earning of $1.46 billion. Frozen 2 during its theatrical release made $1.45 billion worldwide.

Another record? Inside Out 2 is the highest-grossing film of 2024 so far. It's now also Pixar's highest-grossing film of all time worldwide.

It all makes it highly likely that there will be an Inside Out 3 with more mixed emotions.

Ster-Kinekor says that films like Inside Out 2, along with releases like Despicable Me 4 and Bad Boys: Ride or Die as the top three performing titles, have caused average weekly cinema attendance to more than double over the last four weeks.

These three films earned a cumulative R60 million at South Africa's box office, with Ster-Kinekor saying that the cinema theatre chain is confident that the uptick in local cinema attendance will continue for the rest of the year.

"It is satisfying to see a big shift in audience numbers, thanks to a selection of great content that’s appealing to different audience profiles," says Eric Blignaut, Ster-Kinekor's national sales manager.

"For our advertisers, it is further validation of their investment in the channel. What is exciting is the wide variety of films in different genres set for release on the circuit, ensuring there is something to appeal to everyone across our diverse audience profile."

Opening in South African cinemas over the next few weeks are Twisters, Long Legs, Fly Me to the Moon, It Ends with Us and the much-anticipated Deadpool & Wolverine.

"It's all about Beetlejuice in September, with the sequel to Joker, Joker: Folie À Deux, which sees Joaquin Phoenix reprising his role as the Joker, and Lady Gaga joining the cast as his love interest, releasing in October."

"As we head towards the year-end and holidays, audiences will be spoilt for choice with titles including Gladiator 2, Wicked Part 1, and Disney's Moana 2 and Mufasa: The Lion King, both of which will make for great family viewing," Eric Blignaut says.

"What is also encouraging is that we are attracting new advertisers and first-time brands onto our screens, which we believe is reaffirming cinema's trajectory to recovery."

Struggling Ster-Kinekor to axe third of staff, close 9 cinemas as attendance plummets.

by Thinus Ferreira

South Africa's struggling cinema chain Ster-Kinekor is set to axe 236 workers - a third of its entire workforce - and close up to nine of its cinema complexes across South Africa as it blames a "significant" decrease in attendance of cinemagoers.

In response to a media query Ster-Kinekor confirmed that it had started section 189 proceedings - known in South Africa as a retrenchment process - telling staff on 13 February that up to a third of the 728 workers it employs will likely lose their jobs.

South Africa's two biggest cinema chains Ster-Kinekor and Nu Metro, along with a sprinkling of independent theatres have struggled to regain their foothold after the Covid-19 pandemic, worsened by the proliferation and adoption of various video streaming services in the country like Netflix, MultiChoice's Showmax, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV+ and a few others.

Ster-Kinekor which is owned by the British-based Blantyre Capital and Greenpoint Capital after exiting business rescue in November 2022, is looking at closing up to nine cinema complexes across the Western Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal provinces.

As part of Ster-Kinekor's restructuring deal, the Competition Commission ordered the companies not to retrench any employees for a period of up to 36 months from the start of the deal.

Ster-Kinekor in a statement, said that "In recent months the business has suffered a significant decline in attendances".

Ster-Kinekor blames the falling cinema attendance on the "result of a challenging economic environment, prolonged and more intense loadshedding as well as the impact of the Hollywood actors' and writers' strikes, where content scheduled for release in 2023 and 2024 has been moved out to 2025".

"As these are forces largely out of the business's control and the financial impact is likely to endure for some time, Ster-Kinekor Theatres has had to review its cost structure to ensure the continued survival and sustainability of its business."

"Ster-Kinekor is committed to complying with all the legal requirements, and will also ensure that employees are kept abreast of all developments throughout the Section 189 process as it progresses."

The cinema chain didn't respond to questions asking why up to a third of employees are to be retrenched, which specific cinema complexes are earmarked to be shuttered and whether the period of 36 months has lapsed as part of the agreement not to retrench any workers.

Responding to Ster-Kinekor's statement, workers reportedly noted that Ster-Kinekor CEO Mark Sardi in mid-2023 noted that cinemas were equipped with backup electricity at 31 of its cinema complexes to be loadshedding free.

Staff are also asking why there are no retrenchments within upper management levels, whether directors are getting fees for their board positions and whether those will be decreased.

Ster-Kinekor plans to shut down Bayside in the Western Cape and Cedar Square, Maponya, Matlosana, Southgate and Sterland in Gauteng over the next 6 months. In KwaZulu-Natal Ster-Kinekor will shutter its Boardwalk, Shelly Beach and Mimosa complexes.

Ster-Kinekor is considering the shutdown of a further 8 of its cinema complexes at N1 City, Secunda, Wonderpark, Bedfordview, Cradelstone, Mooi Rivier, Rustenburg as well Rosebank Nouveau in Johannesburg. 

Top Gun: Maverick lifts South Africa's box office up where it belongs as 35+ moviegoers return.

by Thinus Ferreira

Top Gun: Maverick, the Tom Cruise-led film sequel to 1986's Top Gun, has helped to lift the slumped South African box office back up where it belongs, to paraphrase the title of one of the Hans Zimmer songs in the movie - with the film's big nostalgia factor helping to lure back especially older South cinemagoers who've stayed away because of Covid.

South African exhibitors like Ster-Kinekor and Nu Metro are once again smiling, as the 35+ cinema crowd are venturing back into malls and cinemas to watch Top Gun: Maverick - pulled by the nostalgia factor of seeing Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer again as they did decades ago as kids.

"The performance of Top Gun: Maverick has been astounding and it certainly has given cinema a huge boost," Stefan Rheeder, United International Pictures (UIP) marketing manager, tells TVwithThinus.

"It feels as if ticketing is ticking over once more, but also that older audiences – when looking at Top: Gun Maverick and even Elvis – are frequenting cinema houses again and it shows a real sign of confidence for this out-of-home entertainment experience."

Stefan Rheeder says Top Gun: Maverick initially started playing towards "older, nostalgic audiences, but with a strong box office performance, we can now undoubtedly say that it has broken out to younger demographics too".

"For exhibitors, this must be music to their ears and they definitely want and need big tentpole titles to keep the experience front of mind, but also the business ticking over."

Next UIP will be releasing Beast on 12 August in South Africa, which Rheeder says proudly boasts a number of South African elements.

"Idris Elba stars in this pulse-pounding new thriller about a father and his two teenage daughters who find themselves hunted by a massive rogue lion intent on proving that the savannah has but one apex predator."

"Co-starring in the film alongside Elba is South African actor, Sharlto Copley together with Iyana Halley and Leah Sava Jeffries. The film was shot entirely in South Africa and locations included Cape Town, Limpopo and Northern Province."

The final showdown was filmed in the Northern Cape, on the Namibia border.

Then UIP is also bringing Puss in Boots: The Last Wish to South African cinemas lined up for the country's summer holiday in December when the leche-loving, swashbuckling and fear-defying feline returns to the big screen.

"For the first time in more than a decade, DreamWorks Animation presents a new adventure in the Shrek universe, as daring outlaw Puss in Boots discovers that his passion for peril and disregard for safety have taken their toll," Stefan Rheeder says.

"Puss has burned through eight of his nine lives, though he lost count along the way. Getting those lives back will send Puss in Boots on his grandest quest yet. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish features an all-star comedic cast that includes Academy Award nominee Antonio Banderas who returns as the voice of the notorious Puss in Boots."  

CORONAVIRUS. Lockdown Level 2: South Africa's cinemas adding seats and evening showings as curfew is pushed later.

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."

CORONAVIRUS. Ster-Kinekor reopens its South African cinemas; press screenings back for film critics with pressure review schedule.

by Thinus Ferreira

Like Nu Metro, Ster-Kinekor is also reopening its cinemas in South Africa following Monday's move from Level 4 to an adjusted Level 3 of lockdown in the country, with in-person press screenings for media that will resume from August although film critics will have less than 16 hours in some cases to craft reviews.

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Sunday night that South Africa is moving back to an adjusted level 3 lockdown with cinemas, casinos, gyms, theatres, museums and libraries that are allowed to open and with restaurants that can once again cater to sit-down patrons.

Nu Metro told TVwithThinus on Monday that the cinema chain will reopen its movie theatres on Friday 30 July, including its specialised cinema formats like 4DX, VIP and Xtreme. 

Nu Metro will initially only have its cinemas open on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

Ster-Kinekor told TVwithThinus on Wednesday in response to a media enquiry that it has now opened 19 of its cinemas since Tuesday and will reopen its remaining 33 venues on Friday 30 July.

Sterk-Kinekor is currently in business rescue and in June implored the government to allow cinemas to reopen since the mandated closure of cinemas meant a "devastating blow" to South Africa's movie theatre industry.

Ster-Kinekor says all its cinemas countrywide will continue to operate with "all Covid-19 safety procedures" and that "each theatre will be permitted a maximum of 50 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 with regular sanitising breaks during their shift."

"We will wear face masks and gloves where required 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 will return Fast & Furious 9 for only its second week on circuit after the film had a successful opening weekend prior to the adjusted level 4 lockdown restrictions which were implemented on 27 June.

The Looney Tunes gang in Space Jam: A New Legacy will be releasing 30 July, while Ster-Kinekor will be pre-release screening Disney’s Jungle Cruise on Saturday 31 July ahead of the national release on 6 August.

James Gunn’s DC movie The Suicide Squad will flicker onto Ster-Kinekor's digital projectors from 6 August, long after the film has already been released in East and West Africa as well as other parts of Southern Africa, and will be in IMAX theatres in South Africa from 13 August.

Ryan Reynolds in Free Guy will release on 20 August, after which Hardin and Tessa return for a third installment of the "After" franchise in After we Fell , releasing at Ster-Kinekor cinemas on 3 September.

Film critics chasing time

After all film screenings for media were abruptly cancelled on 16 July, South African film critics and journalists in Cape Town and Johannesburg will be able to return to cinemas with their notebooks and glow-in-the-dark pens from August but with a catch.

With the severe disruption of the press screening schedule for films, distributors have had no other choice but to drastically reduce the lead time between screening dates and the release date of films. 

Instead of weeks, and sometimes even a month in advance, South Africa's film critics will now have less than 16 hours, just a day, or only 48 hours to watch some films and then churn out their reviews.

In some cases, what in industry parlance is referred to as the "review embargo date" - the pre-determined studio first date by which publications and critics are allowed to publish possible reviews - are not even relevant anymore since the review embargo date now falls even before the press screening date.

It means that South African film critics would theoretically be able to walk out of a cinema's press screening and immediately be able to share their views and opinions on films like Disney's Jungle Cruise, Marvel Studios' Black Widow and even 20th Century Studios' Free Guy since review screenings are scheduled after embargo dates that no longer apply.

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

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. 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'.

by Thinus Ferreira

Sterk-Kinekor, currently in business rescue and forced shut with the latest Level 4 lockdown, is now begging South Africa's government to open up cinemas that it says is suffering "a devastating blow".

South Africa's beleaguered cinema industry and movie theatres have been severely battered by revenue and job losses because of the Covid-19 pandemic with some independents and some venues of cinema chains in various malls that will never reopen again due to financial losses. 

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 another interesting turn of events, international film releases are - for the first time ever - going to be shown in cinemas elsewhere in Africa before South Africa since theatres are closed.

Cinema-goers in Kenya and Nigeria, Africa's largest markets besides South Africa, are set to see various Hollywood films during July, with their scheduled premiere dates that are not affected since cinemas elsewhere across the continent are remaining open despite the dramatic rise in Delta-variant cases and deaths. 

While over 1.3 million customers in South Africa have visited the cinema since reopening at the end of August 2020, "this new closure will have a devasting blow" on cinemas, says Ster-Kinekor.

"Ster-Kinekor is currently in business rescue and the impact of the current lockdown will have a devastating impact on the business. As an industry we employ thousands of people and create employment for thousands of others in related industries," the company says.

"Ster-Kinekor is compliant with all Covid-19 protocols, and the cinema remains one of the safest forms of entertainment due to access control, the ability to distance patrons accordingly, strict management of cleaning, and no-touch points for purchase."

"The health and safety of our staff and customers is our highest priority and we have been operating been under strict Covid-19 protocols and even exceeding governmental requirements.  Cinemas remain a safe indoor venue with no infections traced back to cinema globally."

Ster-Kinekor says that it is "massively excited for the upcoming slate of Hollywood blockbusters whilst cinemas continue to dole out much-needed doses of escapism."

ALSO READ: CORONAVIRUS. South Africa's struggling cinemas and theatres shuttering again in adjusted Level 4 as cases and deaths of contagious Delta-variant rise.

Coronavirus: South Africa's adjusted new Lockdown Level 3: Cinemas and theatres still open but drive-in experiences shuttered due to earlier curfew time.

by Thinus Ferreira

South Africa's cinemas and theatres are remaining open during the Adjusted Level 3 lockdown regulations although drive-ins and outdoor film viewing events during the evening have been cancelled and postponed because of the now earlier curfew time.

Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, South Africa's minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) on Tuesday during a media briefing clarified the Adjusted Level 3 lockdown regulations around Covid-19, saying that consumers are still allowed to visit establishments like cinemas and theatres.

The adjusted restrictions to try and curb the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus in South Africa will be in effect until at least 15 January 2021 with a new curfew time that now starts at 21:00 nightly until 06:00 in the morning.

"People can still go to restaurants, casinos, libraries, archives, and galleries. They have to be 50 maximum inside and 1.5 meters apart. Outdoors, it can be 100 people if a restaurant has outdoor seating. Cinemas are the same, you can still go to the cinema or theatre but keeping to those protocols," Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said.

"Just to clarify, the curfew now starts at 21:00 to 6:00. This means that during that time, all of us must be at home except those who are working or if you have an emergency – security or medical. But otherwise, we should be home."

Theatres and cinemas took a massive financial knock this year after they've been forced to shut down for several months.

Theatres and cinemas only recently reopened but have been struggling to lure patrons. South African theatres are mostly shut now during the end-of-year period and are only reopening from mid-January 2021 and later.

This year theatres have had their planned schedules completely disrupted and live performances cancelled. 

Cinemas - while now open again since late-August - are struggling with a lack of adequate new big-draw releases to pull in potential movie-goers. Studios and distributors don't want to release and burn off new films or blockbusters in cinemas since they can't recoup the investment.

Subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) has also been taking a bite out of cinema-window revenue in South Africa.

Rene van Rooyen's Toorbos - this year’s official South African submission for the 93rd Oscars in the Best International Feature Film Award category at America's annual Academy Awards - has just become the first new South Africa film ever to be released in cinemas and on television at the same time through MultiChoice's DStv BoxOffice, as a premium video-on-demand (PVoD) title.

This direct-to-streaming release strategy - similar to what NBCUniversal, WarnerMedia and others have been doing in the United States with film titles - will likely further cut into South African cinema attendance figures as some people who would have gone to the cinema opt to rather watch a new movie at home and pay a premium for it.

Drive-in shuttered

Lynne Wylie, head of marketing at Ster-Kinekor, told TVwithThinus on Wednesday that Ster-Kinekor cinemas "will continue to operate at a 50 people cap with shows ending at 20:00 so that our guest are able to get home before the curfew".

Ster-Kinekor's new drive-in theatre at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town that opened on 27 November has however shut down because of the earlier curfew that came into effect on Tuesday. "The drive-in will not be running over the next 14 days," says Lynne Wylie.

The various pop-up drive-in experiences held countrywide and funded and supported by the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) have also been cancelled and postponed. 

"Our NFVF supported drive-in cinema experiences scheduled will confirm new dates," the NFVF says.

TV NEWS ROUND-UP. Today's interesting TV stories to read - 5 October 2020.

Here's the latest news about TV that I read and that you should read too:  

■ Old TV set kept wiping out broadband for an entire Welsh village daily, at the same time and nobody knew that it was the reason.

■ Hollywood's new supervillain at the movies: Empty seats in cinemas.
Big-budget films now kept away from movie theatres because studios don't think they will make their money back if people don't attend.

■ Netflix's Ryan Murphy problem: Why has all of his TV series for Netflix been so bad from Ratched and The Politician to Hollywood?

■ "Ratings whore" Jeff Zucker helped to create the Donald Trump show. That show might now be ending.

A Frakenstein tale for the late TV age.

■ Has Donald Trump's Walter Reed hospital video been edited to get rid of coughing?

■ Ratings for America's 72nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards fall again to a new record-low as video streaming becomes the new normal and takes over from broadcasting.

■ How Netflix is selling itself to the world.

Beyond series and films, Netflix is now spending millions to market itself.

■ For America's big TV channels November has become the new September.

Because of Covid-19 the usual new 2020 fall season that is supposed to start in September is being pushed to November which is when the new season of "real" shows like This is Us and Grey's Anatomy seen on M-Net (DStv 101) will hopefully start.

■ Staffers at Ellen DeGeneres' Ellen Show says her season 18 premiere apology turned their trauma into a joke.

Ellen's on-air monologue slammed as disingenuous and tone-deaf.

■ More TV documentaries are being made than ever before.

But they're skipping the actual journalism because of constant conflicts of interest.

■ South Africa's boxing community in conflict over planned public protest and march set for 4 November at the SABC.

■ Why Enola Holmes on Netflix is a disappointing Sherlock Holmes movie.

■ Prince Harry and Meghan Markle alarmed at Netfli'sdemands - "They have to pay a price".

■ How Grey's Anatomy seen on M-Net (DStv 101) will tackle Covid-19 in the upcoming new season 17.

"We've actually reinvented the wheel."

■ What the TV viewership shift towards streaming means for advertising and advertisers.

■ South Africa's financially struggling SABC that already has corporate marketing and communication staff, as well as several other publicists, has appointed an external PR company to do its work.

■ With its explosion of unscripted content Netflix is putting its rivals on notice about reality TV.

■ Discovery Inc. is quietly ruling the reality TV world with guilty-pleasure programming.

Netflix and HBO will have to find their own 90 Day Fiance.

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: 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.

by Thinus Ferreira

Ster-Kinekor will reopen its cinema theatres in South Africa again on 28 August - with Nu Metro planning to do the same - but cinemagoers won't be able to buy movie tickets or snacks inside cinema foyers, and other stringent hygiene and social distancing rules will be in place.

Press screenings of films for review purposes are also resuming for South Africa's movie critics and journalists in Cape Town and Johannesburg from 1 September, with Durban that will follow soon.

Christopher Nolan’s Tenet is releasing on 28 August, while Disney’s live-action Mulan remake is set to be released on 11 September.

After having been shut for 5 months since late-March due to the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic and resulting national lockdown period in South Africa, Ster-Kinekor will reopen 32 of its cinemas on 28 August and its remaining 21 cinemas on 18 September 2020.

Nu Metro was asked on Wednesday when it might be opening it's chain of cinema theatres but told TVwithThinus that it couldn't officially comment on a reopening date. According to insiders Nu Metro however also plans to reopen on 28 August the same as Ster-Kinekor, pending government approval for Nu Metro's cinema protocol plans.

At Ster-Kinekor only 50 cinemagoers, excluding staff, will be allowed per cinema theatre and at the conclusion of a screening customers will have to leave a threatre from the back, row by row. People will have to remove their empty snack containers to discard in the dustbins which will be placed in the cinema foyers.

No physical movie tickets, or snacks and drinks from the concession stand, will be done inside cinema foyers and will have to be purchased through the Ster-Kinekor website or app.

Ster-Kinekor will implement a staggered approach for the starting and ending time of its carousel of films showing at cinemas at any given time, so that the number of people walking in to, existing out of, and queueing in foyers are reduced.

Ster-Kinekor is also upping its cleaning regime and will sanitise frequently touched cinemas surfaces. Ster-Kinekor will also be using a "misting device" which will be used to treal all auditoria, as well as lounge areas, foyers, hand railings and seats".

Masks and temperature screening will be compulsory at Ster-Kinekor when entering the cinema foyer but people will be allowed to temporarily removedthem inside the auditorium to eat and drink.

Ster-Kinekor says that its reopening will be done in a phased approach "to ensure that operationally employees have been trained on the new Covid-19 health and safety measures and all the personal protection equipment (PPE) required is ready when trading".

Motheo Matsau, Ster-Kinekor deputy CEO, says in a statement that "We've been getting ready to welcome patrons back to the cinema since government’s announcement on 6 July 2020. We have taken every step to ensure the safe return of our guests and staff to the cinema with our staff having undergone extensive Covid-19 operations training".

Ster-Kinekor says that it 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."

"All our staff will be screened before we open the cinemas each day, as well as at each shift. We will wear face masks and gloves where required and our staff have been trained on safe work practices to ensure safety for themselves and for our guests."




These Ster-Kinekor cinemas are opening on 28 August:

Western Cape
Bayside, Blue Route, Capegate, Cavendish, Garden Route, N1 City, Parow, Promenade, Somerset, Tyger Valley.

Gauteng
Brooklyn Commercial, Carnival City, Centurion, Cresta, Eastgate, Kolonnade, Mall of Africa, Sandton, The Grove, Vaal, Wonderpark.

KwaZulu-Natal
Gateway Commercial, Musgrave.

Eastern Cape
Baywest

Free State
Mimosa

Limpopo 
Mall of the North

Mpumalanga
Ilanga, Secunda.

North West
Mooi Rivier, Rustenburg.

Northern Cape
North Cape


ALSO READ: Coronavirus: After 5 months Nu Metro to reopen most of its cinemas in South Africa from 28 August on Fridays and Saturdays with new Covid-19 health protocols.

The NFVF offers funding to revive the Drive-In with cinema pop-ups to help support South African filmmakers.

by Thinus Ferreira

South Africa's National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) is calling for old-school Drive-In proposals with people who want to start one who might get funding of up to R150 000.

With cinemas in the country still closed because of the growing Covid-19 pandemic and with social distancing regulations in effect to try and curb the spread of the coronavirus, the Drive-In - people parked in their cars watching a film on a big screen outdoors - has been roaring back in countries across the globe.

The NFVF says it has decided to support Drive-In activations as a way to provide relief to communities hard hit by Covid-19, to offer alternative forms of entertainment whilst creating job opportunities for small companies, and to provide some type of a financial life-line for South African filmmakers.

The closing date for Drive-In proposals and applications to the NFVF is 24 July 2020. The NFVF says that a Drive-In is "uniquely positioned to limit physical contact yet provide a comfortable viewing space. With the right safety and healthy measures applied – Drive-In screenings can be implemented in the current lock-down provisions".

Companies who want to apply should have completed at least one outdoor screening event. More details and requirement can be found here and queries and proposal submissions can be emailed to distribution@nfvf.co.za or call 011 483 0880.

Coronavirus: Here is why South Africa's cinemas haven't reopened yet - and a flickering of hope.

by Thinus Ferreira

Cinemas across South Africa remain closed because of the Covid-19 pandemic - although the government recently allowed them to reopen - with the damaged industry that hopes to be able to announce a reopening date by next week.

Cinema chains and independent theatres all shut down in the last week of March. 

This coming Friday the big screens inside the dark cavernous theatres with their soft seats where moviegoers munched on popcorn will have been without a flickering for 4 months and counting - just one of the sectors within the country's wider entertainment and TV and film industry that have been left reeling and that suffered massive damage because of the commercial shut down. 

In late-June the South African government gazetted new lockdown rules allowing for the reopening of cinemas, restaurants and casinos who can open their doors but are not allowed to have more than 50 people.

Due to practical reasons, South African cinemas haven't reopened and been able to welcome moviegoers back.

South Africa's cinemas industry committee - comprising Nu Metro, Ster-Kinekor, other cinema groups, distributors, film studio representatives and other stakeholders - are again convening this week to map out the coordinated industry's reopening.

"We expect to be able to confirm reopening dates for cinemas by next week," Walter Gelderblom, Nu Metro spokesperson tells TVwithThinus.

"Engagement is also still ongoing with the government to clarify and discuss certain points, and to also obtain approval for cinemas' health and safety protocol-submissions as required by the gazetted regulations," he explains.

"The health and safety of staff and customers is of paramount importance so these discussions need to ensure all bases and eventualities are covered, also in light of the current rising rate of infections nationwide."

Walter Gelderblom says that one of the key limiting factors at this stage "is the lack of new content – due to almost all films' release dates having been postponed by the international film studios and distributors."

On Monday for instance TENET - an upcoming science fiction action thriller film written, produced and directed by Christopher Nolan - became the latest big-screen blockbuster that was postponed indefinitely in the latest blow to cinemas, and will no longer get a traditional global day-and-date release.


Cinema cost-cutting coming
Ryan Williams, Ster-Kinekor CEO, says the cinema chain continues to engage with the government around a safe and responsible reopening for movie theatres.

The situation at the shuttered Ster-Kinekor echoes the problems and challenges faced by Nu Metro, as well as the string of smaller and independent cinemas dotted across the country.

"As with many other businesses and industries, the absence of any revenue in our company over the past months has meant a hard look at our cost base. From May, most of our staff are on temporary lay-off with a handful of essential workers earning on a reduced hour basis," says Ryan Williams.

He explains that Ster-Kinekor has planned to make large cost cuts when the theatre chain reopens in various areas of the business "as we cannot afford some things as we restart".

"This is particularly necessary as we anticipate much higher cleaning and sanitation costs in our business when we are allowed to reopen in order to keep our environment safe for our staff and our guests."

"We have accepted that this is likely to be a 'new normal' for a period of time, and it is our duty to ensure that we are responsible in providing our services to all South Africans in a safe way when the big screen lights up again."

He says Ster-Kinekor doesn't plan on closing any cinema locations. "All locations are reviewed on a location by location basis when our leases come to an end and if the location makes business sense at that time, we will look to continue trading there."

Ryan Williams says that the Covid-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on the cinema industry as a whole.

"As the world started to feel the effects of Covid-19 more and more of the major blockbuster movie release dates started moving out, which has had a knock-on effect on our revenue projections."

Coronavirus: As TV remains powerful while cinemas, print and events suffer during Covid-19 in South Africa, ad agency head Chris Botha cautions against knee-jerk reaction in favour of a long term view: 'Keep spending but adapt to where you're spending it'.

by Thinus Ferreira

While TV ratings surge and television remains the most powerful advertising medium in South Africa during the global Covid-19 pandemic, cinemas, print and eventing will suffer during the country's national lockdown period although influential ad agency head Chris Botha cautions against spending less but advising clients to rather look at spending the same amount of money but to adapt where they're spending their advertising rands.

TVwithThinus spoke with ad agency boss Chris Botha, group managing director at Park Advertising, who says that says "television remains the best medium to use because people watch TV a lot and it remains the highest penetrating medium in South Africa".

"Television remains powerful. It's how you use television that people need to be a bit more adaptable about."

"How you use it will change. You might focus a bit more on entertainment programmes, or daytime television to move away from sport. Sport is under a lot of pressure with there being no live sport at the moment."

"We believe that during the Covid-19 national lockdown people are going to be watching a lot more television that what they did before. So it's just a question of  'What are they watching?' that will change and 'When are they watching?' There will be more daytime viewing, more entertainment viewing, less sport viewing, and more TV news channel viewing - those are the big changes that we'll see."

Chris Botha says that "all of the children are at home at the moment with an extended school holiday. We always see an uptick in kids viewing during the school holidays and without a doubt we will see that again during this period".

"Kids programming - a lot of parents have their kids at home during a longer time period where they didn't plan to have kids at home. Now, in order to keep those kids entertained and occupied I think television and the internet will be powerful mediums for advertisers to use."

Chris Botha says "Cinema will suffer - chains like Ster-Kinekor and Nu Metro are closed".

"So cinema will take strain because in terms of release windows a lot of the good content has also been moved out to later during the year - for instance the James Bond movie has been moved out; there are a few other movies that have been moved out to a later date because they're worried about audiences".

"Similarly, the school holidays are always big for cinema because they release kids movies which now isn't happening."

"So I think the big kids movie in March was going to be Disney's Mulan and Mulan has also been moved out because of exactly this."

"Cinema will struggle. I think print will struggle as well  - a lot of people buy their newspapers in the shops. Because of Covid-19 the shops are empty, so fewer consumers are going to be buying newspapers and magazines. They're already struggling and now they're going to struggle even more."

"Outdoor isn't as directly measured so I don't think it will struggle as much," he says.

"The guys who are really going to take a hit are events. I feel deeply for event organising companies. With so many events being called off, I think event companies are going to take a lot of hits and I think we're going to see a lot of job losses and we're going to see a lot of companies close their doors."

"If they're not hosting events they're simply not making money and they're not making money at the moment."

"You need to have a long-term view," says Chris Botha. "Advertising spend is always a symptom of revenue. The more money you make, the more money you spend on advertising. I think as companies make less money they tend to look at that expense line of advertising first. So a lot of people are cutting."

"I would however like to tell people that there's a lot of research that's been proven that marketing in a recession helps a company and brand to gain market share. For you to have a big voice in your category is usually very difficult."

"However, if you do marketing during a downturn you actually gain more audience in the long run."

"My advice would be have a long term view. Let's not have a knee-jerk reaction in the short term. Keep the wheels turning. Keep going. Instead of spending less on advertising, rather look at spending the same amount of money but adapt to where you're spending it. Adaptability is absolutely key."