Summary

The cinema industry is adapting to the challenges posed by the pandemic through innovative measures such as drive-in cinemas, virtual cinema experiences, online food and beverage sales, and stringent safety protocols.

Abstract

The cinema industry, facing closure since mid-March, is exploring creative solutions to survive the pandemic. With movie releases being delayed and content scarce, cinemas are looking at alternative revenue streams. Drive-in cinemas are making a comeback globally, from Indonesia to Russia, offering a socially distanced movie-watching experience. Virtual cinema is emerging as a new concept, where viewers can purchase tickets online and receive a link to stream the movie, although it's still gaining traction. Additionally, cinemas are selling their signature food and beverages online to maintain some revenue flow. Safety protocols are being heavily emphasized for future reopenings, with measures such as reduced capacity, encouraged online booking, and thorough cleaning between shows. Despite the rise of online streaming, the industry remains hopeful, anticipating a resurgence in cinema attendance once the pandemic becomes more manageable.

Opinions

The author believes that the pandemic has forced the cinema industry to innovate, particularly in finding ways to operate with closed sites and in planning for reopening.
There is skepticism and positive feedback regarding the resurgence of drive-in cinemas, but the author suggests it may become a popular alternative before traditional cinemas fully reopen.
The concept of virtual cinema is seen as very new and not yet popular, but it is being discussed within the industry as a potential way to watch movies at home differently from streaming services like Netflix.
The author expresses that selling food and beverages online is a novel approach in their country, and it has been receiving orders, which is a positive development for maintaining revenue.
The author indicates that

I Work In The Cinema Industries, Here’s What To Expect Later

We are not going to lose to online streamings too.

Note: I am not going to reveal everything, but will only gather all that are publically announced.

So, I took a job at the cinema office. It’s been really hectic lately since we closed since mid- March, though it’s getting slightly better. However, we are still not in a great position to go tech as most industries did. Our industry involves gathering people, and it’s not encouraging people to stay at home, not with people anxious to get back to the cinemas.

Around the world, cinemas are all in the same situation. We are all closed, no one is visiting the sites except crews, they make sure the projectors and other items there are not damaged or stolen. As of now, we can’t do anything but keep the cinemas closed.

Even if we can open now, we don’t know what to show. There have been more delays in movies that are pushed further. Contents are not coming in, it gives fewer reasons for guests to visit us. That’s when it’s a huge alert for us as we had to brainstorm how to gain revenues even when the sites are closed.

I can tell you, that the good thing about this pandemic is that we are getting a little more creative on how to operate when sites are closed and what to expect when it reopens. So here’s what to expect when the cinemas reopen:

Drive-In Cinemas

Never did we realize that the old fashion way of watching a movie is coming back. I’ve asked people what they thought about Drive-In cinemas, there are some skeptics and some positive feedback about this. However, like the concept or not, this may be a new choice that people will have to accept.

In Indonesia, Meikarta, we have had this already, and there are people finally going for the first time. It’s not popular yet, but I have a feeling that this will be the new thing before cinemas can open again.

In Russia recently, they have opened Drive-in Cinemas. They were able to play My Spy to this new concept, and there are people going. Some people just can’t stand waiting anymore, and it looks like there has been positive feedback, as long as they follow the safety protocols. Moscow is now finding new ways to get more cinema Drive-ins as long as the pandemic is still here.

There are other countries that are doing this, but this old concept will help keep the cinema business alive.

Virtual Cinema

I don’t think it’s popular yet, but as I joined an online Cinema community, there have been talks about this. It’s a very new concept, another way to watch at home but not in a streaming way like Netflix does.

Basically, virtual cinema is like Netflix. If the cinema supports this, the concept will be like this:

Download the cinema app.
Put in your personal details, email is very important.
Buy their ticket to which movie you want to watch.
The cinema will send you a link to the movie.
Check your email.
Find the link and click it.
Enjoy.

It’s still very new so it’s not popular yet because if there are trouble sin internet connections, that’s a problem. There are definitely talks about this, but there hasn’t been a lot of films to support this yet. After all, it’s a new concept for the cinema industries.

Selling Food & Beverages Online

Don’t you miss popcorn? I do! So we are selling the popcorn we usually sell in the cinemas online. This has been going on recently and the orders are coming in. I am not sure about other countries, but this is something new in my country as far as I know.

Not only are we selling popcorns, but we are also selling other snacks that we have been providing on the menu as well. Soda, nachos, and so many others. There have been orders coming up and we are grateful that we are still able to gain revenues from here.

Now that we are allowed to sell online, we are no longer limited to just sell during the show. Guests can buy online and during the show, so it’s no longer limited to just to buy in the cinemas.

Heavy Safety Protocols

I think the one we frequently heard is no sitting next to each other. So no more full capacity of seats until further notice.

However, seating arrangements aren’t the only thing. In Dubai, they announced what guests should do and what they should expect once the cinema reopens:

Online booking is more encouraged
The time for the next show could be later because cleaning must be done thoroughly now. So you may want to expect fewer shows than it used to be.
Bring your own water bottles.
No more blankets for VIP studios.

There is a possibility that cinemas will be closed earlier since malls won’t allow an extended opening operational hour. Midnight shows may not appear much until further notice.

Overall, cinemas won’t die. Online streaming may be a saving grace for studios, but there is definitely a different feeling between watching at home and watching in the cinemas. Avengers Endgame proved that.

That is why once this pandemic is more manageable, the cinema business will be an exploding business.

Waiting for that day, currently, cinemas are getting creative in keeping the business alive as we come into the new normal. Obviously, it won’t be the same as it was yet, but cinemas are taking extensive measures to keep you all safe when it reopens.

I hope you all learn something here.