Open cinema halls - Multiplex Assn, filmmakers

Multiplex Association, filmmakers request Centre to open cinema halls

Mumbai, Aug 30 (PTI) Several Bollywood producers, actors along with the Multiplex Association of India (MAI) on Sunday urged the Centre to open the cinema halls, which have remained shut amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The country went into lockdown from March 25 to contain the spread of coronavirus pandemic.

The government started unlocking in phase-wise manner from June with opening up of domestic travel, offices, markets, shopping complexes, etc in non-containment zones

Amid rising COVID-19 cases in the country, under the government''s Unlock 4 guidelines, cinema chains have not been given permission to operate.

The official account of Multiplex Association of India tweeted—under the hashtag "Support Movie Theatres"—that the cinema industry is not only an inherent part of the country''s culture, but also an integral part of the economy, "supporting millions of livelihoods."

"Most countries across the world have allowed cinemas to operate. We request the Government Of India to allow us to operate as well. We are committed to offering a safe and hygienic cinema experience.

"If aviation, metro, malls, wellness and restaurants can be allowed to operate, the cinema industry too deserves a chance," the association wrote.

MAI had last month submitted a set of SOPs to various Central ministries as well as Prime Minister''s Office and Niti Aayog.

Producer Boney Kapoor, whose film "Maidaan" had to be stalled amid the pandemic, took to Twitter and wrote,"#SupportMovieTheatres #SaveCinemas."

He was joined by colleagues from the industry, including actor Parvin Dabas, "Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota" actor Abhimanyu Dassani and Shibasish Sarkar, Group Chief Executive Officer- Content, Digital and Gaming at Reliance Entertainment.

Dabas said cinema halls contribute majorly to the economy and it was important to reopen them.

"We need to get the economy going. Movie halls are a big part of that, they are committed to giving a safe environment to the film goers. Let’s open them before it’s too late," he wrote.

Abhimanyu, whose film "Nikamma" was scheduled to release this year, said efforts should be made to to open theatres.

"Let''s make it safe enough for the public. Please reopen theatres and bring that magic back to life," the actor tweeted.

Reliance Entertainment''s two upcoming releases, "Sooryavanshi" and "83", stand delayed amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Sarkar said the pandemic has deeply affected those who worked at cinema halls.

"Salary Subsidy Scheme in UK, CARES Act 2020 in US, Canada Emergency Wage Service in Canada, govt supported to protect jobs. In India thousands and millions have lost jobs or pay cuts with no income of cinema hall owners. Halls are now closed for 6 months. #SupportMovieTheatres," he tweeted.

According to MAI, the multiplex industry in India employs over 2,00,000 people who are the backbone of the Indian film industry as they account nearly 60 per cent of revenues of film business. PT

https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/multiplex-association-filmmakers-request-centre-to-open-cinema-halls/1925948

Isn't there a higher risk of contacting the virus in a closed room with around 200 people for 2-2.5 hours?

yes please open cinema halls.......covid count kahin neeche chala gaya....we will lose our position ...😎

Cinema halls should not be opened now since there has been huge increase of covid 19 cases in India now, also I think people will not be ready to go to cinema halls since there will be fear in people's minds regarding contacting covid 19 from the cinema halls where there will be 200 people with no or little social distancing in one room for 2 hours so people will never be ready to go cinema halls now if cinema halls will be opened and also most people of India are suffering from financial problems and unemployment problems due to covid so why will people waste their precious money on watching films when there is a huge risk in their health of catching virus because of watching films on cinema halls and for entertainment I think people have got more options now like TV shows, watching new films on ott, web series which is more safe for now because of covid than watching films on cinema halls. Because of these reasons I think cinema halls should not be opened now. I think the best option now is to open cinema halls only when the situation of covid 19 will get better most probably next year👍🏼

The per day case load is highest across the world, and they want to open theatres.

Originally posted by: Ashley.Tisdale

Isn't there a higher risk of contacting the virus in a closed room with around 200 people for 2-2.5 hours?

It's as risky as people travelling in airplanes, metros or hanging out in malls, gyms and restaurants that have all resumed business. Unless you are at home, you are unsafe everywhere .Plus there won't be 200 people in a room. It will open in a phased manner with social distancing maintained in seating as well with gaps between seats and restrooms. Contactless ticketing too. The theatres also need to co-operate and allow cinemas to start with the proposed 30% occupancy. So don't see why theatres should be closed when marriages in wedding halls with 100 people are being allowed in unlock 4.0.

I think it's a given that theatres, malls, airways, etc are high risk zones but it's been six months now and everyone in this country has realised that it's impossible to live without things being open otherwise in India people will die from unemployment and not having food to eat at home before corona.

Originally posted by: insideroutsider

It's as risky as people travelling in airplanes, metros or hanging out in malls, gyms and restaurants that have all resumed business. Unless you are at home, you are unsafe everywhere .Plus there won't be 200 people in a room. It will open in a phased manner with social distancing maintained in seating as well with gaps between seats and restrooms. Contactless ticketing too. The theatres also need to co-operate and allow cinemas to start with the proposed 30% occupancy. So don't see why theatres should be closed when marriages in wedding halls with 100 people are being allowed in unlock 4.0.

I think it's a given that theatres, malls, airways, etc are high risk zones but it's been six months now and everyone in this country has realised that it's impossible to live without things being open otherwise in India people will die from unemployment and not having food to eat at home before corona.

I am a part of one of the major industries that has been highly affected by the virus and feel its best if nothing opens yet. The second curve of the virus is yet to come and our tardiness will cause it to happen.

Everyone's found alternate sources of income. The ones who aren't from major cities have gone back to their hometowns. Expenses have gone down drastically and money is spent only on essentials. Certain companies have even compensated the employees. Frankly speaking we'd chose to be alive than risk our health this way. Believe it or not certain places of work that require the most human contact aren't even given PPF kits.

Look what happened at the sets of Balaji Telefilms shooting. Almost everyone got affected despite taking precautions. So to put it crassly, we could die trying to earn our income this way. No thank you.

There's a huge difference between a mall and a cinema screen. You'd move around the mall but sit in one confined area in a cinema screen. The virus is in droplet forms which doesn't travel longer distances easily. Why would people risk their lives for few hours of entertainment? And why would any of these workers put their health at risk when they have found alternate ways to earn that don't confine them in a space with a crowd that may or may not be infected.

Originally posted by: Ashley.Tisdale

So to put it crassly, we could die trying to earn our income this way. No thank you.

And why would any of these workers put their health at risk when they have found alternate ways to earn that don't confine them in a space with a crowd that may or may not be infected.

Just because a chunk of people have found alternate ways to earn doesn't mean it applies to everybody. We are all talking here with a lot of privilege. Privilege of staying home, working from home and having opportunities to have alternate income. How many people are going to find alternate income? When did finding jobs become so easy in this country? That too during a pandemic with so many job losses. Where is the alternate job to begin with? The very reason why so many people are back to work despite no vaccine or proper PPE kits pretty much speaks volumes of the desparation of jobs and needing to get back to work.

You cited an example of Balaji productions, please go to any such sets where shoots have resumed and ask the daily wager crew members, especially the spot dadas,light dadas, etc. EVERYBODY is ready to resume work without any sort of hesitation or PPE kits because they themselves have expressed that they need food at home and can't afford to sit unemployed any longer. Same with the single screen theatres in the country which have already been having a tough time with multiplexes coming in and employees being unqualified for any other jobs. They too are ready to get back to work.

Delhi and Mumbai are two of the worst affected cities in the country. And are severely overpopulated. People living in these cities (the masses) have anyways been struggling to get jobs much before corona so please tell me what are the alternate job opportunities that have suddenly opened up during this pandemic? Lets not be blinded by our privileges and think that staying at home and not opening things around for the economy is the perfect solution for all. It is not and nothing other than this lockdown has taught us the same. All migrant labourers who went back home during lockdown are coming back to the cities because there are no jobs back home. Again what do they feed their families if they don't get back to work?

Nothing makes a common man with limited resources fear for his life more than the loss of income and not having food and roof on top of his head. Definitely not a virus. And the urgency of Unlock 4 despite India hitting a 80k daily report proves the same. The unlock is for the economy. Those who are privileged enough to stay and work from home and find alternative jobs can very well do the same but sadly the distribution of wealth in this country does not allow all to enjoy the same privilege. And for that, they will have to get back to work.

Originally posted by: insideroutsider

Just because a chunk of people have found alternate ways to earn doesn't mean it applies to everybody. We are all talking here with a lot of privilege. Privilege of staying home, working from home and having opportunities to have alternate income. How many people are going to find alternate income? When did finding jobs become so easy in this country? That too during a pandemic with so many job losses. Where is the alternate job to begin with? The very reason why so many people are back to work despite no vaccine or proper PPE kits pretty much speaks volumes of the desparation of jobs and needing to get back to work.

You cited an example of Balaji productions, please go to any such sets where shoots have resumed and ask the daily wager crew members, especially the spot dadas,light dadas, etc. EVERYBODY is ready to resume work without any sort of hesitation or PPE kits because they themselves have expressed that they need food at home and can't afford to sit unemployed any longer. Same with the single screen theatres in the country which have already been having a tough time with multiplexes coming in and employees being unqualified for any other jobs. They too are ready to get back to work.

Delhi and Mumbai are two of the worst affected cities in the country. And are severely overpopulated. People living in these cities (the masses) have anyways been struggling to get jobs much before corona so please tell me what are the alternate job opportunities that have suddenly opened up during this pandemic? Lets not be blinded by our privileges and think that staying at home and not opening things around for the economy is the perfect solution for all. It is not and nothing other than this lockdown has taught us the same. All migrant labourers who went back home during lockdown are coming back to the cities because there are no jobs back home. Again what do they feed their families if they don't get back to work?

Nothing makes a common man with limited resources fear for his life more than the loss of income and not having food and roof on top of his head. Definitely not a virus. And the urgency of Unlock 4 despite India hitting a 80k daily report proves the same. The unlock is for the economy. Those who are privileged enough to stay and work from home and find alternative jobs can very well do the same but sadly the distribution of wealth in this country does not allow all to enjoy the same privilege. And for that, they will have to get back to work.

People with degrees have already applied online for distance jobs. Most of gotten it, whether they are internships or full time distance jobs. The ones who are not qualified enough for anything else have started working for services like Zomato and at kiraane ki dukaan. Most people have already left the city. The major dwellings that were super crowded are actually empty. Some of even chosen not to come back and have found something or the other at their hometowns. There are various NGOs who are helping with basic amenities like food.

Are u serious about this? If they don't go they'll lose their job in the long run. No one is ecstatic to go back to work if there's no guarantee that they'll be okay. The companies that are compensating their employees still provide them salaries while their place of work is closed. Personal expenses have been cut down to half.

I would happily go and ask people working at Filmcity or Balaji's personal film studio. But you know why I won't? Corona. Producers have earned crores of rupees over the years and are still earning from TV/Film rights and streaming services. They have more than enough money to take care of all their employees for the next couple of years. And another thing...not everyone is allowed to work on sets. Their crew number has gone down. So aren't they losing job anyways instead of getting compensations from their head boss? What's better in this scenario?

I am talking about the financial capital. Its where I've lived most my life. And people have left the city in the very beginning. People in the cities have been struggling coz we've had overpopulation and while there were approx enough jobs for people living in the city already but not enough for locals+migrants. There are distance jobs available, you have to look into them online. Migrants will return to the cities and find work but if no one is taking care of their wellbeing, and tomorrow they get diagnosed by corona and something were to happen them god forbid, then what would happen? Isn't it better work with min human contact?

Okay so restaurants have opened. Now imagine this:

Seating areas at restaurant have opened. The waiter goes to a table and takes their order. He doesn't have PPF on and one person on the table is infected. He then takes the order to the kitchen. Everyone is sanitised in the kitchen but the virus has entered the kitchen. It infects the employees, maybe even the food. Now everyone is at risk, whether or not they had any relation to the infected person.

Another example: single screens

So they open for people with all precautions. But people are scared to go to cinemas. Everyone will prefer OTTs or TV right now. So single screen owners will have their own running expenses like electricity, food, air conditioning, sanitising everyone etc. But when people are not buying anything, tickets or misc, then owners are going in losses. Not even breakeven. Companies will liquidate. Employees will lose their jobs forever.

More than privileges it's become important to survive. People who work at offices are working online, even clerical work. Spread of population is more integral here. Because anyone from the countryside live at so distance of kms. Chances of the virus spreading is lower.

Either this people will die(or get sick) from COVID or die starving. I see everything else is open.. shops, gym,malls, airports etc etc.. if you don’t want to go then don’t go