- Attendance has not decreased in French theaters, despite the epidemic.
- The closed rooms are gradually reopening.
- A film distributor calls for people not to give in to psychosis.
Closed cinemas, deprogrammed films… What will become of French theaters in the context of the Coronavirus epidemic? Richard Patry, president of the National Federation of French Cinemas sweeps away many worries that can generate this question.
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On the set of TF1 for the recording of the program "Les restos du coeur: tous au rendez-vous" with Patrice Blanc, the President of Restos, Christophe Willem and hosted by Anne Claire Coudray. I presented the results of the operation "Cinema has a heart". Broadcast on TF1 Friday March 6 after the bastards concert. A very nice experience for me
A post shared by Richard Patry (@richardpatry) on Feb 27, 2020 at 11:29 am PST
"The French continue to want to go to the movies," he explains. For the moment, there has not been a drop in attendance with four million indoor spectators last week, which is the usual average. "And to tell us that spectators continue to frequent dark rooms on a regular basis in recent days.
Essential precautions
Operators make a point of ensuring the safety of all those who enter their rooms. “We are legalists and follow the instructions of the government to the letter, insists Richard Patry. Note however that it is no more dangerous to see a film where everyone is looking at the screen than to be on top of each other on public transport. The public seems to agree with him.
The rooms reopen
The Federation sees things evolving for the better with the reopening of several cinemas in Morbihan and those, probable but still under negotiation, of the cinemas of Oise. “In Morbihan, only three cinemas in the cluster remain closed, insists Richard Patry. For those close to us, we have taken precautions. Like that of committing to filling the rooms only halfway so that spectators can have a free seat on each side of theirs if they wish.
The owner of @mementofilms, @alexmemento, calls on "distributors, producers, exhibitors and public authorities to stand together to avert a dangerous downward spiral in attendance, with the closure of cinemas and postponement of outings". Pic. twitter.com/QFvLsavVCv
- Olivier du Jaunet (@Odujaunet) March 6, 2020Worrying deprogramming
Some producers and distributors have chosen to delay the release of their films. This is particularly the case for Miss by Ruben Alves and Rocks by Sara Gavron or, announced today, Pinocchio by Matteo Garrone and La Daronne by Jean-Paul Salomé. These postponements should not multiply, says Richard Patry, "because we can never reabsorb all the films planned if they are to be released in the fall. The traffic jam could be detrimental to many feature films.
“The case of the James Bond, Dying can wait , is different because it is an international strategy in which France does not really come into play. "
A reassuring message
Fortunately, others such as Alexandre Mallet-Guy, director of the company Memento which distributes La Bonneouse by Martin Provost on March 11, have chosen to release their films against all odds.
He calls on cinema professionals not to give in to psychosis in a press release. “I agree with him 250%, insists Richard Patry. Many of our fellow citizens want to continue living a normal life, which means that they want to continue going to the movies. "
What about platforms?
Obviously, legal download platforms can take advantage of this tendency to stay at home. "Home entertainment may be on the rise," admits Richard Patry. But the French need to escape and go out, which we offer them safely in cinemas. An optimistic message that should be heard by the public, a few weeks before the Printemps du Cinéma.
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