INTERVIEW
How will the cinema reopen? Professionals in the sector, at a standstill since the start of the health crisis, are impatiently waiting for June 2, the date on which, depending on the evolution of the Covid epidemic, should be specified, a possible timetable for the reopening of cinemas . "We do not have a date yet. Rumors suggest a reopening on July 1, but we do not yet know the conditions under which this reopening will take place, except that all precautions will be taken to guarantee both security people who work in theaters and that of spectators, "wants to reassure at the microphone of Europe 1 Jean Labadie, producer and distributor of films, founder in particular of the companies BAC Films and Le Pacte.
After two months of confinement, this professional has no doubt that the French will return in large numbers to dark rooms, despite the fear that could be caused by being locked up for more than an hour in a closed space with other people. "People will come back to theaters, there is nothing equivalent to the experience of a film on the big screen," says Jean Labadie.
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A cinema park adapted to the implementation of sanitary measures
Especially since the very good quality of the infrastructure available to France should facilitate the implementation of satisfactory health precautionary measures. "We surely have the most beautiful room park in the world. Most of the cities have a multiplex with remarkable projection conditions and graduated seats. We have air conditioning in all the rooms. I think they will be easy to return to the cinema without danger ", estimates this producer. "Most of the rooms are equipped so that you can buy your tickets without having to queue."
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However, the establishment of social distancing in the rooms, by blocking for example one seat out of two, risks generating a shortfall on certain usually full sessions, such as those of Saturday evening or Sunday afternoon. "At first, to make up for the lost sessions, it will be enough in the multiplexes to put one more screen (to project the same film in two rooms at the same time, note )", suggests Jean Labadie, who admits however that this practice risks to benefit blockbuster first, to the detriment of more modest productions.