South coast cinemas hope James Bond will save them post lockdown
The south coast’s passionate cinema operators are hopeful people will return to the age-old tradition of an afternoon at the movies to help save them from the brink post-lockdown.
The South Coast News
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With no more lockdowns on the horizon, south coast cinemas are hoping people will return to the age-old tradition of going to the movies after more than a year of trying to survive in a Covid-affected world.
Twin-screen modern independent cinema The Picture Show Man, in Merimbula, is the Bega Valley’s only place to see the latest movies and while it has struggled throughout the pandemic, there are hopes double vaccinated residents will return to the movies when it reopens its doors on Tuesday.
General manager Jesse Tankard said the region was in a unique situation, with unlinked active Covid cases in the community for the first time in over a year and no lockdown being enforced.
“It’s been a little bit difficult for our industries like ours, because we rely on big groups gathering together inside,” he said.
“We know people are wanting to go back to the movies again.
“There’s been so many unknowns through the pandemic, but now we know people will feel more secure knowing people have proved they have been vaccinated.”
While the federal government gave the business a “lifeline from the pandemic” last week with $35,000 in grant help, he hopes the release of the latest James Bond film No Time to Die, which was originally supposed to hit screens in November 2019, will get bums back on seats.
“When it’s released next month it will open the flood gates,” he said.
Mr Tankard said the federal support would help pay wages and other costs.
He said one silver lining coming from the lack of Hollywood blockbusters on screens during the pandemic has been the ability for cinemas not in lockdown to highlight Australian films.
“Hopefully it’s opened people’s eyes to Australian films like The Dry, which they may not normally see,” he said.
NSW Liberal Senator Jim Molan said the funding would help the cinema recover from “significant declines in revenue” during the pandemic.
“I’m pleased to announce that The Picture Show Man have been approved for a grant of $35,000 as part of the Morrison Government’s $20 million SCREEN Fund,” he said.
“This funding will enable our independent cinemas to keep operating during a period of severe disruption, which is so important to the fabric of our community.”
Jervis Bay’s Jeff Visser bought the Arcadia Cinema in Ulladulla just weeks before the latest lockdown and also runs the Perry Street Cinema in Batemans Bay.
His staff have been relying on disaster payments from the government, and he has also received funding from the federal SCREEN fund.
“We’ve been relying on inadequate government assistance because we weren’t making money and still had to pay rent,” he said.
“We knew lockdowns would happen and kept all our reserve money aside, but we didn’t think it would last this long.
“Twelve months later we are still in a terrible position, but we are hoping with some good movies coming out things will turn around.
“The new Bond film should kick us off into making a few bucks, so hopefully this is the end of the pandemic. We think we will come back strongly.”
He said, unlike most south coast businesses, he would be hoping for lots of rain over the summer holidays to draw as many punters as possible.
“We love running cinemas. It’s our passion and we’re not out to make millions of dollars,” he said.
Federal Arts Minister Paul Fletcher said the government wanted to keep cinemas open during the pandemic.
“Independent cinemas are so important to the social and cultural health of our communities in Australia, which is why we acted quickly to introduce our $20 million SCREEN Fund,” he said.
Business NSW chief executive Daniel Hunter said the loosening of lockdown restrictions were an opportunity for residents to help local businesses like cinemas.
“When we talk about businesses reopening, it’s important that we remember that this is about people, their livelihoods and their mental wellbeing,” he said.
“The best way to get people employed again and for existing staff to increase their shifts is to ensure local businesses have a great supply of customers – so the challenge is absolutely out there for people to visit their favourite cafe or restaurant, go back to the hairdresser, enjoy a meal at the local pub and support business owners and their employees.”
NSW Finance and Small Business Minister Damien Tudehope said there was no doubt businesses across the state have done it tough during the lockdown.
“While the NSW Government was able to provide financial assistance to businesses, the best support we can provide is to lift restrictions in a Covid-safe way,“ he said.
“This is an exciting day for businesses across NSW and I want to thank them for their sacrifices, their patience and their resilience as we navigated our way through this global health pandemic.”
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