Confidence is high despite new lockdown
For all the disappointment of shutting again, Chichester Cinema at New Park goes into the second national lockdown in good heart. The first lockdown – plus the few weeks of its post-lockdown reopening – underlined both the resilience and the fantastic loyalty of the cinema’s audiences.
Walter Francisco, cinema director and programmer, said: “I always knew that the audiences here were fantastic, but it is great that it is not just me saying it. It is us actually seeing it in action. Our audiences came back to us – and they chose to come back to us during this time of coronavirus. And it wasn’t always for personal reasons of wanting to see a particular film. It was because they were wanting to help out New Park.
“In the back of my mind I was preparing for this (second lockdown). I had to do what I had to do which was to create a new programme, and we did a six-week programme which was supposed to start on Friday, following on from the first four-week programme after coming back. But we did know in the backs of our minds that this was possibly going to happen and that it would be back into lockdown.”
It is more frustrating this time: “The first time it was the feeling that it was going to happen; and this time it was the feeling that it was going to happen as well, just this time with more frustration. And I think the reason it has been so frustrating is that we had just recently reopened and had done so successfully. Our patrons came in numbers and gave us great feedback. They were really friendly and really wanted to support us. We managed two weeks and six days…”
But the great news is that the cinema was getting close to the 40 people per screening which it had needed to break even, and numbers were growing. Walter had suspected they might get around 25 people.
“But we have already proved that we can get through this and come out strong. It is just another month or maybe five weeks. My gut feeling is that we won’t be able to come straight back on December 2 (when the lockdown is currently due to lift).
“My gut feeling is that it is going to be another week so that they can get it really under control for Christmas. We have got the six-week programme and the first three weeks of that will be covered by the lockdown. Let’s say we come back December 3 or 4, we can come back into that programme. But there will be films that won’t now get released because of lockdown. But we have got a framework to work with at the very least.
“My feeling is that when we can get back to it, it won’t be too much hassle. And I am confident that we will get people back in before Christmas. My feeling is that it will be a five-week lockdown or maybe even a six-week lockdown, but I definitely think we will open again in time for Christmas.”
The point is that the cinema holds a unique place in the affections of the community it serves: “There is a real loyalty and a real love for us.
“We are totally independent, and there is nobody making bucketloads of money out of people.
“We are locally placed and serve the community.”