IT’S SHOWTIME
City movie theaters finally set to reopen
For movie stars like Jeffrey Wright, there are few greater rewards than seeing the final product on a screen that’s bigger than a billboard.
“There are so many platforms for films now, certainly,” Wright told the Daily News. “But there’s nothing like gathering together to take in a great film or a great play. People are tired of sitting in their living rooms watching the walls close in.” The wait is finally over. Sort of. Starting Friday, movie buffs across the city can head to their favorite theaters, which are re-opening at 25% capacity under a new directive from Gov. Cuomo.
The movie houses, like most cultural venues across the five boroughs, were shut down 11 months ago to help stop the spread of coronavirus.
But starting this week, after nearly a year of streaming their favorite films on platforms like Netflix and HBO Max, movie lovers can once again sit in the big cushy reclining chairs of an actual theater, where they can all go to the lobby and have themselves a snack.
Wright could not be happier for them
“When people do return to cinemas, they’ll be smart about it and they’ll have a good time,” Wright said. “I can’t say what the timing for that is or should be, but I’m 100 percent certain that the day will come and we’ll all gather together again.”
Wright, 55, has his own pandemic challenges to deal with. He has been stuck for months on a movie set in London, where coronavirus restrictions are even tighter than those in New York. Under normal conditions, Wright would travel back and forth between the U.K. set and his home in Brooklyn, but the conditions have forced him to remain abroad, away from his children.
“Most of the U.K. is on lockdown,” Wright said..”So I’m either at work or in isolation.”
Wright is working on the set of “The Batman,” where he plays Police Commissioner Jim Gordon. Despite rigid pandemic protocols, production was briefly delayed after the film’s star, Robert Pattinson contracted coronavirus, proving that not even the make-believe universe that movie makers operate in is immune from the global scourge.
Film historian Philip Harwood said he can’t wait to get in front of a giant screen and eat popcorn that didn’t come out of his microwave. But with the pandemic plot still falling in the category of a mystery, Harwood said he is not sure if the movie houses are ready for their closeups.
“You have to take baby steps with everything,” Harwood said. “It’s like rising from the ashes. My concern is with being in the theater. “They’re going to be eating popcorn and taking off their masks. I would be the first one to go back in the theater and see it on the big screen. But I’m very hesitant about it.” He’s not the only one. “Movie theaters have always been filthy,” said Dana Walsh, 54, a movie buff from the Upper West Side.” Cleanliness in movie theaters is lacking. I won’t be seeing a movie until this is over.”
Walsh said she takes issue with theaters getting the green light while Broadway remains closed.
“If movies are reopening, what about Broadway?” Walsh said. “Massive Hollywood production companies can continue to make movies in our city while New York stage actors are being completely forgotten. Open Broadway.”
Film fan Rachel Goldstein, 32, said she doesn’t anticipate any drama.
“For me, seeing a movie doesn’t feel any less safe than eating in a restaurant,” said Goldstein, who lives on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. “Most theaters are huge and people will be able to spread out. I can keep my mask on while sitting through a movie. I’ve been looking forward to seeing ‘Black Widow.’
You can’t watch a Marvel movie at home. It’s a theater experience.”
Movie theater managers said they’re ready for action.
“We feel confident opening up now,” said Matthew Viragh, 42, owner of Nitehawk Cinema Williamsburg and Nitehawk Cinema Prospect Park, where meals and cocktails are also on the menu. “Most of our staff have been vaccinated already and we hope our customers will be too. My perspective is everyone’s ready to get some sense of normalcy going.”
Viragh said he opened his sites for outdoor restaurant service.
“It doesn’t take too much more to extend that,” Viragh said.
Masks are required for customers at both theaters unless they are eating or drinking. Staff will wipe surfaces between screenings, and deep clean the sites on Mondays when theaters are closed, Viragh said.
Every other row will be used and two seats on either side will be blocked off when tickets are booked.
“That means that some theaters will have 10, 20 seats,” Viragh said “It’s almost like a private screening. It’s certainly not like we’re printing money at 25 %,” Viragh said.
Andrew Elgart’s family owns Cobble Hill Cinemas, Kew Gardens Cinemas and Williamsburg Cinemas. They won’t be opening on Friday, but hope to be up and running soon.
“I just spoke to our booker today to try and get our heads around everything,” said Elgart, 43. “We’re hoping by the end of the month.”
Preparation has been going on behind the scenes for months, he told The News.
“We ordered air conditioner filters eight months ago. We were fully prepared to open again. When we got shut we were looking toward the future.”
His theaters will use reserved seating and booking in blocks to allow “buffers” around moviegoers, said Elgart.
Hand sanitizer dispensers will be placed throughout the buildings and masks will be required. Armrests and other surfaces will be wiped down between shows.
“It’s almost the same business, but cleaner,” said Elgart. “We want to make sure we’re feeling comfortable, staff, everyone.”
Like Viragh, Elgart said it would be challenging financially opening at a 25 % capacity.
“You usually have a full house on the weekends that keeps you open during the week,” he said. “And the film companies still want their money, their business hasn’t changed.”
“We’re just going to be happy to have people come,” said Elgart. “Hopefully by summer we’ll be up to 50%.
The Angelika Film Center in Manhattan will be showing “Minari,” “Nomadland,” “Quo Vadis, Aida?” and “The Father,” when it opens on Friday.
“For physical distancing, we have reserved seating where it’s checkerboard,” said an employee who wanted to remain anonymous. “One of the local guidelines is changing filters and to make sure we have the appropriate HEPA filters... That’s a part of it.”
When the AMC theater chain starts running projectors again Friday, film buffs can catch new releases like, “Raya and The Last Dragon,” “Tom & Jerry” and “Chaos Walking.”
“At many of our New York City AMCs we’ll also be featuring some of the most popular movies that have come out in the last few months, including “Croods: A New Age,” “Judas and The Black Messiah” and “Wonder Woman: 1984,” said Ryan Noonan, VP of corporate communications at AMC, who added that the selection of movies may vary by location, and tickets and showtimes should be available by Monday
The Film Forum, an independent movie house on Houston Street, isn’t opening until April 12, according to its website.