Back to the future – how Wales’ small cinemas are adjusting to new picture
Small, local cinemas are looking towards an uncertain future in a postlockdown world but remain positive about their place in the communities they serve. Kathryn Williams reports
WHEN you think of a cinema it’s often the cavernous, anonymous multiplexes that spring to mind.
But in Wales, there are dozens of small, independent or communityrun picture houses that provide a lifeline for locals and their entertainment needs, as well as a social hub.
One such venue, Aberystwyth’s Commodore Cinema, has been in the Davies family for more than 40 years.
Elsewhere, The Phoenix in Ton Pentre, Rhonda, was raised from the ashes of a former bingo hall and workingmen’s club.
And, while not as old, Swansea’s Cinema & Co provides a connection for movie-lovers and families to get together.
Gerda Beckers, volunteer director at The Phoenix, which has been a community business since 1992, says the venue tries to remain as inclusive as possible by keeping prices as low as possible, but she’s acutely aware of some of the problems it faces post-lockdown.
“The whole of the arts and music scene .... it’s hard to see, people are missing a really valuable part of their life, the fact of a joint experience,” said Gerda.
“But safety is the first thing we need to look at. We’ve been looking at what they are doing in other European countries, to see how they are reopening, in England they are preparing as well.
“For safe distancing, if you have two people sitting you need 16 seats around them unoccupied.
“In Holland it’s even stricter, you can only have 30 people in one place. In Germany they have 30% occupation.
At the cinema [The Phoenix] you often have times it isn’t busy, but economically that’s where the problem lies.”
The combination of studios delaying film releases – Christopher Nolan’s Tenet and Disney’s live-action Mulan just two of the major movies which have been postponed by coronavirus – and reduced occupancy means that smaller cinemas like The Phoenix and the Commodore, will have to wait longer to screen the blockbusters.
They usually wait a few weeks so the licencing fee is reduced.
Gerda added: “You can have 30% occupation for a couple of weeks, but then you need the big blockbuster to actually make some money.
“And it’s not just that, Cineworld are now saying they aren’t opening because they have no films to show
“All the big films have been delayed. Mulan is delayed to August, Tenet is too, there’s no good blockbuster films coming out. Looking at the future that might be an ongoing problem. They’ll have the film for longer because they are potentially down in occupancy, places like the Phoenix will have to wait longer than normal.” Mike Davies owns the Commodore, which, like The Phoenix, has benefited from financial grants from Film Hub Wales during lock