The Executive Director of the Kamloops Film Society says they’re doing alright despite all of the COVID-19 restrictions that have been in place for the past year.
Dusan Magdolen says government grants have helped the Film Society stay afloat though he admits he’d have preferred if theatres were allowed to stay open with approved safety plans in place.
“If theatres opened up tomorrow and all our audience came back, we’ll be fine. But I’m not just trying to survive till tomorrow. We have to survive the half year, a year of ramp up for audiences before they are comfortable with going back to theatres,” he said. “I don’t think overnight we’re going to get the numbers we had before COVID.”
“Who knows what that will even be. Maybe I’m being overly pessimistic. Maybe once people have the vaccine, everybody will sort of feel safe and audiences will be there.”
Magdolen says he thinks larger theatre chains like Cineplex will have an easier time rebounding because they’ll have access to the blockbusters, unlike smaller, independent movie theatres, like the Paramount Theatre.
“[Movies like] Black Widow or the new James Bond – you know when they’re playing that, I think there might be a slight number drop in groups, but I think they’ll get a lot of people out,” he said. “There’s lot of great Indie content, the kind of stuff we play, but I don’t know if its the same sort of pull.”
“We definitely have our hardcore fans who are biting at the bit to get back into our theatre which we really appreciate those people, but they’re a certain base. You need to reach beyond that with each film to really be doing well.”
The Paramount Theatre has been closed since the end of November, though it reopened briefly in February before being told to shut down again.
Magdolen previously told NL News he was disappointed by gaps in the provincial orders that allow restaurants to operate with limited capacity but not places like movie theatres. But he also notes it does not mean he wants restaurants to have to close as well as he says all businesses are struggling because of the pandemic.
Last week, B.C. Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, said concerns about a third wave ramping up mean you won’t be going to any concerts or large events this year.
“Things like international travel, international gatherings, large festivals that have people coming from multiple places are not likely to happen this year,” she said.
“Whether it’s a conference or a meeting or a wedding or a family gathering, those things will be dangerous because we know that the vaccine is not available equally around the world. The risk anywhere is a risk everywhere, so we’re not immune to that.”
Henry also says as long as daily new case numbers hover around 500, we should expect most public safety orders to stay in effect at least two more months.
