As BC’s Restart plan unfolds, movie theatres still reeling from restrictions
June 15 is the date for up to 50 people; cinema operators say they’re confused, unfairly targeted by the provincial-health orders
Lisa Milne runs the Royal Theatre in Trail. Photo by Tourism Rossland
WITH BC’s RESTART plan unfolding and things getting back to business, cinema operators in the province are feeling perplexed.
Like others who work the sector, Rachel Fox of the Rio Theatre was feeling cautiously optimistic when the provincial government announced its four-step plan on May 25.
Movie operators interpreted the announcement to mean they could have 50 viewers at a time right away. In fact, they’re only allowed to have 10 for the time-being, with movie theatres being classified as an indoor gathering. Churches, by contrast, are able to have up to 50 people as of now.
“We were all confused by it,” Fox tells Stir of the news, noting that as a sports bar, the Rio can operate with 125 people.
If all goes according to plan, movie theatres will be able to have 50 people as of June 15.
Still, Fox says that operators can’t help but feel as if policies toward cinemas are disproportionate, particularly given that there have been no documented cases of COVID-19 transmission in local movie theatres.
Fox estimates that there are about 90 movie theatres throughout B.C. in total. When you take away non-profits and companies not based in British Columbia, she says that leaves about 50 mom-and-pop indie cinemas.
Lisa Milne, who operates the Royal Theatre in Trail, says the restrictions have been devastating for small cinemas like hers.
“While so many businesses have been operating near normal, during our eight-month closure, cinemas have been unfairly targeted as unsafe environments,” Milne tells Stir. “The public image that movie theatres are facing due to this lengthy closure is another concern. We have been branded as unsafe environments, with zero evidence to support transmission in cinemas. I am down to a skeleton staff, financially we are just hanging on, and we have had zero specialized funding from the BC Government like the Circuit Breaker Grant, as we are not eligible for that, to help support us.
“While we have had months of community support in the way of popcorn sales, we will need help from the BC Government to strengthen our message that we are now safely opening, and following strict COVID safety plans they have put in place,” she adds.
Milne says the 10-person maximum was confusing to her as well and that she, like others in the movie-theatre community, sent numerous requests to the BC Government PHO asking to work alongside them, hoping to educate them on their business operations.
“We also heard that churches are now allowed to open with 50 people,” Milne says. “It proves the BC Government is not aware of how safe our environments are. Movie theatres are a forward-seated, non-talking venue. When allowed to be open, we had safety plans in place to stagger showtimes and admit guests in an organized fashion. Our online ticketing system applies the social distancing requirements per transaction so everyone is spaced safely.
“Cinema operators around B.C. are in peril and our industry, for many locations, is on the brink of financial ruin,” she says. “Unfortunately, we are also nearly 100% reliant on studios in the U.S. for our content and as I am sure you are aware, their situation down there was dire. Therefore, studios pivoted to a damaging model of releasing an unprecedented amount of content on streaming platforms, direct to consumers in their homes. This drastic change to the exhibitions business model has never been witnessed to this staggering degree, in the lifetime of cinemas. It is crucial that brick and mortar locations be allowed to open, to do what we do the best and show movies how they were made to be seen—on the big screen.”
The Royal Theatre has recently gone through a major renovation, with VIP recliners, a 50-foot screen, and a new lobby, paying homage to Hollywood Glam, plus a new HVAC system. The renovations were completed in October 2020; the Royal opened its doors for four weeks before the PHO shuttered it for a second time.
For Milne, there’s much more to independent movie theatres’ role in society than being a source of entertainment.
“I am passionate about the important social impact cinemas have on communities,” Milne says. ”We are gathering places, often share in a couples’ first kiss, a cry for the fallen, or an encompassing laugh with strangers. I love my industry and my building pulls on my heart strings every time I walk through the doors, but mostly I am very thankful to the community I share her with.”
The Royal Theatre in Trail went through a major renovation just before it was shuttered for a second time last year due to COVID-19 public-health restrictions. Photo by Tourism Rossland
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