The State Administration Council has planned to reopen the cinemas on April 17 (Myanmar New Year Day) this year after officials concerned have made inspection visits to them since last year. Myanmar has closed its cinemas nationwide since mid-March in 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic touched the country.
Myanmar’s film industry coming to a halt
Although the global countries had to close their cinemas due to the pandemic, Myanmar has experienced longer delays because of its weaknesses in preventive measures and political situations. Inability to show the local films on an online platform has compelled the country to halt its film industry completely, affecting all film stars, supporting actors and actresses, comedians, those starring ruffians, technicians, helpers.
Reopening of cinemas
Since early 2022, the Ministry of Information has led the effort to reopen the cinemas across the country. Myanmar Motion Picture Organization (MMPO) made coordinated discussions many times with the movie theatre owners and movie producers.
“We know that we should have a move for those from the film industry to be able to reopen the cinemas,” said director Academy Sithu Kyi Soe Tun, who has currently taken chairmanship of MMPO.
Which cinemas are going to reopen?
Responsible officials said they had planned to reopen about 60 of the cinemas across the country. They are owned by individuals but most are run by Mingalar Company. Other groups of companies such as JCGV၊ Mega Age and Paradiso also have their cinemas.
Mingalar Co has planned to reopen about 20 and Mega Age about four. The JCGV cinemas will be reopened depending on the situation as its machines and equipment are currently in error.
“They are digital machines. If we don’t run them for a long time, there will be errors or breakdowns,” said the manager of a JCGV cinema.
On April 17, some cinemas in Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw will reopen.
Challenges ahead
Several rounds of coordination had to be sought with the cinema owners and movie producers to reopen the cinemas. The discussions also focused on profit sharing as they cannot estimate market situation under current circumstances and have to be restructuring the equipment, according to sources from the film industry.
Meanwhile, some producers are hesitant about showing their films. In Myanmar’s film market, young people, students and workers are major audiences.
Under the current situation, it is undeniable that they are facing their difficulties.
Increasing commodity prices, difficult living conditions, unemployment and scarce employment are the challenges to any form of entertainment.
Other challenges constitute the Covid-19 pandemic and public insecurity such as pickpocketing, mugging and explosions.
Another challenge is the use of electricity in the cinemas. Currently, power supply is on an alternate basis. Some cinema owners say showing a film with the use of a generator can consume around 20 gallons of diesel. As one gallon is priced at over 10,000 kyats, according to the local fuel prices on April 2, they will have to spend over 200,000 kyats to have a film show time.
Before cinema closures, the ticket price for a front row ranged from 1,500 kyats to 1,800 kyats depending on different movie theatres. If the calculation is based on 1,800 kyats per ticket now, a cinema should attract over 1,100 viewers for a film show time.
Seating arrangement is also questionable if the cinemas are required to follow the Covid-19 rules. Otherwise, will they have to accept only half the number of capacity?
The films to be shown
A same film will be shown at every cinema reopened for a week.
“As we still have a night-time curfew, we need to make systematic arrangements for showing times. Tickets will be sold in line with the disciplines adopted by the Ministry of Health. Depending on the number of viewers, more cinemas that have two or three screens will operate,” said U Hla Thein, an official from the management and distribution session of MMPO.
Some films on their waiting list are not reportedly among those being planned to be put on show when the cinemas reopen.
For example, one is “Original Gangstar-3” starring Myint Myat and Yone Lay.
The previous Original Gangstar-1 & 2 earned the biggest income, but the latest one is not on the list of the films to be shown.
Myanmar still sees a big gap between the movies made over the past decade and those to be put on show due to technical problems.
A total of 99 films were shown in 2019, but those on the waiting list for their shows were made even in 2017 and before.
Among the films to be shown when the cinemas reopen are the five preferably chosen by the movie theatre owners.
Audience situation
Most of the local audiences are facing economic problems and scarce employment or unemployment as well as high commodity prices.
“Frankly, I like going to the movies. I am interested in the upcoming films. But I’m not sure if I am going to. This time, we have to take care of everything. I am more interested in how many viewers will come and how safe and secure we can be in the cinemas,” said a formerly frequent movie goer.
On Myanmar New Year Day, films will start to have their chance to be shown in the cinemas.
However, there have been the challenges before and after. It is also interesting to wait and see if the people will be going to the movies as a sign of relief at this time of crisis.
