Ster-Kinekor considers opening drive-ins at ‘one or two locations’

COVID-19 and a subsequent lockdown have really thrown a spanner in the works when it comes to outdoor activities. Although we’ve recently been given the green light for the reopening of cinemas, companies like Ster-Kinekor may need to reinvent itself to accommodate the “new normal” consisting of hand sanitisers, face masks and social distancing. Ster-Kinekor CEO Ryan Williams said drive-ins may be a possibility. 

WILL WE SCREEN MOVIES VIA DRIVE-INS?

Mzansi seems to love the idea of drive-ins — what’s not to love? It’s good for social distancing, it’s good for privacy. You won’t necessarily have someone kicking your chair throughout a movie and you may escape a stranger chewing popcorn at high volumes next to you. Best of all, it takes us back to the old days minus blistering cold air-conditioning. 

In an interview with the Money Show’s Bruce Whitfield on Cape Talk, Ster-Kinekor Theatres CEO Ryan Williams said drive-ins are a possibility. 

“We might, we’ve done all of the back-end work and there are one or two locations we think it would make sense to do but that depends on how the opening would play out as well,” said Williams. 

“We’re going to balance up people’s level of confidence in coming out again,” he added.  

“On a personal level, I’ve got a lot of nostalgia for drive-ins, I watched my very first movie in a drive-in. I’d love to see them back,” said Williams. 

Getting a drive-in up and running is not simply by flick of a switch. In terms of challenges, Williams flagged land and content as potential problems. 

“Drive-ins have fallen to the wayside, not really because of a lack of demand but more just because people have found better things to do with the land [but] maybe that will change in time,” he said. 

“The big challenge, as far as commercial drive-ins in the short-term are concerned, is getting access to content. Many of these big studio productions, with the rise of internet piracy, don’t enjoy those environments for the latest content because there’s potentially too much risk,” he added.  

REOPENING OF CINEMAS 

On 7 July, just two days ago, Minister of Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa announced official changes to the lockdown regulations.

Cinemas and theatres were officially told to open, as long as 50 people or less are accommodated at any one time, excluding staff members. Masks may only be removed by visitors when eating or drinking and contactless payments and online pre-bookings have been encouraged.

Libraries, museums, galleries were also given the green light to operate.