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Cinema and theater halls have been empty since November. Instead of mopping up, two operators from Aichach and Augsburg use the time to carry out work.
Lara Schmidler
The hall is in complete darkness. The long, upholstered rows of chairs facing the twelve-and-a-half-meter-wide canvas can only be made out vaguely. You can almost hear the expectant whisper of the visitors, the rustling of popcorn, you can almost wait for the screen to be lit and the first commercial to begin. Alexander Rusch goes to a small box that is set into the wall next to the door, opens it and switches on the light – and the spook is over.
The cinemas in Aichach have not been fully occupied for almost a year
Twelve lamps attached to the side walls flicker and bathe the empty rows of chairs in dim light. “This is our largest cinema,” says Rusch and closes the box again. The largest cinema, that means in the Cineplex in
Aichach Room for 165 moviegoers. Even if so many people have not seen a film together for almost a year.
The hall looks strangely small without any spectators. At the time the hall was being built, the so-called “black box” was popular, says owner Rusch, which is why the room was kept so dark. With his black shirt and dark jeans, the 38-year-old almost blends in with the background. Only his red shoes stand out – as do the 16 cinema seats, which are placed exactly in the middle of the auditorium and covered with bright red leather. These are the 4D armchairs that can offer the viewers an all-round experience with two built-in motors. But they have been inactive since November, as has the heating. It is correspondingly cold in the hall.
It is important for cinemas that they can open across Germany at the same time
Nevertheless, Rusch can not be put in a good mood, rather sees the opportunities that are now open to him. He would like to improve the online shop, replace the cinema seats, and make the halls a bit more modern. So that everything is ready when the guests can come back. In the industry, one hopes that it will
Easter around so far, he says. For German cinemas, however, it is primarily important that all are allowed to open at the same time, and not shifted by weeks or months, as was the case last year, depending on the federal state. Because cinema operators are dependent on getting good films. And they only get it when it’s worth it.
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The film launch of the new James Bonds has been postponed for the third time. Alexander Rusch from the Cineplex in Aichach is convinced that fans will still see the film in the cinema.
Image: Ulrich Wagner
That is why the Cineplex did not reopen on June 15th after the first lockdown in spring, as it was in
Bayern was allowed, but only a month later. “June 15 would not have been worth it because it was a Monday. The new cinema program always starts on Thursday. ”
The four months of operation were not financially worthwhile
In addition, there were simply no new films. That is why the cinema operators speculated on the science fiction film “Tenet” by Christopher Nolan, which was due to be released in Germany in mid-July 2020. “We wanted to reopen two weeks in advance with two or three niche films. The real cinema fans come anyway when they have the opportunity and we would have enough time to observe the processes under the new hygiene regulations. ”But then the release of“ Tenet ”was postponed to August 12th. And Rusch followed suit, postponing the reopening, some of which had even been announced for July 2nd, to mid-July.
Less than four months later, the 38-year-old had to close again. Was the reopening worth it for this time? “No,” says Rusch openly and gives a short laugh. “It wasn’t really financially worth it.” Nonetheless, he was able to get his employees out of short-time work.
Cinema snacks can be ordered at home since April
On the way down from room 5 to the foyer, the floor markings that gave visitors the direction of walking up to three months ago catch the eye. The smell of popcorn fills the air and, in combination with the rays of the sun falling through the window fronts, gives the cozy feeling of a cinema afternoon. But of the usual bulging, colorful popcorn bags and one-liter cups full of cola, which are dangerously balanced on one hand while you look for the ticket with the other, nothing is to be seen far and wide.
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The markings on the floor showed the cinema visitors the distances to be observed. Rusch hopes that they will soon be able to return to their service.
Image: Ulrich Wagner
Instead, employee Julia is preparing the typical cinema snacks that were ordered for today on the specially created website for delivery. Rusch started doing this at all eight locations of the Cineplex in April 2020, following the example of colleagues from Münster. “We are here regularly anyway, turn on the taps and flush the cola system.” With the orders, the contact with the customers is also maintained. One wants to continue that way.
In Abraxas, artists have access to the equipment for video shoots
Also in the Abraxas cultural center in
Augsburg one was forced to adapt to the situation. Thanks to federal funding as part of the first edition of the “Neustart Kultur” program, the Kulturhaus was able to acquire technical equipment after the first lockdown, with which videos and paid live streams are possible on the Internet. That is also used well, at least the video production, says Fiebig. Because it is particularly important for professional actors to remain present. On average, such a video production takes place about once a week. “It is important for us that we remain active externally.”
He is casually dressed in a hoodie and jeans, dutifully wearing his FFP2 mask in the presence of others. On the way through the cool building, he often has to pull out his key, because the doors are all carefully locked. There is an eerie silence in the theater where the video productions are filmed. Despite the artificial light, the stage area is in complete darkness, neither props nor cameras can be seen. There is only a lone spotlight on the wall.
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The director of the Abraxas cultural center in Augsburg, Gerald Fiebig, made sure that the actors have access to technical equipment.
Image: Wolfgang Diekamp
The vacancy is used for renovation work
The dining area is also empty, chairs and tables have been removed. “We are in a transitional phase, the old tenant’s contract has expired, the restart was delayed by the pandemic.” The vacancy is used to renovate the rooms. Like cinema owner Alexander Rusch, Fiebig does not let himself get down.
Last summer it was found that seat reservations are more convenient for theater-goers than free choice of seats, and that is what they want to continue. The technical equipment can also be used well in the future to create professional videos or live streams during the performance. And the IT infrastructure in the house is being improved. Nevertheless, Fiebig does not want to speak in this context that the pandemic has brought benefits. “We will have positive after-effects from the new introductions in the future, but one would have liked that such an extremely high price would not have to be paid – and I’m not talking about a financial price.”
Gerald Fiebig: “We make the best of it”
Fiebig is 50 percent active on the Corona hotline of the city of Augsburg, because without a proper program, tasks such as preparing and promoting performances are omitted. In his office on the first floor, Fiebig leans back in his chair and puts his fingertips together. “The pandemic was devastating to live culture. But we make the best of it. “
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