Cinema Manager Objects To Audience Capacity Of Only 25 Percent In Transitional PSBB Period

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Association of Indonesian Cinema Entrepreneurs (GPBSI) Djonny Syafruddin admitted his objection to the provision of limiting 25 percent of the capacity of viewers who watch in cinemas.

This is due to the reopening of cinema screenings in Jakarta during the PSBB transition volume II which lasts until October 25.

"I wonder why the government didn't call (to consider the capacity). It should have asked us, 'how come sir, we give 25 percent' that's how it should be," said Djonny when contacted, Tuesday, October 13.

Djonny said, the impact of the 25 percent capacity limitation will make film producers lose money because the number of viewers is small. As a result, the owner of the film does not want to raise the screen to the cinema.

"The one with the film doesn't want 25 percent. Losing him. Well, in the end, the one who has the film doesn't want to give the film, huh. Amsyong . Who do we want to show the film?" cecar Djonny.

Therefore, Djonny admitted that tomorrow he will hold an internal meeting with all cinema managers to discuss potential losses due to the 25 percent restriction.

"We will unite this perception first. The mechanism is, on Wednesday we will have a meeting with cinema owners to discuss this issue before we bring it to the DKI Provincial Government," said Djonny.

For information, cinemas were again allowed to operate during the PSBB transition period with strict health protocol requirements. Among them is to implement a maximum capacity of 25 percent.

DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan obliged cinemas to regulate a minimum distance of 1.5 meters between seats. This is to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus in theaters.

Then, visitors are not allowed to pass by or change seats while the film is playing. Officers wear masks, face shields and gloves.

As long as DKI Jakarta implemented the PSBB in early March, until the strict PSBB volume II which ended on October 11, cinemas were never allowed to operate. The reason, of course, is because it prevents the spread of the COVID-19 virus in theaters.

More than 6 months the cinema has been inoperative due to the COVID-19 pandemic. DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has yet to give permission to reopen. The still closure of the big screen in the capital city has affected the cinemas in the regions because they do not get a supply of films.

There was a discourse that cinemas would be allowed to open on July 29, 2020, but it was canceled after seeing the condition that the spread of COVID-19 was still on the rise in Jakarta.

Then, it was decided that cinemas in DKI would be on August 14 along with the extension of the large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) transition to August 13. However, it was canceled again.

Until finally, the Provincial Government implemented a strict PSBB policy volume II from September 14 2020 to October 11, cinemas still had not been given permission to operate.