Safe-Distancing Arrangements in Cinemas Have Made Halls Extremely Empty & Spacious

Always wished to have the cinema all to yourself?

Well, your dream might have just come true. Albeit in a rather twisted way.

As local theatres look set to re-open amid the ongoing epidemic, certain precautions have been implemented to ensure that it’ll be a safe viewing experience.

And as it turns out, it seems that mandatory safe-distancing arrangements have rendered cinemas rather…

Empty and spacious.

Safe-Distancing Arrangements in Cinemas Have Made Halls Extremely Empty & Spacious

Lest you’re unaware, Shaw Theatres, Golden Village and Cathay Cineplexes are all set to make a much-anticipated comeback this 13 July 2020.

And naturally, film buffs are stoked.

“Finally! Movies! On the big screen! So excited! Yay!”

Or so I imagine them to cheer. Reality might be different.

But anyways, the re-opening is not without its limitations. As my colleague George Yang mentioned, tons of restrictions have been imposed, including a rule of just 50 patrons per cinema hall.

You can read the article in question here.

But the question begets;

Just how empty is empty?

Well, let’s find out.

Cinema Investigation Team

Earlier today (7 July 2020), we took the liberty to spy check out Golden Village’s impending seating arrangements.

Curious and objective in our purpose, we deftly selected a slot timing for the most-anticipated movie in recent times, Train To Busan: Peninsula. And upon entering the seat selection screen, we were amazed to find out just how ‘ludicrous’ a 50-number restriction could look on the digital screen.

Here, take a look:

And before you ask, no those milk-coloured seats are not filled by anyone.

Rather, they are seats that have been marked as ‘unavailable’ in light of the ongoing epidemic.

Yes folks, the cinema experience has never been… more spacious.

Though with all things considered, not all cinemas will have such ‘luxury’. The Gold Class option, for instance, is still fairly packed as far as its maximum capacity is concerned.

But then again, the Gold Class and the Standard cinema halls do differ in size per pax, so it hardly warrants a fair comparison.

Meanwhile, Shaw Theatres and Cathay Cineplexes have yet to open their revamped ‘doors’ to the public, so we will have to wait a while to observe their brand-specific seating arrangements. Though if Golden Village’s implementation was to be any indicator…

We might be in for some real emptiness (and spaciousness), whether it’s GV, Shaw or Cathay.

You can peruse a list of rough guidelines (that local cinema operators are expected to comply with) down below: