They hoped to play for time.
They will have to be on time.
Theaters and cinemas first welcomed the announcements of Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday who granted them an exemption after the curfew.
The details provided by Jean Castex and Roselyne Bachelot made them disillusioned.
"A tolerance will be allowed so that the spectators of the sessions ending at 9 pm can return home quietly", explained the Minister of Culture.
All performances must therefore be completed before that time.
No question of considering a show starting at 8:55 pm as some hoped.
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"It is not the most favorable version which is retained, but it is always better than no flexibility, estimates Audrey Ellouk, general secretary of the Federation of the companies of the performing arts, music, audio-visual and of the cinema (Fesac).
It is half satisfaction.
Most of our members believe that it is better than nothing and that it is more than during the first curfew.
We are moving towards improving things, that's what matters.
"
Hope a little disappointed also on the side of the European, who had been the first to relaunch after the deconfinement, in June.
“It's a bit of a shame not to have left us more margin, underlines Sébastien Beslon, the site manager.
It makes us lose a schedule, and therefore a show per evening, where I could have squeezed two.
It wouldn't have been a big change for the decision-makers, but us, it would have allowed us to work better.
I had even considered a show at… 8:59 pm.
I am a bit provocative.
"
"I try to recase everyone, not to delete any show"
At the Funambule Théâtre, it was even announced, in an almost militant way, that the shows would play at 9 p.m. from December 16.
“Well, I think our call was not heard, we are canceling the 9 pm show the week of the 16th, slips Julien Héteau, the co-director of the 120-seat room.
On the other hand, the following week, because it is the school holidays, we resume our double programming, at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Since we can reopen, we want to play to the maximum and we think that the public will follow us in our need for a show, ”he continues.
We must therefore now organize.
“Finishing after 9 pm would have allowed us to add another session at 8:30 pm.
Normally, we have 4 shows during the week, and 7 at the weekend.
There, we save about 45 minutes compared to the first curfew.
On the other hand, establishing the schedule is a real nightmare.
I try to resize everyone, not to delete any shows.
I have asked the artists to shorten their show by 15 minutes to allow everyone to play, and for some it's complicated, and I understand that.
Everyone sees noon at their door, and it turns into an arm wrestling.
It's an emotional lift!
"
Two performances per day at the Bouglione circus
For its part, the Bouglione circus is "relieved" and will be able to resume its show at the Cirque d'Hiver from December 19 twice a day, at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., as before the confinement.
About thirty artists remained on site.
“They all smiled again after the Prime Minister's announcements, the Christmas season is important to us.
It was important that the gauge does not change and remains at a thousand people ”, rejoices Louis-Sampion Bouglione.
We are less enthusiastic about the cinemas.
The operators understood this Thursday morning that all the sessions should be finished at 9 p.m. ... while Emmanuel Macron's speech on Tuesday had given them to understand that the last session could start around 8 p.m.
A crucial change since the films almost all last between 1h30 and 2h30 - the eagerly awaited "Wonder Woman 1984", which is due out on December 16, lasts 2h31 - and that it is in the evening that the cinemas realize nearly half of their attendance.
“What danger is there in letting people leave the cinema at 10 pm?”
“We will adapt as we have always done, but it's a blow, assures Jocelyn Bouyssy, general manager of the CGR group, which has 73 theaters and 649 theaters in France.
To do without the 20 hour session will hurt us economically.
"The boss of the second circuit in France specifies that he will have to start the last session of" Wonder Woman 1984 "at 6.15 pm ...
"Forcing cinemas to close at 9 pm is a bit rigorous in orthodoxy, which becomes absurd," said Richard Patry, president of the National Federation of French cinemas.
This goes against the announcements of the President of the Republic.
What then is the point of
time stamping
?
What danger is there in letting people leave the cinema at 10 p.m., when you can walk your dog at any time?
We will continue to fight.
I hope that by December 15, the numbers for the epidemic will continue to improve and that we can convince the government to let us organize meetings at 8 p.m.
"
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The owner of the exhibitors also admits to fearing that the obligation to close cinemas at 9 p.m. pushes certain distributors to postpone the release of their films.
This Thursday morning precisely, Universal announced - without explanation - that its animated film "the Croods 2", which was to be in theaters on December 23, would not be released until January 27 ...