It was already mandatory in the queue, in the halls or when moving. The obligation of the mask will now be permanent in cinemas and theaters. The only unknown is the date of application of this new measure. This, as well as a global stimulus plan of 2 billion euros devoted to culture, was announced this Wednesday morning by Prime Minister Jean Castex, on France Inter.
The mandatory mask will replace the distance (one seat between each spectator) in the rooms, at least in the green areas of France. In the red zones, where the virus circulates in an active way, as in Paris or Marseille, distancing, as well as the wearing of the mask will be inseparable. A new turn of the screw for cinemas, already reduced to limiting their sites to 50% of their capacity, and many of which have eliminated morning or late evening screenings, faced with low attendance, around a third of normal . A decision that makes Richard Patry, president of the National Federation of French Cinemas, jump: “It is a stigmatizing measure, the cinema is the only place where we must apply this double measure, mask and distancing. It's a double penalty, it's impossible. "
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However, everyone expected it, because the temples of the 7th art remained until now one of the last closed places where protecting the mouth and the nose was not obligatory. Alexandre Hellmann, director of the Grand Rex cinema in Paris, therefore welcomes the measure without surprise: “We will do everything possible to enforce this obligation. We have to stop people from doing anything. "The virus must be eradicated," he stresses. I prefer it to be harder at the time, and that it be over as quickly as possible ”. And the director is firm as to the consequences for those who do not respect the rule: "During the film, the guards will go around the rooms several times, because there will always be clever little people who will remove their masks as soon as the lights go out. 'will turn off. If they don't want to put it on, we'll put them out, ”he warns.
"False good idea"
Even if the decree has not yet been signed, Charlotte Prunier, director of the 3 Luxembourg cinema in Paris, does not want to waste time: “We applied the measure as soon as Jean Castex announced it. "And she trusts her audience of cinephiles:" A good part of them already kept their masks in theaters. They are self-disciplined and played the game. On the other hand, we will never be able to control if they keep it during the film, we are not going to police in order not to disturb the spectators. "
The manager believes that the wearing of the imposed mask can only reassure the spectators: “I do not think that there will be a particular impact on the attendance of the rooms. Where it could be a drag is on confectionery. For those who sell it, it is an essential source of income. "
It remains to know the fateful date on which the mask will become mandatory. A meeting took place on Wednesday between the government and the National Federation of French Cinemas (FNCF) to establish the procedure and begin negotiations on the measures to be adopted, which should be made public in the coming days. On the major circuits side, Gaumont-Pathé and UGC, contacted on Wednesday, do not wish to react until the decree has been published.
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For his part, Bertrand Thamin, president of the National Union of Private Theater (SNDTP), believes that if the measure is going in the right direction, it seems very difficult to apply: "If we want people to come back to theaters, it takes simple measures. Namely the end of distancing and the wearing of the compulsory mask. Why add complexity with this story of departments in the red zone? How do we do if we have reserved places and we go on high alert overnight? It is still a false good idea imagined in the offices of the ministry… ”
Two billion for Culture, and a lot of questions
The announcement was eagerly awaited. Wednesday morning, Jean Castex unveiled the share devoted to "the whole world of culture" in the recovery plan of 100 billion: 2 billion euros. Either, the account is quickly done, 2% ... Enough? While waiting for the meeting to be held on Thursday afternoon, representatives of private performing arts (concerts, festivals, theater, cabarets, etc.) welcomed these statements with great caution. “I am neither playful nor negative. This is a crude number. Until we know its assignment and breakdown, it's hard to say more. We will be fixed tomorrow ”, analyzes Daniel Stevens, president of the cabaret union.
Same story with Bertrand Thamin, for the private theater. “There is an announcement effect. But what is there for us in these 2 billion? We are still in the dark and we need some clarification ”. He too in “the expectation”, the concert producer, Pierre Alexandre Vertadier (Soprano, Alain Souchon, Christophe Maé…) however retains “a positive message. A clear speech that we needed to hear ”. At a previous meeting, representatives of the private entertainment industry had called for an aid plan of up to 300 million euros for their sector. They hope to have confirmation tomorrow Thursday.