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  As lockdown eases around the country and things gradually return to normal, several industries hit hard by the pandemic are taking proactive measures to formulate strategies that will help them adapt to in these critical times. One of such industries is the film industry. In addition to cinemas shutting down on March 24, several movies selling at the box office had to be suspended and films scheduled for release were postponed.
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Despite the government’s ease of lockdown in various states in the country and a gradual opening of the economy, the pending question of when cinemas, and other entertainment outlets, will resume operations remains unresolved. However, the cinema industry is taking the bulls by the horn and seeking new solutions that have great potential for success. Enter Drive-In Cinemas  According to Wikipedia, “a drive-in cinema or drive-in theatre is a form of cinema structure consisting of a large outdoor movie screen, a projection booth, a concession stand, and a large parking area for automobiles. Within this enclosed area, customers can view movies from the privacy and comfort of their cars.” The concept of drive-in cinemas is not new. When flights halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, major international airports came up with an innovative way to enable people to enjoy the cinema experience, while following safety guidelines, with the introduction of drive-in cinemas. According to Euro News, about 150 cars were lined up at a drive-in centre to watch an Oscar-winning South Korean drama, ‘Parasite’ on April 29.
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In related developments, Nigerian filmmaker, Charles Okpaleke, is pioneering the concept of drive-in cinemas in Abuja and Lagos. The filmmaker recently masterminded the screening of Living in Bondage Sequel at the drive-in cinema holding at Transcorp Hilton car park, Abuja. With the success of this project, Okpaleke has moved to replicate the experience in Lagos. Some cinemas in Nigeria have now adopted the drive-in cinema concept. Silverbird cinemas had its first drive-in cinema experience when it screened The Legend of Inikpi on Sunday, June 7. Genesis cinemas have also announced its plans to implement the drive-in cinema concept. The Implications of Drive-In Cinemas From the adoption of the drive-in cinema experience by some cinemas in Nigeria, we can deduce that cinemas may soon resume full operations – but not just in the way we are used to. Drive-in cinemas are a novel idea – one that differs entirely from the cinema experience movie lovers have known all their lives. With the potentials for drive-in cinemas becoming the new normal, the implications of what to expect are still vague. But we can be sure of one thing: this will birth a whole new experience. Picture one where the drive-in centre would be littered with popcorn and coca-cola bottles, with film viewers cheering from their cars while the movie plays on the big screen. This makes for an exciting experience or does it? Sources: Nairametrics Premium Times Featured Image Source: Native Mag
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This article was first published on 3rd July 2020

samuelokoruwa

My name is Samuel Okoruwa. I am an ardent researcher, reading is life and writing is fun.

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