By Mhia Vignoulle
Throughout the years, there has been a significant decline in cinema activity. Fewer and fewer people are going to the cinema. And who can blame them?
Since Covid we have all been so used to the comfort of our own home, that why would we leave it to do something we can do from our own cozy couch for free? Trust me, we understand. But recently, numerous headlines have drawn our attention, leading us to question again our actions, and the drastic impact they have had on the cinema industry.
Headlines such as, “Britain’s cinemas face their curtain call”, “ …two multiplex cinemas within 20 miles of each other will close down”, “Cineworld is closing down my childhood cinema-if only they did more for deaf film fans like me.” Unfortunately, there are many more.
“Why would this affect me?” you may ask, “I still get to watch my films online at home!” Whilst that is true, the closure of local cinemas and lack of audiences is actually detrimental not only to the cinema industry but to the future of films for us all.
According to a report from Epigram “Production houses are increasingly unwilling to take risks with the flicks they produce.” This means that films will and are becoming less authentic, and are instead being transformed into something even more commercialised and derivative. Viewers will see a smaller variety of genres and only consume what is ‘popular’.
But cinema is art that should be free, and shouldn’t be created around financial gain. Studios are now focusing on commercial viability over the production of art. If this continues, if this becomes our norm, it will be not only the death of cinema but the death of independent, ordinary, imaginative films.
Credit: Mhia Vignoulle
What is the cause?
Actor/upcoming film producer, Tai Hilferink, believes people aren’t going to the cinema anymore, not because they don’t want to, but because they can’t.
“People’s attention spans have become so low that they can’t sit still in a room anymore to watch a movie,” he said.
Are humans losing more and more of our ability to focus? Perhaps. Many people have expressed not going to the cinema because the thought of sitting there for two hours was stressful and harrowing.
Maybe that’s why platforms such as Instagram and YouTube have started to create incredibly short videos, simply to sustain viewers’ attention.
Indeed, social media platforms have changed the way we focus and occupy our time. We feel unable to simply focus on one thing and do nothing. And with that we have devalued the industry of cinema, the art of supporting and experiencing the way cinema was initially intended to be seen.
In addition, COVID-19 has affected the habits of cinema-goers in the UK, who got used to watching films at home, according to UK Cinema Association (UKCA), which said that the “the number of cinemas operating decreasing by 17% to 724 from 878 in 2019”.
Credit: Mhia Vignoulle
This comes as no surprise but the primary reason that our cinemas are becoming extinct, especially local ones, is the rise of streaming services. Most, if not all of us, use streaming platforms. Whether these are platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney +, or illegal streaming website, this easy access has revolutionised the way we now consume movies and TV shows.
Screenshot. Credit: Mhia Vignoulle
Through opening our eyes, reflecting on our actions and spreading the word, we may save the future of cinema. We all need to find value in supporting cinemas and films, to start dedicating time to watching a film and sharing that experience with others.
They say that you never know how valuable and amazing something is until you lose it. Let’s try to prevent that happening with cinema. There are still many local cinemas that are alive and need our help.
So next time you feel like watching a movie, why not do it at the cinema?
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