Daring Release of New Film in Theaters, Producer Manoj Punjabi Doesn't Want the Industry to Collapse

Kapanlagi.com - Manoj Punjabi, with his film company named MD Pictures, takes a bold step. Amid the fear still gripping producers, he informs the public about the release of the film ASIH 2 in theaters on December 24th.

Manoj is happy to be the first to announce the release of a new film in theaters. He hopes that his step will be followed by producers from major production houses such as Starvision, MVP Pictures, Falcon Pictures, and many others.

"MD Pictures is the first film studio to announce the release of a film in theaters. We are ready to release ASIH 2 simultaneously in all Indonesian theaters. I don't have any data or analytics, but the most important thing is that I am brave. I hope MD becomes a trendsetter for film releases in theaters. Who knows, this could be an opportunity for Indonesian films," said Manoj in a press conference at Epicentrum XXI, South Jakarta, on Thursday (19/11/2020)

1. Don't Want the Industry to Collapse

As a player in the film industry, Manoj Punjabi feels a responsibility to prevent the industry from stagnating. Fortunately, his bold move has received support from the main exhibitor, Cinema XXI, followed by other exhibitors.

"I have a responsibility to not let this industry collapse. This industry is very important, we don't want cinemas to stop operating, otherwise we will die here. Cinemas are also very happy because there are those who dare to release films without hesitation. I hope we can get more (audience), it could also be less," said Manoj, trying to be realistic.

2. One City One Cinema

Because there are already local production houses that dare to release new films, cinemas are ready to fully support them by opening their outlets. Manoj Punjabi himself has calculated the pros and cons, and he believes it is better to open one cinema in one area to distribute evenly, rather than one area opening two or three cinemas at once.

"Two days ago, I confirmed the release on December 24th, and they (XXI) were happy. They said, 'If you're confident, we will quickly open the cinema.' My hope is that we don't need to open several cinemas in one area, even if we do, it means extra. What's important is not how many cinemas there are, the hope is to have at least one cinema in each area. If every city has a cinema, it's safe and beneficial for us, it will be balanced. Instead of just Jakarta opening cinemas. After XXI, CGV follows, Cinepolis follows. We have an opportunity here. This is still a new theory," he concluded.

3. Adhere to Health Protocols

For KLovers who are planning to go back to the cinema, make sure to still adhere to health protocols. #RememberMother'sMessage, wear a mask when traveling, regularly wash hands with soap, and maintain a safe distance. Let's discipline ourselves in following health protocols so that this pandemic can end soon.

(kpl/abs/lou)