Low-cost movie theater struggle to survive

Arya Abhiseka, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Ayat, 27, drew on a cigarette and quickly exhaled smoke, while keeping his eyes steadily on the screen, showing an action thriller movie, at Grand Theater, Senen, Central Jakarta.

"This film was played at 21-Group theaters a few years ago. I wanted to see it then but I couldn't afford a ticket," he said.

He stressed he was lucky that Grand Theater screened movies that he wanted to see at such affordable prices.

"The state of hygiene at Grand Theater is shameful, as insects and rats often crawl over the seats. However, for Rp 3,000 (33 U.S. cents) I expect nothing more than good-quality movies," said Ayat, a vendor at Senen market.

Grand Theater is one of a few low-cost movie theaters that are currently struggling for survival, competing against the likes of more grandiose cinemas under the management of the 21 Group.

The well-established 21 Group, run by PT Subentra Nusantara Films, is largely owned by a relative of former president Soeharto, Sudwikatmono, who owns the majority of movie theaters across the country and effectively controls the importation of Hollywood films.

Non-governmental organization (NGO) Monopoly Watch has rebuked the group -- with its three companies, PT Camilla Internusa Film, PT Satrya Perkasa Esthetika Film and PT Nusantara Film -- for unfair business practices.

According to the NGO, the 21 group, which owns 102 of 178 film screens in the capital, has not only obstructed the business of other film theaters, but also hampered the revival of the local film industry.

The 21 Cineplex chain offers the glamour of the movie industry, with newly released movies regularly presented.

Meanwhile, low-cost theaters, often associated with sleazy and cheap entertainment, failed to maintain the confidence of the distributors and were quickly abandoned by customers.

"For us to survive we have to put on movies with a sexual content for the audience, especially if it is a local production," said Pak Rudy, a manager of Grand Theater.

He cited as an example that between the 1980s and mid-1990s, when local productions with a sexual content were rampant, he managed to fill half the theater at each screening.

However, today, with very few local films available, Pak Rudy admitted to counting the days before having to close down the theater.

Chairman of the Indonesian Movie Theater Association (GPBSI), Zainal Abidin told The Jakarta Post that his organization had encountered difficulty in listing the existing low-cost movie theaters, as so many had closed down.

He said that, currently, fewer than 50 low-cost movie theaters remained from more than 120 that operated in Jakarta before 1987, when the 21 Group was established.

"People go to theaters, not only for the movie, but rather for the enjoyment of the evening. One simply cannot have that at low- cost movie theaters," he said.

He also pointed out the existence of cheap, pirated VCDs, which hurt low-cost theaters most, as low-income families could now afford to buy VCD players and preferred to view them in the comfort of their own home, rather than at low-cost theaters.

Currently, movie tickets at low-cost theaters vary from Rp 1,500 to Rp 4,000 per person, much lower than the Rp 30,000 or more at 21-Group cinemas.

Recky, a manager at Tobar Theater, Tanjung Duren, West Jakarta, said that his theater had become an entertainment option for people on low incomes.

He said that he inherited the theater from his father. After his father died, Recky attempted to renovate the premises and improve its image in 1992, to get more customers.

"Before the reconstruction, we usually managed to fill at least one-third of the theater.

"But after the cosmetic work was finished and the theater was more attractive, people stopped coming. I found out later that they felt intimidated by its new, improved appearance," he said.

Later, Recky decided to return the theater to its former, grimy and filthy state. "I got more customers that way."

Recky also acknowledged that he was ready to close down the theater at any time, due to years of making a loss.

"At the moment I have no more cash to improve my theater, so I will have to make do with what I have," he said.