Navigating the new normal

Zhu Ying, director of the Centre for Film and Moving Image Research in the Academy of Film at Hong Kong Baptist University, agrees that the number of cinemas in the near term is likely to continue falling.

Pointing to a distinctive trait of Hong Kong cinemas, she notes they are predominantly situated inside or connected to shopping malls, essentially making them part of the real-estate sector. Affected by the slow recovery of the post-pandemic property market, the cinema sector is also expected to face a certain level of contraction.

Nonetheless, she believes that shrinking cinema numbers can also be seen as a form of consolidation after competition. "Do we really need that many cinemas, like one on every block? I don't think so," says Zhu.

She thinks the competition among streaming platforms and cinemas would not create a scenario in which one would predominate. Different audiences can still find the entertainment they seek through both mediums. Big blockbuster films like Barbie, Oppenheimer and Ne Zha 2 make theater-going an event. Smaller films continue to carve out their niches online or in small theaters, including at thriving film festivals worldwide.

Within this dynamic landscape, filmmakers are encouraged to find suitable paths and synergistically nurture a vibrant film market.

For Hong Kong filmmakers, Zhu praised the recent success of films delving into the stories of everyday people in Hong Kong. In the production process, they could also explore strategies to effectively tap into the mainland and overseas Chinese-speaking markets. Furthermore, acknowledging the limitations posed by the relatively small market size, Zhu says not every film can attain the expansive scale of productions like Ne Zha 2. She suggests that filmmakers explore small-budget productions, a trend she expects to gather momentum in the coming years. New technology like artificial intelligence will help cut production costs. But she notes that AI will also eliminate jobs that could have gone to production crew.

While underlining the fundamental role of storytelling in crafting exceptional films, Zhu calls for film school curricula to embrace cutting-edge technologies, encompassing AI and beyond. By keeping pace with emerging technologies, students — the future pioneers of the film industry — can proficiently navigate the industry's new normal.

Amid such an evolving landscape, Yuen — an industry practitioner and a movie fan — remains hopeful.

As a father, he has instilled in his two daughters the habit of going to cinemas, saying that strangers coming together for a shared interest in a film, laughing and crying together for two hours, is an experience unmatched by other forms of movie-watching. He is adamant that cinemas are here to stay and will remain as one of the best mediums to showcase this form of art.

"Throughout history, despite the advent of television, the introduction of VCDs and DVDs, or the dawn of streaming platforms, those proclaiming the demise of cinemas have continually surfaced.

"But, history has proven that movies continue to rejuvenate themselves," says Yuen.

"As long as films exist, cinemas will undoubtedly persevere."