Removing seating to create “islands” in screening rooms is one idea being explored by independent cinema bosses as they prepare to reopen.
The suggestion has been floated in a survey by the Belmont Filmhouse in Aberdeen amid hopes it could start showing movies again by the end of summer.
The first step towards a return comes as larger chains lay out plans to reopen cinemas in England next month.
For more intimate venues like the Belmont and Cromarty Cinema in the Highlands, which is one of the smallest in the UK, the struggle to survive will be tougher.
Manager of the Aberdeen picturehouse, Colin Farquhar, is the only employee who has not been furloughed.
He said: “There still hasn’t been any government guidance directly concerning cinemas, but we are getting close to a time when we have to make our minds up, despite the lack of clarity.
“There will be a lot of challenges in maintaining social distancing, and rows could be a problem if people need to squeeze past one another to leave the cinema.
“Bigger cinemas are working with bigger spaces, but these things are more difficult for us.
“A lot of independent cinemas are more like old theatres, with narrow spaces.”
Other questions in the survey include whether people would visit less often, how soon after reopening they would return and how they would feel about the mandatory use of face coverings for staff and customers.
Within the first few hours of emailing the survey out, Mr Farquahar had received about 100 responses – which he said were “overwhelmingly positive”.
He found that, although some famous industry figures had advised against returning to the cinema until a vaccine is found, north-east aficionados “trust” the venue to ensure safety.
Mr Farquhar said: “Most people are keen to get back and trust us to create a safe environment.
“But these are film fans, and it remains to be seen whether everyone will feel that way.
“The proof of that pudding will be in the eating.”
Cromarty Cinema only opened its doors in February and was then forced to slam them shut the following month.
The Cromarty and Resolis Film Society (CRFS) is now drawing up plans for how to restart the 35-seat, purpose built cinema.
Tanya Karlebach, chairwoman of CRFS, said: “We were incredibly disappointed to have to shut the Cromarty Cinema after being open for such a short time.
“But we are an entirely volunteer run, non-profit operation so our ongoing costs while shuttered are fairly low.”
She added: “We are keen to open as soon as restrictions allow and our set-up is in many ways ideal to adapt to new operating models.
“We offer private rentals, which could be for a single household or “social bubble”, and we already have an outdoor queuing system with restricted numbers in the box office.
“We also only have one screening a day, so can manage the audience more effectively to support social distancing, with a maximum of 18 people at a screening.”
