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The Projector plans to venture into video-on-demand service

The Projector is currently closed until the end of the month.
The Projector is currently closed until the end of the month.

2 Apr – Like all the other cinemas in Singapore, arthouse cinema The Projector is currently temporarily shuttered as part of the island nation's effort to curb the spread of COVID-19.

With large gatherings of people – such as in cinema halls – prohibited at the moment, The Projector is now looking at alternative options to continue screening films to movie-lovers in Singapore.

One of the options is becoming a video-on-demand service provider, as told by the cinema's general manager Mr Prashant Somosundram to The Straits Time.

"We see this as an opportunity to try new formats," he said, adding, "We want to create a community experience, even in this time of social distancing."

The cinema is working with distributor Anticipate Pictures to explore the possibility of streaming video-on-demand content to televisions, tablets and phones. Online question-and-answer sessions are also planned to be included as a bonus content.


Last month, the cinema shared on Facebook that it takes more than $100k a month to keep its Golden Mile Complex outlet running. In order to sustain an income during the closure, The Projector has come up with several exclusive merchandise that can be purchased to support the cinema.

These include the pre-purchase of Venue Hire vouchers, 10-ticket gift pack and Adopt-a-seat. The description for the latter reads: "For $120 have your name / a special someone's name / phrase / private joke immortalised forever on one of our vintage cinema seats."

All 14 full-time employees are currently on partial no-pay leave, as part of the cinema's way to save cost during the closure.

Meanwhile, other exhibitors such as Golden Village Multiplex and Shaw Theatres, which run 14 cinemas and nine cinemas, respectively, are looking at re-assignment and retraining of staff after their cinemas resume operations.

The cinema closures in Singapore began on 24 March and will end on this 30 April.

(Photo source: The Projector's LinkedIn)





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