Cinema Day plot resonates in ticket queues
About 30 people queued outside a cinema in Admiralty before ticket counters opened at noon. Photo: RTHK
Queues formed outside theatres in Hong Kong on Wednesday as tickets for the annual Cinema Day went on sale at HK$30 each for all screenings this Saturday.
This year marks the third consecutive year the event is held, which aims to encourage people to patronise movie theatres.
About 30 people queued outside a cinema in Admiralty before ticket counters opened at noon, with the first arriving about an hour before that.
The cinema provided printed pamphlets listing all screenings on Saturday to those in the line.
One of those queuing up, Philip, said it was the first time for him.
He said he thinks the annual event can definitely get more people to patronise movie theatres.
'Look at this queue. I think so," he said.
"But people do watch TV and movies that are streamed.
"There's a lot of competition for cinema-goers at present.
"Cinemas have come up with a lot of fancy gadgets to attract viewers.
"They've got vibrating seats, seats that move back and forth to try to attract people because you can't do that at home."
Another first-timer, Ida, thinks there are more TV promotions for this year's event compared to the past.
However, she said, the quality of the movie experience is what ultimately brings people to cinemas.
'I can wait for some movies to go on streaming services," Ida said.
"But for some movies I'm willing to pay more than a hundred dollars to catch them in a cinema.
"The atmosphere of watching a movie in a cinema is different.
"Some movies have got to be watched in a cinema. So it really depends on the movie quality.'
Fifty-three cinemas are participating in the event, and the Hong Kong Theatres Association expects it to attract around 200,000 filmgoers, similar to previous years.
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