There’s a lot of drama ahead

On the eve of the start of Wairarapa’s leg of the New Zealand International Film Festival, Regent 3 Cinemas owner/operator Brent Goodwin was relieved that the only dramas likely to occur this year will be on screen.

“To my knowledge, the pandemic’s been the biggest knock to cinema exhibition in history,” Goodwin said.

In addition to impacting the annual festival, “in terms of general films, not only did the audience dry up, but the supply of films was choked off too.

“But in the past six months or so, it’s bounced back pretty well. It feels like we’re back to where we were before covid-19.”

Whether the pipeline of product will now be impacted by the Hollywood writers and actors strikes, Goodwin gave a fatalistic shrug: “Who knows what the future will bring.”

He’s still agog at the roaring trade done by ‘Barbie’ and ‘Oppenheimer’, which will continue playing alongside the film fest.

“The ‘Barbie’ movie has been massive – way bigger than ‘Oppenheimer’. Although I’m still amazed at how well ‘Oppenheimer’ has done here with college kids and upwards – I wouldn’t have thought they’d have even heard of him. It’s extraordinary, the interest in him.”

And while ‘Barbie’ isn’t usually a film that would interest him, Goodwin has resolved to catch it before it finishes its run: “In this game, when you see so many people going to something, you really want to try and work out what’s attracting them.”

As for the festival, he won’t be able to compete with the punters who take their annual holiday so they can watch every film.

“I’ve long given up marking what I want to go to because it’s bound to clash with council business or when I’m working, so I just go when I can,” Goodwin said.

“And it’s quite nice just sticking a pin in the programme – you get surprised.”