Moviegoers have been returning to a/perture cinema in Winston-Salem since the theater reopened in May, but beginning on Aug, 27, anyone looking to catch a film on the big screen will need proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test.”Hopefully as more businesses require this it will become habit and something people are used to,” said Lawren Desai, a/perture’s executive director and curator. “I mean you have to do this to fly out of the country now. So, I think it will become easier and less of an inconvenience.” Moviegoers can bring a physical copy or photo of their vaccination card. Unvaccinated customers will need the results of a test taken within 48 hours of the movie’s start time.Desai said the board decided they needed to make this decision or risk closing.”It’s been slow and doing this is a way to keep our doors open and make sure everybody feels safe when they come,” Desai said. “Hopefully as the community gets more vaccinated it’s something that will not be required anymore because it will be safe again.”Elsewhere in Winston-Salem The Ramkat is enacting the same policy, requiring vaccination proof or a negative test beginning on Friday.Desai thinks even more entertainment venues will move in this direction, but wants to be clear — she is not trying to alienate customers who cannot or do not want to get vaccinated.”Hopefully taking the test will give them an option to still come and we are a place that we want to welcome everybody,” Desai said. “The cinema is one of the last places you can come and be with all sorts of different people.”
Moviegoers have been returning to a/perture cinema in Winston-Salem since the theater reopened in May, but beginning on Aug, 27, anyone looking to catch a film on the big screen will need proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test.
“Hopefully as more businesses require this it will become habit and something people are used to,” said Lawren Desai, a/perture’s executive director and curator. “I mean you have to do this to fly out of the country now. So, I think it will become easier and less of an inconvenience.”
Moviegoers can bring a physical copy or photo of their vaccination card. Unvaccinated customers will need the results of a test taken within 48 hours of the movie’s start time.
Desai said the board decided they needed to make this decision or risk closing.
“It’s been slow and doing this is a way to keep our doors open and make sure everybody feels safe when they come,” Desai said. “Hopefully as the community gets more vaccinated it’s something that will not be required anymore because it will be safe again.”
Elsewhere in Winston-Salem The Ramkat is enacting the same policy, requiring vaccination proof or a negative test beginning on Friday.
Desai thinks even more entertainment venues will move in this direction, but wants to be clear — she is not trying to alienate customers who cannot or do not want to get vaccinated.
“Hopefully taking the test will give them an option to still come and we are a place that we want to welcome everybody,” Desai said. “The cinema is one of the last places you can come and be with all sorts of different people.”
