The Internet and the Film Industry

The Internet and the Film Industry

Metophorically speaking, technology is sinking sand. The more you struggle against it, and its awesome power, the more it will suck you down, to meet your untimely demise. However, if you relax and embrace the sludge, you will eventually find your self back on your feet. The revolutionary and more often than not, beneficial advancements of our new era of technology must be embraced, for those who refuse, will inevitably get left behind. "Up to this point, the attitude of the film industry toward the Net has been one of skepticism and, to an extent, envy, says Michael Comish, managing director for AtomFilms Europe, which broadcasts short films online."

(Technology How has the Internet affected the film industry 2000)

The film industry like any other is constantly evolving, spawning from an ingenious invention by Thomas Edison. The "Kinetoscope, launched in 1894, [which] became the first moving picture apparatus offered for sale, and provided the inspiration for the leading European inventors,Robert Paul and the Lumière brothers." (Christie, I) 

After that It grew rapidly, evolving through the eras of silent film, to the talkies, eventually embracing colour to wind up as 3D, full High Defenition, 7.1 Surround Sound systems with fully integrated and rendered CGI, in nearly every home. As you can see, in just a brief overview of it's history, film has always and will always utilise technology as it becomes available. So why is the internet different? 

Predominantly the internet is cause for concern as the home of thieves, with millions of people on the search for free content, it's only a matter of time before that content is a multi million dollar film, "if the free content...is a real movie, we have a problem. The production of even a half-decent film takes highly significant financial and human resources — civilians cannot even imagine just how expensive, time-consuming and labor-intensive it is to make a film of any kind. And all it takes to destroy it is an illegal Internet upload." (LAvideofilmaker, 2009)

However, it has been clearly proven that with the correct precautions and programming, the internet can be utilised as, undoubtedly, THE BIGGEST distribution channel in the WORLD. One such example is netflix, however film studios do not seem to embrace it either.

"As Netflix continues to grow in both audience and content, Hollywood film executives are feeling more and more threatened. " (Kaiser, T 2011)

"In the past year alone, the number of subscribers to Netflix has increased 66 percent. The video-rental company has even pushed competitors like Blockbuster and Movie Gallery to file for bankruptcy protection."(Kaiser, T 2011)

So why are film executives scared?

"Film executives believe Netflix is having other impacts on the movie industry ... For instance, movies on Netflix lose value more quickly than those that don't because "Netflix takes scarcity out of the equation" by offering movies to users anytime they want. In addition, film execs say Netflix discourages users from buying new releases. Disc sales are decreasing annually, and 30 to 50 percent of DVD's are still in their original shrink-wrap."(Kaiser, T 2011)

Basically put, studios that refuse to utilise this distribution channel are only looking at the negatives, for example, had they simply used netflix, what they missed out in new release sales, they would have made up for in the extremely wider channel of customers that they reached. 

In conclusion, just as technology has been embraced before, the internet is no different, and will ultimately offer more positives than negatives.

Technology How has the Internet affected the film industry 2000, viewed 01 September 2011, <http://articles.cnn.com/2000-05-15/tech/film.and.web.idg_1_cannes-film-festival-film-industry-sightsound-com?_s=PM:TECH>

Christie, I, Who's Who if Victorian Cinema, viewed 01 September 2011, <http://www.victorian-cinema.net/edison.htm>

LAvideofilmmaker 2009, The film industry and the internet do not get along, weblog,  August 18, viewed 01 september 2011, <http://www.lavideofilmmaker.com/blog/2009/08/18/the-film-industry-and-the-internet-do-not-get-along/>

Kaiser, T 2011, Hollywood executives fear Netflix impact on film industry, viewed 01 September 2011, <http://www.dailytech.com/Hollywood+Executives+Fear+Netflixs+Impact+on+Film+Industry/article21075.htm>