Technology

New technologies that have impacted on the UK and Hollywood Film industry...

• Netflix
• Youtube
• TV films
• piracy 

IMAX Films...

(Image MAXimum) it is a motion picture film format and a set cinema projection standards created.

• IMAX brings higher viewing quality to the audience but requires 65mm of film.

IMAX Film examples- Transformers, the dark night rises and star wars the force awakens 

The growth of IMAX theaters...

January 2016 there were 1061 theaters in 67 countries.

UK currently owns 30 IMAX theaters. 

Digital Technologies...

The film vs. digital debate rages on, with top directors like

• Chris Nolan refusing to abandon the traditional medium, claiming that "It's cheaper to work on film, it's far better looking.

On the other hand,

• Steven Soderbergh has been a huge fan of the digital format, particularly with lightweight digital cameras like the Red One affordability

Digital technologies...

• Lower processing and equipment costs 
• Light weight/low cost
• less cumbersome editing procedures
• Quality of digital not viewed to be as good as film by many in the industry.
• RED cameras shoot at 4k and 6k suitable for cinema viewing.

There has been a dramatic declining in the attendance in UK Cinema attendance.

Other factors affecting the film industry and theater attendance...

• Piracy
• DVD & BLU-Ray
• Secondary viewing platforms
• Netflix

Movie Piracy...

Piracy refers to the unauthorized duplication of copyrighted content that is then sold at substantially lower prices in the "grey" market.

Piracy is Theft. This is because it is stealing someone else work/ film, and making benefit for it- gaining money on other peoples success. If they sell it cheaper than the original selling price individuals may be tempted to pay the cheaper one.

Effects of Piracy...

• 30% of the UK population is active in some form of piracy, either through streaming content online or buying counterfeit DVDs.
• This costs the UK audiovisual industries about £500m a year
• Cinemas are losing about £220m a year at the UK box office due to piracy
• It affects Independents more than the Big 6.

How is the industry responding to the threat of piracy?

• Phase out of DVD and BLU-Ray
• Infra-red film technology
• Educating consumers
• Offering film content for free with advertisements (spotify)
• Selling downloadable films (Apple, via ITunes Store)
• Internet streamed but legally bought films...
• This latter option will require superior (secure) technology and online infrastruture 
• Sky developing a household hub computer/T.V

Home Entertainment...

• VHS
• DVD
  BLU-Ray: High-definition video may be stored on Blue-ray discs with up to 1080p resolution

Netflix has more than 20 million subscribers with content available of devices like Xbox and IPads.

Hollywood film executives fear Netflix may conquer traditional broadcast services the way it did blockbuster if someone doesn't keep them in check.

Technological Convergence...

This is when one particular device has many other features than its primary use. A device which orginally had one primary purpose has evolved into doing similar tasks to other devices.

• A phone...
• Phone calls
• Email
• Listen to music 
• Access the internet
• Watch movies/TV
• Play games 
• Downloading Different Apps.

• A laptop...
• Internet 
• Listen to music
• emails
• Play games
• Online chat
• Play music 
• Work station
• Watch movies and TV

Film content can be consumed by an audience in various ways...

• In a cinema
• Through home entertainment (SKY Movies)
• On the move (On planes)

Institutions need to provide films increasingly in digital format

• because film consumption is moving away from cinema towards home entertainment via BLU-ray, streaming
• Increases the risk of Piracy (there are more ways to get hold of the film- you don't have to just film it in a cinema
• Large institutions (Big 6) Offering cinematic experience in large screen (iMax) format, followed by digital release as DVD, BLU-Ray, streaming

BUDGET FILM PRODUCTION

• Film production is cheap
• Producers can self market using Youtube/ Vimeo
• Digital technology has made life better for low budget film makers and distributors because it is cheaper and easier to distribute
• UK film Council, UK Media Desk have online submissions for short films.

Digital technology offers new opportunities and the one way process of film making is now opened up to new kinds of people because the means to produce are cheaper, and has become interactive. With online media ie. docial networking, Tv on demand, video games, means that the internet will play a role in the film distribution. This convergence of media through digital technology creates new opportunities for distributing and exhibition.

Films will be more accessible to a wider audience because of the cheaper cost of Digtial Video, with a place for short film via the internet.

Digital technology has transformed the film industry with low cost cameras and with phones now having HD video cameras

Proliferation...

Proliferation is the increase in the amount of hardware and content available to both audience and institution through emergence of new and old media 

For example..

IPhone is a big hit- so companies have learnt that consumers want a touch screen phone that has lots of apps. Suddenly there's LOTS of smart phones with similar looks and attributes: PROLIFERATION.

This is the same as when Blackberries were around, lots of companies made various phones in the same model.

This can occur from the breakthrough in new technology

For instance technological convergence through the digital age.

Technological convergence+combining two or more technologies (hardware)

Example touch sensitive/high red "retina" screens lead to the development of IPhones and IPads now capable for viewing HD Movies at 1080 pixels

Samsung using a similar LCD screen technology market their products under the galaxy brand.

Exhibition...

Today there is a proliferation in the way we can consume the content through both old and new media, and how these have converged.

IE. TV newspapers are now converged online with the use of the internet. Where websites have video news and also people writing on blogs with their own view

Therefore providing new opportunities for media communications.

Threats to media
Netfilx
On demand
Youtube
Piracy
Sky movies
Virgin media
Blu-ray
On flight movies
Technology advances

Task 2
Create a mind map or bullet point list of patterns of personal media consumption.

• How many films seen in cinema per month/ Year?

I rarely go to the cinema so perhaps around 3 films per year. It depends what films come out and whether they interest me.

• What other ways do you consume film and media and why do you consume it in this way?

My main source of films is Netfilx.I do this because its so much better and easier to watch films in the comfort of my own home instead of having to go to the cinema and it is cheaper- the cinema costs £10 per ticket (ion average) Whereas Netflix costs £5 a month- much cheaper and lots more films are available.

• Your perspective on Piracy…

It isn't fair on the original creators as they are taking their work and earning money from it. 

• Have you been to I-Max? 

No i haven't

• Do you see the main blockbusters at the cinema as soon as they are released or do you wait to stream or buy the DVD?

Depending on the film i would go to the cinema to see it if I really am intrigued. Although the majority of the time I wait. At home I watch on average 1 per week.