Summary of news articles relevant for Audience, Institution & Distribution question on digital technology

Average movie ticket prices have gone up.

·        3D and iMax are more expensive and have pushed average prices up.

·        A lot of success for 3D films recently.

·        In 2013, average ticket prices hit an all-time high.

The future for film has already been written

·        It is now possible to make films at a low cost.

·        Competition for audiences is fragmented (broken up) over multiple platforms e.g. games, online, TV.

·        The film industry has changed due to changes in audience behaviour.

·        The growth of social media has created a new audience – no longer passive but active creators, collaborators, distributors and even financiers of film.

Disney movies anywhere

·        Disney have launched a digital movie locker – which allows users to store and stream digital versions of films.

·        Allows users to buy a Disney, Marvel or Pixar film a single time to access on smartphone, tablet, computer or internet TV.

·        Codes unlock digital copies + extra bonus features.

·        Keychest is giving Ultraviolet a run for its money by offering extras.

·        Currently only available on Apple TV, iPhone and iPad.

·        Customers need an iTunes account to access it.

·        Disney didn’t sign up for Ultraviolet and seemed behind but now they have caught up.

End of film

·        Paramount pictures has become the first major studio to stop releasing movies on film.

·        ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ is the first major studio film that was released all digitally (there were no film copies).

·        This is likely to encourage other studios to do the same.

·        In 2011, Disney issued a warning to theatre operators that it would stop distributing films within a year or two.

·        Theatres are installing satellite systems to digitally beam films into cinemas.

·        Digital technology allows cinemas to screen higher priced 3D films.

·        92% of cinemas in America have already converted to digital.

 

How digital cinema works

·        Digital production – quality is better than film, easier and cheaper.

·        Main obstacle is nostalgia for film + familiarity.

·        Digital means less work for distribution companies so their workforce would get smaller.

·        Piracy is easier with digital films.

·        Money is an obstacle - $150,000 to convert a theatre to digital – which will put many smaller cinemas out of business.

·        Production + distribution companies save millions in switching to digital.

·        Audiences prefer the look of digital.

·        Convergence of home entertainment technology and professional theatre technology means audiences can have the cinema experience at home.

·        Digital provides opportunities to improve surround sound, varied programing and interactive cinema.