Technology

Technological Convergence

• When one particular device has many other features than its primary use. A device which originally had one primary purpose has evolved into doing similar tasks to other devices. 
• e.g. iPhone 

Technological Proliferation

• The increase in the amount of hardware and content available to both audience and institution through emergence of new media.

Technological Advances in the Media

• Mobile phones 
• Tablets 
• CGI technology 
• Animation 
• DSLR camera 
• Capabilities of cameras 
• Drones 
• 2, 3 and 4D 
• On demand viewing 
• Streaming 
• Red 4k cameras 
• Light weight cameras 
• IMAX 
• Interstellar 
• Digital TV 
• CD 
• DVD 

Proportion of adults aged 16+ in the UK

Proportion of watching activities, by age group

Useful Links

• MPAA
• Technologies changing the film industry
• Park Chan Wook Makes Filmmaking More Mobile
• 4D Film
• How Tech Has Shaped Film Making: The Film vs. Digital
• Saving Cinema: the declining state of the Movie Theatre
• Piracy
• Film Is Dead? Long Live Movies

IMAX

• Stands for ‘Image Maximum’ 
• 6,000 lines is usually the amount of lines of horizontal resolution you have for 35mm film, in IMAX you get 18,000 lines from 65mm film 
• This brings higher viewing quality 
• January 2016 
• 1061 IMAX theatres in 67 countries 
• UK then Russia see the highest growth in the IMAX market 
• UK owns 30 IMAX theatres 
• Films shot in IMAX: 
• Transformers 

• Interstellar

• The Dark Knight Rises 

Film vs. Digital

• Chris Nolan 
• Claims its cheaper and better looking to use film as opposed to digital 

• Steven Soderbergh 
• Prefers the light weight digital cameras like the Red One 

Technological Developments 

• Lower processing and equipment costs 
• Light weight 
• Easier editing process 
• Digital not as good as film 

Decline in UK Cinema Attendance

• In 2011 Netflix had 20 million subscribers available on multiple devices 
• Netflix may conquer traditional broadcast services like it did for blockbuster early 2000's 

Ways of media consumption

Factors that could've impacted this

• Piracy 
• DVD & Blu-Ray 
• Secondary viewing platforms 
• Streaming companies such as Netflix 

Piracy: Indie vs. Big 6

• Indies dependent on local distributors 
• Country takes risk in investing in movie 
• Promotion of films are at festivals: 
• Cannes 
• Berlin 
• American film market 
• Buyers needed to pre-commit to the film 
• Need for royalties to the film maker 
• Pre-sales secure bank loans, if they aren’t secured the bank won’t loan them money 
• Piracy affects box office receipts 
• Distributors are less willing to take risk with adventurous films, bad for Indie producers 

Piracy

• Refers to the unauthorized duplication of copyrighted content that is then sold at substantially lower prices in the 'grey' market. 
• Effects 
• 30% of the UK population are involved in piracy 
• Costs the UK industry £500m a year 
• Cinemas are losing £220m a year 
• Affects independents more than the Big 6 
• Ways the industry responds to piracy 
• Phase out of DVD and Blu-Ray 
• Infra – red film technology 
• Educating consumers 
• Offering film content for free with advertisements (Spotify) 
• Selling downloadable film via e.g. (Apple, via iTunes Store) 
• Internet streamed but legally bought films 
• This latter option will require superior (secure) technology and online infrastructure 
• Sky developing a household hub computer/T.V. 

Home Entertainment

• VHS
• DVD (720×576 pixels)
• Blue Ray: High-definition video may be stored on Blu-ray discs with up to 1080p resolution (1920×1080 pixels), at up to 60 fps (frames per second)

The need for Digital Formatting

• Because film consumption is moving away from cinema towards Home entertainment via Blu-ray, streaming
• Increases the risk of Piracy
• 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 costs low
• Producers can self-market using You-tube/Vimeo
• Case study 2015:

Breakout hit from this year’s Sundance Film Festival, is full of surprises. There’s the subject matter: transgender prostitutes working in a not-so glamorous part of Hollywood. The story behind the camera is as surprising as what’s in front of it. Particularly because the camera used to shoot Tangerine was the iPhone 5S.

• 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.

Importance of Digital Technology for Film Producers

• Offers new opportunities
• Production becomes cheaper due to different ways of production
• The internet provides a vital role in the distribution process
• This convergence creates new opportunities for distribution and exhibition
• Films are more accessible
• Low cost cameras and phones have HD