|
|
This topic comprises 7 pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
|
|
Author
|
Topic: R.I.P Film Projectors
|
Edward Havens
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 614
From: Los Angeles, CA
Registered: Mar 2008
|
posted 12-29-2011 01:42 PM
Steve, I respect the hell out of you. You cut out the passionate personal bullshit and get right to the point. I wish more F-Ters were as articulate as you.
However, I do have one counterpoint and one question to your response.
The counterpoint: Theatre chains started going all-digital five and six years ago, and studios have been offering VPFs for longer. I understand, and I admit I could be wrong here, that studios now offer VPFs directly to an exhibitor, and that these plans may not allow an exhibitor to recoup as much as previous VPF plans. But the writing has been on the walls for many years now. Independent theatre owners in smaller markets have had a number of years to either join a VPF program and/or save for the cost of these items.
The question: How do we know if the window to video expanded back to a year that theatre attendance would spike back up? Seems to me, in this day and age, if it was going to take a year for a movie to get released on video, that would just drive up the desire for a pirated version, and drive up the number of instances where opportunists would do what they can to get that content.
Thank you.
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Steve Guttag
We forgot the crackers Gromit!!!
Posts: 12814
From: Annapolis, MD
Registered: Dec 1999
|
posted 12-29-2011 08:58 PM
quote: Edward Havens
However, I do have one counterpoint and one question to your response.
The counterpoint: Theatre chains started going all-digital five and six years ago, and studios have been offering VPFs for longer. I understand, and I admit I could be wrong here, that studios now offer VPFs directly to an exhibitor, and that these plans may not allow an exhibitor to recoup as much as previous VPF plans. But the writing has been on the walls for many years now. Independent theatre owners in smaller markets have had a number of years to either join a VPF program and/or save for the cost of these items.
The question: How do we know if the window to video expanded back to a year that theatre attendance would spike back up? Seems to me, in this day and age, if it was going to take a year for a movie to get released on video, that would just drive up the desire for a pirated version, and drive up the number of instances where opportunists would do what they can to get that content.
Ed, you ignorant slut...You may go about showing your digital pictures like so many fluzzies in a magazine but...
The VPF thing, as we know it really started with the Carmike deal. There were other experimental efforts like from Qualcomm, Dolby but nothing of significant numbers. Carmike got the "best" deal with the least amount of restrictions (they have some theatres with mono sound and DCinema!).
Regal/AMC/Cinemark formed the DCIP and pretty much wrote their own deal...15,000+ screens speak VERY loudly. These companies also tend to work with other people's money and often lose it. I don't think AMC has gone bankrupt yet but they have come damn close.
The current VPF deal, aka "Phase 2" are really a bunch of deals shrouded in secrecy. There is the CBG one with Cinedigm, individual ones with Cinedigm, Film-Tech and GDC...one only knows just what each one gets. It is one problem with the whole VPF thing...it isn't out in the open...why are they so covered in secrecy if something shady isn't going on?
A couple of studios have offered VPFs direct to the exhibitor (Paramount comes immediately to mind) but just that one or maybe two studios contributing is not going to cover your expenses for this expensive equipment (that is cheap by its own industry standards). Heck, unless something has changed, GDC still hasn't got Warner Brothers on board and that should be a no-brainer for Warner Brothers.
But the whole NEED for a VPF plan should be a BIG red flag! If exhibitors could really afford DCinema, they shouldn't need a VPF. The fact is, exhibition can not afford what it is buying. When this generation of projectors are ready for the scrap heap, there will not be a VPF plan to replace them with either.
The bottom line is, the VPF deals are varied and do not affect all exhibitors equally and leave some out...which shouldn't be...all operating theatres should be offered the same "deal". If you run a WB product for the next period of time, then WB deducts the agreed amount off the rental. Likewise with the rest of the distributors...there shouldn't even be a need for additional middle men.
As to lengthening the window...how do we "know"...Well if we knew with absolute certainty, then it would happen right now since it is so obvious to all. However, it is only logical. Furthermore, it is backed by the evidence that as the window has shrunk, so have sales to both entities (theatrical and home). For me, it is painfully easy to see.
As for increasing piracy, not too likely...the real piracy is the VIDEO form of the movie...not so much the camcorder. Those buying camcordered movies are really sales you NEVER had. But once you release it via cable/satellite and disc, you have perfect sources to copy, cheaply too. With the internet you even get all of the artwork you need to make it look nice! If the source material is kept away for longer, it certainly isn't going to help the pirate's cause.
I tell you what...why not give it an experiment? make it very public...put it in the distribution ads that this wizbang movie will not be released to the home market for a year or make it even longer...if it is a summer release, make the video release the fall of the following year so it doesn't compete with the big summer/winter titles of the following year. See how bad the piracy is during that time...heck if there are videos of the movie...they are obviously pirated copies during that time period...no confusion.
I think most everyone here is wrong about Avatar...which didn't need DCinema for anything. It did give 3D a kick but that has nothing to do with DCinema. Avatar spurred 3D DCinema sales because that was required by a choice by the studios, not the technology. Exhibitors saw what that title did in 3D...then again, exhibitors always think the next Star Wars is coming...those sorts of titles come VERY rarely where they shift the industry. The '80s were a pretty good decade of having really big summer blockbusters...particularly the early 80s with the late 70s...to think Star Wars, Close Encounters, Star Trek, Empire, Raiders, ET, Star Trek II, Wargames, Jedi, Temple of Doom. These were all films that played into the fall and damn nearly into winter! Note, Star Trek was huge because of the whole phenomenon of Trek being canceled and actually GROWING popularity in syndication. It was a bottle that had been shook up and was bound to blow. It was the only TV series to go to the big screen big back then.
Now look at what Hollywood puts out...all of the digital wonderfulness they have at their fingertips does NOT make the movies any better. Good writing, good acting, and good production standards do.
As to movies like the King's Speech...There is such a thing as a "market." Not all theatres will play all movies equally and never have. Lets get into the way-back machine and say you had a porno theatre...and due to popular reviews, that theatre played a movie like "Star Wars" (we are back in '77)...first off...the cliental would think it was a play on words and still think it was a skin flick...that theatre would not have had the massive crowds that your downtown palace theatre would have done.
We have clients that cleaned up with The King's Speech because it fit their market. Some markets have to be cultivated (teach the locals that this sort of entertainment is available and that they can count on you to provide it). That often takes time. I know back in my exhibition days, getting a good "Midnight" crowd took time to develop. People had to count on you being open late on Friday/Saturday in order to plan on going there...if you experimented for a few weeks a theatre, they were dismal flops.
As to friends sharing things...this is older than one may think. So long as there are recording/copying devices...it has been happening to any and all mediums. People have been recording off radio for decades rather than buying albums, making mix-tapes, sharing video tapes...and so forth. Photocopying news papers (or articles) and giving them out. It is absolutely true that people don't appreciate the theft they are participating in. I never got libraries. Why would one buy a book when you can "loan" one out at the library? In fact, those that can not afford to buy books do just that. Records used to also be in libraries (and probably still are...I haven't been in a library in quite some time). Yet most authors support the heck out of libraries.
-Steve
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
All times are Central (GMT -6:00)
|
This topic comprises 7 pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
|
Powered by Infopop Corporation
UBB.classicTM
6.3.1.2
The Film-Tech Forums are designed for various members related to the cinema industry to express their opinions, viewpoints and testimonials on various products, services and events based upon speculation, personal knowledge and factual information through use, therefore all views represented here allow no liability upon the publishers of this web site and the owners of said views assume no liability for any ill will resulting from these postings. The posts made here are for educational as well as entertainment purposes and as such anyone viewing this portion of the website must accept these views as statements of the author of that opinion
and agrees to release the authors from any and all liability.
|
Home
Printer-friendly view of this topic