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This topic comprises 2 pages: 1 2
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Topic: Landmark theaters to install Sony 4K digital projectors
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Frank Angel
Film God
Posts: 5305
From: Brooklyn NY USA
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 03-19-2005 04:34 AM
quote: Aaron Haney
An all-electronic system from camera to editing to exhibition might not mean as much to medium and high budget productions, but very low budget stuff, especially documentaries, could benefit from it by more cheaply reaching a wider audience.
I hear this all the time....how theatres will benefit from being able to use digital for "alternative content." Well, you know what? Theatres won't book alternative content unless it has presold, value-added marketing punch behind it. The reason people pack the theatres (when exhibitors are lucky) to see the latest releases is because of the multi-million dollar marketing campaign that precedes them. Low-budget documentaries and other independent stuff (you know, the same stuff exhibitors won't touch even when it is available on film) will require the exhibitor to spend big bucks on advertising in order to bring in an audience, an area in which he does not traditionally venture or which he is particularly adept at.
And then there's the public. It gets harder and harder to drag them out of their living rooms and their newer and bigger "home video theatres" for BIG releases. Does Landmark see some vast demographics that want to go to the movies to see documentaries? How many ordinary Joe Publics do you know who actually paid for a ticket to see even one of the nominated documentaires? And for those in the demographic who DO want that content, they have PBS and cable as the place they traditionally look to find that kind of program material. me thinks it will be a very long, painful up-hill road to get a sizable audience to trek out to a Landmark theatre to see a documentary about the slums of Calcutta.
As for all those live (on video) concerts they think will draw crowds, same problem....same misconception, IMHO. What will change the viewing patterns of the public when the traditional places those who desire to see that kind of thing is either at the live event in a stadium or a concert or on pay-per-view. What will make seeing the live event in a small movie theatre attractive to that population?
As for classical music concerts, again, PBS and the cable channels are the traditional video venues where that small population of classic music lovers go to see this or that Philharmonic; they don't go to a movie theatre, which are already are stained by the perception that they are not pleasant places to see movies, let alone the ballet or a symphony orchestra. I work at a beautiful concert theatre and over the years it gets more and more difficult to entice audiences to see this artsy stuff LIVE. I can't imagine what it will take to convince them to see it at the multiplex in large enough numbers to make it alternative content profitable.
There is also the question of the cost for capture and distribution of the program material. How fast will all the studios come on line to offer every title in a digital format that will match the 4K rez? Well, like SDDS, I guess exhibitors can feel pretty sure they will be guaranteed that Columbia product at least will be made available. Bet that is a great comfort.
Then there is this bogus idea that somehow a theatre will be able to be better utilized if they can fill seats at times when traditionally they are empty. Hello! The reason people don't go to the theatre at 10am isn't going to change because the theatre can now program a video lecture on the wonders of the horned beetle or even a concert from Royal Albert Hall at that time. People don't go to the theatre at those off-peak times, alternative content notwithstanding....period.
Landmark surely has its work cut out for it if they think they are just going to simply roll out this very expensive piece of equipment and then turn a profit overnight, or over a year, or even ten, or ever.
Oh, and let's not forget there is one up-side to all this....film collectors take note: the market will soon be flooded with all those discarded and disrespected 35mm projectors Regal is going to be selling dirt cheap to make room for the spiffy new $150,000 Sony video projectors! (What projectors do they typically have in their theatres? I wouldn't mind picking up a pair of 70mm machines!)
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Carl Martin
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1424
From: Oakland, CA, USA
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 03-19-2005 05:37 AM
quote: Frank Angel
me thinks it will be a very long, painful up-hill road to get a sizable audience to trek out to a Landmark theatre to see a documentary about the slums of Calcutta.
much as i agree with you in general, frank, it happens that enough people have been trekking out to see born into brothels to sustain a run of 1 1/2 months or so. damn thing left me cold, though. it looks bad, shot on video, and it's about photography! i have been blown away by some documentaries lately, though, and they were all shot on film. what do i know?
carl
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