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This topic comprises 6 pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6
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Topic: First hint at end of 35mm film distribution for Disney
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Carsten Kurz
Film God
Posts: 4340
From: Cologne, NRW, Germany
Registered: Aug 2009
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posted 07-03-2011 05:54 PM
quote: Mark J. Marshall
So what happens to all of those theaters overseas that haven't converted and are nowhere near converting? No more film for them either?
The situation overseas can be completely different than in the US - e.g. most european countries view 'cinema' as a cultural asset and offer funding and other financial support for smaller houses to facilitate digital conversion.
Very often this is not only tax payers money, but also from other financing pools that have been created to support weaker parts of the film industry. e.g. we have film funding that reinvests revenue from successful local movie productions partly in new productions, screenplay development, cinema modernization, etc. That may be in credit or grants
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Some countries, like in scandinavia, organized countrywide VPF programs with local distributors to support all cinemas. In some countries, a mixture of all these methods can be found.
In short words: At least for the european continent, the situation for most smaller houses is much better than in the US. Although some of the very small houses may still be left out.
- Carsten
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Manny Knowles
"What are these things and WHY are they BLUE???"
Posts: 4247
From: Bloomington, IN, USA
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 07-04-2011 11:17 PM
quote:
Even if a theatre manages to qualify for VPFs now, that won't help in a decade or so when the next generation of [digital projection] equipment needs to be purchased and installed.
Scott, I would imagine that the movies of the future will be backwards-compatible, in much the same way that...
...70mm coexisted with 35mm
...Digital sound coexisted with analog
...3D coexists with 2D
In multiplex situations, it's likely that the "premiere" screens would get the upgrade while smaller houses stick with the current technology.
Like 70mm, THX, digital sound, 3D, etc, if it appears that the upgraded houses really do have more earning power, then we'll see a widespread adoption of whatever is the new thing.
But let's not ignore the motives for the current change from analog to digital. It's about reduction of overhead due to printing and shipping of prints. Once the switch to digital occurs, there really won't be a *pressing* need on the part of the studios to go any further.
Certainly, there may be a few high-powered directors who seek technological improvements (higher resolution, increased frame rates, etc) but even if they get their way for a particular film, I don't think it will necessarily result in a *mandatory* industrywide retooling.
Cases in point:
Specially-timed version of "Transformers 3" for brighter 3D projection -- not mandatory.
7.1 sound -- not mandatory
Even George Lucas did not make good on his threats to withhold the new STAR WARS trilogy from theatres that didn't convert to digital.
With that said, now that we *are* on the digital treadmill, technological enhancements are inevitable, and it's likely that we all see this coming. So why not simply plan for it?
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Carsten Kurz
Film God
Posts: 4340
From: Cologne, NRW, Germany
Registered: Aug 2009
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posted 07-05-2011 04:51 AM
I guess they are not THAT stupid. Of course they want to speed up conversion by issueing statements like that. After a while, they will reconsider what the actual conversion status is like and then decide what to do from there. Offer more VPFs, other deals, stop 35mm, or, what is more likely, make it less attractive to put more pressure on the houses that have not converted. That is, less prints, bad quality prints, more expensive prints. They'll certainly not just watch it growing slowly into peacful coexistence.
- Carsten
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Steve Guttag
We forgot the crackers Gromit!!!
Posts: 12814
From: Annapolis, MD
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 07-05-2011 06:52 AM
Most of the VPF deals that I've heard about are of the sort where one has to convert at least 50% of their screens (in a location) at the onset and have a set time frame for when the remaining within that location must also convert.
The stick in this, however, is that the VPF allotment goes down this fall so if you only convert 50% now, you will have less money to convert the other half next year.
Make no mistake about these VPF deals, it does NOT cover 100% of the conversion cost but it does cover a substantial amount of it (typically 75% +). As such, the exhibitor will have to outlay a substantial amount of cash in order to hold their own (not generate any new revenue for the expense).
Manny, as to what Scott was saying about the second set...it wasn't about some new fangled format...it is about the realistic lifespan of the equipment going in today...it is unlikely that the majority of it will remain reliable and repairable 10+ years later. To drive the point home...non of the equipment that was purchased for DCinema 10-years ago is supported in any fashion. You may find some parts can be had and some parts will cost more than buying new. Even series 1 projectors have a black mark on them in terms of serviceability that is only going to get worse. The first 2K stuff is already starting to have more difficult times obtaining parts in a timely manner.
Certainly, time will tell on all of this. I'm hoping that since the currents stuff is being mass produced (as much as this industry ever mass produces anything), that the support of it will be longer than the stuff that was produced in more limited quantities. However, there are no guarantees.
-Steve
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equipment needs to be purchased and installed. Ultimately, this hardware is going to have to be paid for by exhibitors, even if the drug-dealer approach ("first one's free!") works in the short term.
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them.
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