Thursday 2 April 2015
Thursday 26 March 2015
To what extent does film piracy pose a threat to the film industry?
Piracy is in some ways a big threat towards the film industry due to the technological aspects throughout the years such as TVs becoming more advanced, as well as being able to watch the films in the comfort of your own home. Piracy is also not really seen as stealing to people either so it is not seen as a crime to people who illegally download the films.
Films are being downloaded off of the internet illegally on sites like Megaupload due to people not wanting to go out and pay for a film if they know they could easily get it for free, this is bad for the film industry as people are not seeing piracy as an actual crime as they are not physically stealing something so the film industry is losing money. Because of people downloading films, the film industry are creating films that are not original and are just the same as other films as they know people go to watch them in the cinema so they play it safe and create films that are just like successful previous films instead of coming out with something new and taking a risk.
The types of films they know that will make money are CGI and special effects based with 3D in them, this is because people go to see these films in the cinemas for the special effects and the 3D as it looks better on the big screen, so people watch go it for the cinema experience, also you cannot pirate 3D films and watch them at home as they do not work. 3D is the film industries answer to the downfall in cinema attendance, every time the attendance decreases again due to things like new technologies such as piracy, they bring 3D back and get people back into cinema as the new technology has caused the downfall in cinema attendance.
The film industry is under threat from piracy as they are making films that are very similar to each other, this will make less people go to the cinema as people want to see something different instead of just special effects based 3D films. As people are not going to the cinema anyway, the majority of films that will be made are 3D films with special effects, so the film industry is stuck in a viscious circle where only dedicated fans of franchises go to watch the films in cinema. Another down point for 3D films is that the projectors cost more money, which means the ticket prices will go up, so not only do people get a non original film but for more of an expense. 3D is not new either, because every time a new technology like piracy comes around that causes a decrease in cinema attendance, 3D comes back and people fall for it and go to watch 3D films again because it's a 'new' thing that everyone wants to experience.
Monday 23 February 2015
Monday 9 February 2015
"Censorship is motivated by fears surrounding new technologies" Discuss this statement referring to video nasties & the impact of technological, social, political contexts of the early 70's and 80's
To a certain extent i do not believe that this statement is not right, as teenagers only wanted to get hold of these types of films just because of the fact that they were banned and the were not allowed to watch them. The home videos did make the films banned as there was no regulations to what you could watch at home and deciding yourself what was morally okay to watch before the video recordings act in 1984.
The NLVA wanted to protect teenagers from watching these video nasties because they were frightened that these films would actually harm the teenagers. This would cause a moral panic as the media then went on to tell everyone that video nasties were the cause of anything bad or violent happening because of the pressure groups. This is because Mary Whitehouse came to the conclusion that if teenagers were to watch these films, they could imitate what was happening within the films. Also another thing is that Mary Whitehouse refused to watch any video nasties because of her beliefs and she already knew what they were like.
Conservatives campaigned to get rid of Video nasties along side Mary Whitehouse, not because they agreed that they were harming the teenagers, but because they wanted tot distract the public away from the rubbish job they were doing at running the country and to blame all of the bad things happening around the same time on the video nasties, which was scapegoating. The government put out advertising to stop people from watching video nasties, these could be considered propaganda as they were trying to control what people did with their own free choice, whether to watch video nasties or not to.
People who wanted to watch video nasties were able to get hold of them, and the fact that people wanted these types of films unregulated, it started riots when the video recordings act as people wanted the right to watch what they wanted and did not want to be sort of mothered by the government. The distributors of videos were usually people in sweet shops and garages, this would make it easier for people to get hold of banned films, this is because the shops that sold videos were not legitimate people that specifically sold home videos. Another reason why audiences wanted to watch these films was because of the packaging mainly, this would have caused more of the fear around the video nasties, but nearly all of the packaging of the nasties were worse than the actual films themselves. The marketing overall of the video nasties is what sold them, because if they were bad enough to get banned, people would want to see them more than they would want to see ones that are not banned or cut in any way.
Monday 2 February 2015
Essay multiplexes and blockbusters
What factors led to the decline of town or city centre cinemas in the late 1970s and early 1980s?
The three factors that led to the decline of city centre cinemas are social, technological and economic factors. The social factor is that teens, who have a disposable income are watching films, as they go to shopping centres which have cinemas, so it is seen as a leisure activity. The technological factors are that VHS were a big trend around this time, so people were staying at home instead of going to the cinema. Another is special effects, the experience of watching a film with special effects in is better at the cinema. The economical factor is that piracy was big as people didn't want to spend money on going to the cinema.
The audiences of films in cinemas was mostly teens as they have a disposable income meaning they didn't have to pay for anything, they could just spend it on things that they liked. Also multiplexes are in shopping centres, this is where teens usually go out. This is also because it is seen as a leisure activity, as they would go do some shopping and then go to the cinema. This would be linked to exhibition, as more people would be able to see it because it is in a multiplex cinema, so there is more screens. Another reason why they would go to the cinema, is because blockbusters were shown and they were seen as event movies, this would be because everyone would be talking about that film so other would want to talk about it too as they want to be a part of it, this would link to the distribution and marketing as if it was seen advertised people would want to go see it. The hype of it would spread through word of mouth.
Around this time, VHS was getting bigger and becoming a trend, so people would want to watch their films on their VHS in the comfort of their own home, instead of going to the cinema. This effects the production of the films, because there was a decline in cinema attendance they would put more VFX in them to make it a better experience to go watch it in the cinema instead of at home. Teens would go to watch a film for the special effects. The multiplexes were putting flea pits out of business, because film distributors controlled where the blockbusters were being shown, so to put flea pits out of business, they only allowed blockbusters to be shown in multiplexes. This is because film distributors could sell more of the same film to themas they have multiple screens, this would then make them more money. this would effect the distribution and marketing as they knew selling to multiplexes would make them more money.
The economical factors were that because VHS was becoming a big trend, piracy was becoming a big thing, this was because people did not have the money to go out to the cinema every time there was a new film. An example of this is E.T, in 1982 it was the most pirated film, this is because people couldn't afford to spend money on leisure, as they did not have a disposable income like teenagers did. This had an effect on the production of the films, because people were not going to the cinema meaning they would put VFX in them, so that it would look better at the cinema on the big screen, making people want to have a better experience if they went to the cinema than if they sat at home watching it on VHS. Because more people were going to the cinema for the experience, this effected the production of films as there was an increase of blockbuster films, making the film producers more money.
I think the main reasons why there was a decline in town and city centre cinemas is because of the VHS trend coming out around the time of this meaning more people were staying at home to watch films and people were able to pirate films instead of paying to the full price to go see it at the cinema.
The three factors that led to the decline of city centre cinemas are social, technological and economic factors. The social factor is that teens, who have a disposable income are watching films, as they go to shopping centres which have cinemas, so it is seen as a leisure activity. The technological factors are that VHS were a big trend around this time, so people were staying at home instead of going to the cinema. Another is special effects, the experience of watching a film with special effects in is better at the cinema. The economical factor is that piracy was big as people didn't want to spend money on going to the cinema.
The audiences of films in cinemas was mostly teens as they have a disposable income meaning they didn't have to pay for anything, they could just spend it on things that they liked. Also multiplexes are in shopping centres, this is where teens usually go out. This is also because it is seen as a leisure activity, as they would go do some shopping and then go to the cinema. This would be linked to exhibition, as more people would be able to see it because it is in a multiplex cinema, so there is more screens. Another reason why they would go to the cinema, is because blockbusters were shown and they were seen as event movies, this would be because everyone would be talking about that film so other would want to talk about it too as they want to be a part of it, this would link to the distribution and marketing as if it was seen advertised people would want to go see it. The hype of it would spread through word of mouth.
Around this time, VHS was getting bigger and becoming a trend, so people would want to watch their films on their VHS in the comfort of their own home, instead of going to the cinema. This effects the production of the films, because there was a decline in cinema attendance they would put more VFX in them to make it a better experience to go watch it in the cinema instead of at home. Teens would go to watch a film for the special effects. The multiplexes were putting flea pits out of business, because film distributors controlled where the blockbusters were being shown, so to put flea pits out of business, they only allowed blockbusters to be shown in multiplexes. This is because film distributors could sell more of the same film to themas they have multiple screens, this would then make them more money. this would effect the distribution and marketing as they knew selling to multiplexes would make them more money.
The economical factors were that because VHS was becoming a big trend, piracy was becoming a big thing, this was because people did not have the money to go out to the cinema every time there was a new film. An example of this is E.T, in 1982 it was the most pirated film, this is because people couldn't afford to spend money on leisure, as they did not have a disposable income like teenagers did. This had an effect on the production of the films, because people were not going to the cinema meaning they would put VFX in them, so that it would look better at the cinema on the big screen, making people want to have a better experience if they went to the cinema than if they sat at home watching it on VHS. Because more people were going to the cinema for the experience, this effected the production of films as there was an increase of blockbuster films, making the film producers more money.
I think the main reasons why there was a decline in town and city centre cinemas is because of the VHS trend coming out around the time of this meaning more people were staying at home to watch films and people were able to pirate films instead of paying to the full price to go see it at the cinema.
Monday 19 January 2015
In the 70s and 80s they put small theaters in towns out of money, meaning they were getting money.
The sucess of s few mutiplex cinemas led to the expansion of more in the uk in the 80s.
In the US a multiplex cinema had the seating capacity of 6000, so it could bring in more money as more people could go into the one cinema.
Smaller cinemas put out of business
Before multiplexes, big decline in cinema attendance
Rotate screens, large to small, sell more seats
1985 milton keynes 'multiplex'
1984 multiplex to get people back into cinemas
Vhs home video trend
Economics- box office, cinema attendance. Budget, production (100m). Marketing, creates hype. Presold audience, poster create fear, event movie. Film studios built multiplex, to show their films (blockbusters).
economics: Massive sucess. A lot of merchandise coming off of the back of the film star wars. $20billion since 1997 merchandise.
Social: More realistic films in the 70s. 70s were the era of independant films, but star wars was the opposite. Films that dealt with the vietnam war, but this was the opposite. They wanted something new, entertainment based fun. Massive fan base, event movie. New hollywood=the godfather.
Technological: Futuristic robotic characters, special effects. Jaws was inbetween the god father and star wars. Some aspects of new hollywood and emerging aspects of the blockbuster movement. The developement of special effects in star wars. Jaws had no special effects. VHS hone videos trend early 80s, making less people go to the cinema. E.T biggest selling VHS. Multiplex better quality, more people surrounded by people who feel the same as you.
The sucess of s few mutiplex cinemas led to the expansion of more in the uk in the 80s.
In the US a multiplex cinema had the seating capacity of 6000, so it could bring in more money as more people could go into the one cinema.
Smaller cinemas put out of business
Before multiplexes, big decline in cinema attendance
Rotate screens, large to small, sell more seats
1985 milton keynes 'multiplex'
1984 multiplex to get people back into cinemas
Vhs home video trend
Economics- box office, cinema attendance. Budget, production (100m). Marketing, creates hype. Presold audience, poster create fear, event movie. Film studios built multiplex, to show their films (blockbusters).
economics: Massive sucess. A lot of merchandise coming off of the back of the film star wars. $20billion since 1997 merchandise.
Social: More realistic films in the 70s. 70s were the era of independant films, but star wars was the opposite. Films that dealt with the vietnam war, but this was the opposite. They wanted something new, entertainment based fun. Massive fan base, event movie. New hollywood=the godfather.
Technological: Futuristic robotic characters, special effects. Jaws was inbetween the god father and star wars. Some aspects of new hollywood and emerging aspects of the blockbuster movement. The developement of special effects in star wars. Jaws had no special effects. VHS hone videos trend early 80s, making less people go to the cinema. E.T biggest selling VHS. Multiplex better quality, more people surrounded by people who feel the same as you.
Monday 12 January 2015
Context = Reasons
Blockbusters do not stimulate the mind, they aren't there to make you think.
Blockbusters are products, they are there to make money. Box office at the cinema.
Summer event movie, you go to see it at the cinema as a group.
Economics=£
Audience=Social
Technology
Context=Reasons
Audiences behaviours, then they had to go to the cinema to watch a film in the 1970's, but now we can watch them at home online. The reason why we go to watch them at the cinema now as there is lots of special effects, making the visual experience better than at home (combats piracy). Watching Blockbusters is basically watching someone play a video game, because of the special effects.
'Set action pieces' - Fight scenes, sacrifices the narrative.
Blockbusters have evolved. why?
"Multiplex" (multiple screens) vs "independent" "Fleapit"
Just because a film made money, doesn't mean people liked it.
Event movies, only going to watch it so people are involved in the conversation about it - being apart of the hype.
Godfather- Target audience is more male than female. Hardly any special effects. Was an event movie. Has two sequels. A $6,000,000 budget. Was a big success. not post genre. based on a novel, pre sold.
Star wars IV- Lots of CGI, SFX and animation. Slightly more of a male audience than female. Definitely an event movie. A $11,000,000 budget. Heavily marketed. Set pieces were chosen over narrative. Franchise and seven films. Is very like a video game experience. not post genre. has a story but there are set pieces. not pre sold. A lister. Lots of merch, where it started. here were film becomes an advert for the toys and other stuff.
Jaws- No special effects. not post genre. actual story and not set pieces. was a franchise, sequels.
E.T- Mixed target audience(aliens for male, narrative for female). A $10,500,000 budget.
The Exorcist-
Social- Audience sense of fear played on in Jaws. Preference for visual effects and simple stories.
Technology- Visual effects THX sound
Economic-Stopped reporting marketing budgets in 2008 when they reached around $37 million
More sequels are more expensive than the original. Marketing is becoming more important, around the time of Jaws, bigger marketing budget.
Bonnie and clyde- 1967:
The graduate- 1967:
Godfather- 1972: Indie, underground cinema. (no special effects, not much publicity, character driven story) New kind of film making 'New hollywood' (new generation of film directors) opposite to Blockbusters.
Jaws- 1975:
1st film with 100m gross. Event movie. Summer release. Massive publicity. Decade of blockbusters. (More publicity, still no special effects, character driven story) $260million.
Star wars- 1977: Event movie, step forward in special effects. Made $797million.
The shining- 1980: New hollywood. Overlaps into the Blockbuster era.
The peoples preferences to visual effects instead of character driven stories, made the blockbuster change from something like Jaws to Star wars.
Blockbusters do not stimulate the mind, they aren't there to make you think.
Blockbusters are products, they are there to make money. Box office at the cinema.
Summer event movie, you go to see it at the cinema as a group.
Economics=£
Audience=Social
Technology
Context=Reasons
Audiences behaviours, then they had to go to the cinema to watch a film in the 1970's, but now we can watch them at home online. The reason why we go to watch them at the cinema now as there is lots of special effects, making the visual experience better than at home (combats piracy). Watching Blockbusters is basically watching someone play a video game, because of the special effects.
'Set action pieces' - Fight scenes, sacrifices the narrative.
Blockbusters have evolved. why?
"Multiplex" (multiple screens) vs "independent" "Fleapit"
Just because a film made money, doesn't mean people liked it.
Event movies, only going to watch it so people are involved in the conversation about it - being apart of the hype.
Godfather- Target audience is more male than female. Hardly any special effects. Was an event movie. Has two sequels. A $6,000,000 budget. Was a big success. not post genre. based on a novel, pre sold.
Star wars IV- Lots of CGI, SFX and animation. Slightly more of a male audience than female. Definitely an event movie. A $11,000,000 budget. Heavily marketed. Set pieces were chosen over narrative. Franchise and seven films. Is very like a video game experience. not post genre. has a story but there are set pieces. not pre sold. A lister. Lots of merch, where it started. here were film becomes an advert for the toys and other stuff.
Jaws- No special effects. not post genre. actual story and not set pieces. was a franchise, sequels.
E.T- Mixed target audience(aliens for male, narrative for female). A $10,500,000 budget.
The Exorcist-
Social- Audience sense of fear played on in Jaws. Preference for visual effects and simple stories.
Technology- Visual effects THX sound
Economic-Stopped reporting marketing budgets in 2008 when they reached around $37 million
More sequels are more expensive than the original. Marketing is becoming more important, around the time of Jaws, bigger marketing budget.
Bonnie and clyde- 1967:
The graduate- 1967:
Godfather- 1972: Indie, underground cinema. (no special effects, not much publicity, character driven story) New kind of film making 'New hollywood' (new generation of film directors) opposite to Blockbusters.
Jaws- 1975:
1st film with 100m gross. Event movie. Summer release. Massive publicity. Decade of blockbusters. (More publicity, still no special effects, character driven story) $260million.
Star wars- 1977: Event movie, step forward in special effects. Made $797million.
The shining- 1980: New hollywood. Overlaps into the Blockbuster era.
The peoples preferences to visual effects instead of character driven stories, made the blockbuster change from something like Jaws to Star wars.
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