Digital Technology and Film Industry

1. Production - how has digital technolgy changed the way films are shot? How has it made the process more creative? Think about on set and post-production?

I read a few articles:
Film postproduction
A step-by-step state of the post world at today's hottest facilities as they learn to hustle and workflow.By Debra Kaufman
FILM vs. DIGITAL VIDEO

I think that the introducion of CGI and other digital technology has enhanced the film-making procedure, being that more believable and almost eye-popping effects can be composited into the shot, making the cinema or home cinema a more pleasurable experience. The viseral pleasure of these shots and the effectiveness of them has spread very rapidly, from around only 5 films in the 1970's using CGI, to many more in the present day, with very few having no CGI or special effects included. These digital effects can be changed post production, so that colours or don't fit in with the actors, the digital effects can be changed however and whenever the producers want to change it, being the greatest advantage of the digital technology.

2. Distribution - how do we access films now? How do the films get distributed to the cinemas? How is this changing?

Hollywood’s threat to your local cinema

The article is about the decline in cinema popularity and the 'local' cinemas closing down because of the decrease in popularity.
'Chewing gum, mobile phone ringtones and long advertisements' (Nick Louth MSN Oct 2005)
The article explores the reasons for this decline in the number of local cinemas in Britain. The main reason was money. The overpriced admission is not all; the expensive snacks and food means the monthly cinema visit becomes a luxury, setting you back about £20 if you've got company. This strapped-for-cash nation can't afford visits to the cinema often, because of the high prices on top of actually getting to the cinema.
Also, long advertisements only bore viewers, and the ever-growing market of a home-cinema is growing rapidly, the cost of DVD's less than the cost of seeing the film once. Sure the atmosphere may not be the same, but at least you get to watch the film more than once.

3. Exhibition - how do we experience films? Is the cinema experience changing? Is it under threat with home cinema technology?

In relation to the last question, the home cinema system is getting ever popular, with imports of films into Britain down 1% from 2002-03, and the exports of British films also down 1% in the same year. The home cinema is getting ever popular because of the decreasing cost of the technology and the 'feel', and the atmosphere is the same with the dulling of the lights, the clear sounds and the family experience together is some more motivation for the instalation of more of this equipment.

Statistics:

At the start of 2005, there were around 300 cinemas in the world with digital projectors. By January 2006, it will be 2,000, and this is anticipated to grow dramatically into the future.

A celluloid print run costs around £100,000, while for a digital distribution the cost could be cut to one-hundredth of that, around £1,000.

The cinema has to pay for all of this equipment and then upgrade it roughly every three years.

from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4681859.stm