Is Downloading Damaging The Film Industry?
Internet Age Sees Movie Piracy and Film Downloads Blossom
Aug 11, 2008
Since the internet first emerged, the downloading of movies -movie piracy - has always been a problem that cinemas and film studios have had to contend with. The fact of it is, downloading is probably always going to happen, regardless of the circumstances.
Indeed, Marketing Charts for the U.S., as researched and published by MediaBuyerPlanner LLC and Watershed Publishing LLC (Editor in Chief Vahe Habeshian), predict that "consumer spending on movie downloads will more than double 2007 to 2008 from $114 million to $245 million."
They also predict a steady increase in download spending by approximately $200 million per year, to reach as high as $846 million by 2011.
Reactions To Downloading
Studio big-wigs likely fear that unauthorized downloading of a film can prove adverse for the studio. Indeed, Dawn Chmielewski, of the Los Angeles Times, in her July 28th 2008 article Secrecy Cloaked 'Dark Knight' claims that "the premature and unauthorized release of a movie to the public - especially a coveted summer blockbuster - can spell disaster."
Furthermore, the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), on their website, cite that "major U.S. studios lost $6.1 billion in 2005 to piracy worldwide." Consequently, it is probable that Hollywood studios are worried that if copies of a particular film leak onto the internet before the movies release, people will decide to download it instead of paying to see it in a movie theatre.
However, surely the arguement here is, just because a person has watched a movie that they have downloaded, doesn't necessarily mean that they would otherwise have paid to see it.
Why Do People Choose To Download?
Though studio (and cinema) bosses complain that illegal downloading is destroying the film industry, aren't these the same people who feel it is fair to charge upwards of £7.00 per ticket for films aimed at a predominantly 12a audience?
Another probable reason paramount to the decline of modern cinema is that Hollywood seems incapable of mustering even the slightest hint of originality in its theatrical releases. It is staggering how many films being released just this year are sequels i.e. The Quantum of Solace, The Dark Knight, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, Hellboy 2, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, the list is endless.
Concerns Unfounded?
Despite the hesteria that surrounds downloading and the (negative) effect it has on the film and cinema industry, history has shown that these concerns maybe unfounded.
Geoffrey MacNab, in his July 2008 article Cult Classics Take on the Blockbusters as Audiences Switch on to Internet Downloads informs, "In the 1970's, Jack Valenti, head of the Motion Picture Association of America, warned that video would spell disaster for the film industry. In reality, within a few years, video began to generate more money for Hollywood than theatrical exhibition."
In a year when The Dark Knight looks set to become one of the most successful cinematic releases in film history, are concerns about the effect of downloading unwarranted? It would appear so. However, in a time where it can take excessive hype and related tragedy to propel a films success, downloading is surely always going to remain just as prevelant as theatrical visits.
And in an era where the majority of releases are aimed at children, by way of the 12a certificate and where sequels, remakes and adaptations seem to take precendence over originality, it begs the question, is it any wonder that people still download?
