PROS CONS

QUALITY Institutions can now produce films in HD, 4K, 3D or 4D which tends to attract the audience members as the they know the quality will be good and with some elements such as 3D, most people can’t access this at home.

While this is suitable for conglomerates, smaller institutions such as independents and mini majors cannot afford the more expensive quality films. Also, not all audience members want to see a film in 3D, as some find it irritating to wear glasses the entire time and cannot see the effects anyway. Sometimes 3D or 4D features may not even fit with the overall tone or feel to the film, making it seem out of place and actually reducing the overall quality to the film.

COST CUTTING Overall, since new technologies has developed, the overall cost in creating a film has decreased, meaning that they can spend the money on different elements in the production, such as marketing and distribution.

Spending less money on the actual production of the film can cause the quality to lower.

PIRACY If the film is already on websites such as Amazon Instant Video or Netflix, people are less likely to pirate the films.

However, websites like these you still have to pay for, and sometimes don’t have the film you want, so illegal piracy download and streaming websites provide a free and quick access to almost any film.

EXHIBITION It is now much easier, cheaper and faster to exhibit films as it is now all digital. This also means that films can be exhibited in multiple cinemas around the globe around similar times.

This also means that there is now more competition between film. As it is easier to exhibit films, many film releases that are close to other popular film releases that many have a higher fan base through marketing, will lose money.

MARKETING Due to new media technologies and websites arising, films can now be marketed more widely. With the rise of social media, it’s very easy to publish advertisements on twitter, facebook or youtube, and the public can generate word of mouth hype through these websites. Also with the rise of mobile games and apps, popular franchises can make games and apps in order to build a buzz for the film.

However, new and unique ways of marketing can sometimes cost more than some institutions can afford and so settling on cheaper methods to build hype for the film, can usually result in a lower total gross in funds.

Bethany Lock To what extent are new technologies beneficial to film institutions?

PROS CONS

ACCESS Due to the rise of streaming websites such as Netflix, it is much easier for people to stream and watch films online.

However not everyone can access the internet, or good enough internet to stream films, depending on where you live. Also, not everyone can afford to use legal websites such as Netflix, who charge monthly. Also, it takes away the experience of going to the cinema, as many people will think this is too expensive and will not be bothered enough to take the trip out.

ENVIRONMENT Money is saved from the actual production of film reels, which are not used widely in film productions anymore, and this money produces higher quality films. Also, the making of film reels could involve damaging chemicals to the environment, which is no longer a problem.

In the money producers save with the production of film, it does not carry on to the consumers and it has become more expensive and costly for people to go to the cinema to watch films.

AUDIENCE AS ‘PRODUCERS’

It gives consumers the chance to become prosumers and produce their own content with websites such as kickstarter, using crowd funding to help gain the materials to produce their own movies. With new camera phones and editing apps, people can easily film and edit their own movies on a mobile device, before sharing it via the YouTube app.

These films will have a lower quality than films produced by conglomerates or actual film studios and can look unrealistic and unprofessional. As they have no recognisation in the filming industries like already established companies, the films may not do as well and not generate enough hype to gain the money they spent producing the film, back.

MARKETING With social media and mobile apps and games arising, it is much easier to find new films to watch. As our generation is big with social media, producers tend to post advertisements there, in order to generate hype.

Adverts can get annoying, repetitive and tedious after a while, to the point where the audience members might not want to see the film after how many times they’ve had to endure an advert, especially via YouTube.

Bethany Lock To what extent are new technologies beneficial to film audiences?