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Traditionally films are made up images printed on to acetate negatives.
These are then “spliced” together to form a reel of film.
These are then feed through a projector at a constant speed of 24 frames a second which makes the pictures appear to be moving.
This is known as analogue
Digital cinema uses bits and bytes (strings of 1s and 0s) to record, transmit and reply images, instead of chemicals on film.
The whole process is electronic so there is no printing or “splicing” involved.
Digital cinema has grown rapidly in the last 10 years.
Star Wars: Episode II, the Attack of the Clones (2002) was the first big budget live action film shot entirely on digital video.
However, transferred to 35mm film to be exhibited in cinemas
Film makers were far from convinced that digital was the future of cinema.
Advantages Digital technology can store, transmit
and retrieve a huge amount of data exactly as it was originally recorded.
The quality of digital film does not deteriorate.
Analogue technology (film) loses information in transmission and generally degrades with each viewing
Digital information is a lot more flexible than analogue information
A computer can manipulate bytes of data very easily
E.g. ease of editing using a program such as iMovie/Final Cut/Final Cut Express
This saves time and therefore saves money.
Digital cinema affects the three stages of film-making:
Production – how the film is madeDistribution – how the film gets
from the production company to the cinema
Exhibition – how the cinema shows the film
1.Production New digital camera technology
rivals traditional film for quality Digital camcorders using a high-
definition format called HD-CAM are much cheaper than standard film cameras.
Virtually no processing necessary before the editing stage
Tapes can be re-used many times – unlike film
Footage can be viewed on immediately on set
Production time is cut and so are costsBY HOLLYWOOD STANDARDS
DIGITAL VIDEO COSTS VIRTUALLY NOTHING
Example:Attack of the Clones$16,000 on 220 hours of digital tapeWould have spent:$1.8million on 220 hours of film
2.Distribution Film prints are very expensive
(£1500-£3000 per print) Expensive to ship heavy reels of
film and then to collect them when film finishes its run
Digital films are basically big computer files
Can be written to DVD-ROMSent via broadbandTransmitted via satelliteVirtually no shipping costsNot much more expensive to show in
100 cinemas as 1
Because of cost you have to very cautious about where films are played – unless it is a guaranteed hit it is a risk to send film to a lot of cinemas
This is one reason why there is such a limited choice at multiplexes
Films can be opened simultaneously all over the world
3.Exhibition A good analogue film projector
produces a clear, crisp vibrant image but every time the print is projected the film is damaged.
A digital projector produces a high quality image and sound every time.
The 1000th view is a good as the first!
DisadvantagesPiracy – much easier to make
illegal copiesPirated copies may be of a much
higher quality than beforeNeeds to be more advanced
encryption systems
With much cheaper home entertainment technology and professional cinema technology - will people still bother to visit cinemas?
Hollywood Independent
The digitalisation of the film industry has affected Hollywood Studios and Independent film makers in different ways.
Opens up competition to Hollywood through decreased production and distribution costs
Could break Hollywood hold on exhibition in Britain
DIGITAL CINEMA IN THE UK 2005 The UK Film Council is investing £12m
of National Lottery money into a DIGITAL SCREEN NETWORK
‘Digital distribution is significantly cheaper than 35mm and will allow a richer diet of films to be distributed’
John Woodward – Chief Executive UK Film Council
‘Digital will give the public unprecedented choice and filmmakers more opportunity to get their films onto the big screen’ (John Woodward – Chief Executive of the UK Film Council)
The UK Film Council pledged to have more than 200 cinemas – including multiplexes – with digital projectors by 2007.
In return they would be required to devote more screen time to British and non-mainstream Hollywood films
Therefore – significantly improving the choice for viewing for audiences
Over 4000 cinemas have digital projectors in the USA
In the UK around 300 cinemas now have digital projection.
In 2009, the Academy Award for Best Cinematography was awarded for a film mostly shot digitally, Slumdog Millionaire.
Other digitally shot films include: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Apocalypto Gamer Che: Parts 1 and 2 Public Enemies
New digitally enabled venues have been able to show a new generation of digitally produced 3D films.
The popularity of 3D has grown rapidly.Recent releases include:Final Destination 3D Up Avatar
Most 3D films are released alongside a 2D version.
Although it is becoming very popular among young audiences the jury is definitely still “out” on whether 3D is here to stay.
Many viewers find it difficult to watch and lots of films simply don’t suit being watched in 3D. Imagine watching “Sweet Sixteen” in 3D – it just isn’t necessary!
Not everyone has been happy about the move to digital film
These directors still stand firm against using digital film:
Steven SpielbergChristopher Nolan M. Night Shyamalan Oliver StonePaul Thomas Anderson
How has digital cinema affected the film industry ?
The Third Revolution in film?1.Sound (1928)2.Colour (1930s)3.Digital (21st Century?)
In 2005 the UK Film Council introduced 240 digital projectors into cinemas as part of Film Council’s Digital Screen Network initiative.
This was designed to enable cinemas to show a greater variety of films including UK and foreign language which would normally be too expensive or difficult to distribute.
The pace of change was initially slow but accelerated rapidly due to the boom in 3D films which can’t be projected on the old equipment
David Hancock of industry website Screen Digest explains the change:
2009 – 650 digital screens2010 – 1,400 digital screens with
1,080 of them enabled to project 3D In 2010 416 films were released
wholly or partly on digital prints in the UK, which is 80% of all releases
This compares to 20% in France35% in HollandThe UK is the country in the world
which is farthest down the digital route – currently by a long way
Film prints will no longer be damaged – it will always look like new
There should be a more varied, flexible programme
Cinemas are able to show one-off events like live opera and major sports
However, it will be very difficult to show older films that have not yet been transferred to digital
Digital projectors require fewer people in the projection box so staffing costs can be cut & overheads reduced
However, staff will still be needed to ensure that films are projected correctly, at the right time and on the right screen
With no need for a big projection booth, the space needed to build a cinema may shrink
Edward Fletcher of the distribution company Soda has predicted that:
‘In the next few years there will be an increase in smaller, high street cinemas that will show a good mix of mainstream and indie films’