essay 2

To what extent does internet piracy pose a threat to the film industry?

Internet piracy can be seen to be a strong threat to Hollywood film industry, but could be seen as a positive for independents film companies and prosumers by the audiences expanding their viewing choices. Internet piracy has impacted on the films industry as people are now watching films illegally online meaning the big film companies are losing box office takings and DVD sales. Sites such as megashare allows a wider audience to watch films in the comfort of their own homes. This wouldn't cost the person anything they can choose when it is convenient for them and they can pick and choose from a wide range of films. This also gives the audience the power to turn the film off if or when they get bored. Piracy is one of the reasons why 3D films have become more prominent in the cinemas again as they are not easy to copy and if people watch them at home don't get the same experience you would within the cinema.

With the internet now being so popular and with the majority of families now owning a computer it is easy and accessible to use pirate sites. The response to piracy by man film producing companies has been to start using 3D in their films. This is the case with Pacific Rim, Warner Brothers forced director Del Toro to use 3D in the film, to bring in maximum profit from the audience. Del Toro wants to release the film in 2D as well as 3D to give the audience the choice of what one they would prefer to watch. Other directors are more pro 3D in their films such as Avatars director James Cameron,this is because he believes 3D involved the audience more taking them in to the film adding space and depth.

Audiences using pirated sites have a wider choice of films to choose from such as big Hollywood films, independents, foreign films, prosumer films and wide range of genres. This widens the audience viewing literature, allowing them to sample films which are out of their comfort zones which they may not of watched in the cinema because if they didn't enjoy it they wouldn't of wasted any money.

With the increase of 3D films in cinema prices for these films increase as you have to pay for the glasses as well. 3D films are harder to pirate but cost more to make this is why there are a lot more remakes of old 80's films appearing on the big screens. Meaning there is less money to put in to writers, actors, directors for new releases. Anther economic change within the industry has come within the distribution, where films are now sent to companies VA hard drives with a digital key instead of on reels.

The impact of piracy in the film industry has meant a cut down of films. With the films that are being released are becoming cheaper by the technique the companies are using such as hand held cinematography done but the actors themselves we have seen this happen in films such as Paranormal Activity, Cloverfield and 127 days later. The industry has reacted to piracy with 3D films which lots of people don't even like but to keep the cinemas alive the audience needs to appreciate it for what it does and stop watching new release illegally online rather then in the cinema.