Bigger news than Apple TV?

The Apple debut of Apple TV a few weeks ago was a long awaited rollout. In the film world, today's debut of Final Cut Studio 2 had a much larger impact. Can I safely compare this to a rock band releasing a new cd? Yes, because Apple is taking this baby on tour across the U.S. to introduce it. Currently only eight cities are scheduled for the tour, but we can hope more will be added.

This much anticipated version of the Final Cut Production Suite comes with new versions of all the previous applications, but also includes a new application called "Color." This new software now gives editors a better tool to improve the color finishing and grading on their own. This is a great improvement from the previous methods for color correction, an effect in Final Cut. I can't wait to see what this new version has to offer.

Remake blasphemy

Well, I've been trying to convince myself that news of the latest in a long string of Hollywood remakes was merely speculation. However, after reading on cinematical.com, that production on The Birds remake aims to begin by the end of the year. I'm distraught knowing this because Hitchcock is one of my favorite filmmakers, and The Birds is a classic. One of the best things about watching the film is the use of real and stuffed birds. I can see already the use of cgi birds in the remake and cringe, this is one instance where new filmmaking techniques don't need to be applied.

Sure, in many films computer generation can create environments, stunts, and action that couldn't normally take place and the film is better for it. However, in classics, such at The Birds, the authenticity and attraction of the original can never be achieved by new techniques. I sincerely hope that if they must remake this film, that they use as little cgi as possible, just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

Even more options

On the heels of my discovery of the Redbox dvd rental stations at McDonald's I recieved my new issue of PC Magazine. What timing for this issue to come as it has a good article on using broadband movie download sites. So, with the ever expanding arena of digital cinema what better time to discuss movie downloads.

While movies and television shows have been available for download for a while, linking that file on your computer to playing on your TV hasn't been an option; until now. Now with Microsoft Media Center, XBOX 360, Apple TV, and others I know I'm not even aware of ,playing that movie you downloaded on your computer on your TV is fairly simple.

Still with all the services to download movies, either by "renting" them or buying them, it's a pain in the butt to find what you want, when you want, in the quality you want. Not all studios work with certain sites and some titles expire after a few weeks, so the consumer is left having to hop between a few services to find what they desire. Facing these issues it's no wonder piracy is still the most popular, yet illegal, option. And, as was so well put in PC Mag, it would only take the combination of Hollywood and a service to offer the greatest selection and best usability to conquer this market. So, until these issues are worked out, all the gadgets to take content from the computer to the TV are just novelty.

A drive-thru McMovie?

Okay, maybe I'm behind the curve as my television watching has been cut back dramatically, but have you heard McDonald's now rents movies? I know, I thought I was seeing tings too, but believe it. This new system called the "Redbox" is appropriately a big red box vending machine where you pay $1 for one night of movie bliss. You can return the dvd to any other Redbox location you please.

I haven't actually seen a Redbox yet, but it seems like a novel idea. One dollar for one night, seems a fair price and since the box uses McDonald's locations it has endless possibilities for growth. However, since the system relies on physical disks you might be out of luck more than not. Also, with limited space it would seem the number of titles available would be minimal. Still, anything that chips away at the high prices charged by typical brick and mortar rental stores makes me happy.

Blu-Ray taking the lead

Last time I posted about the battle between HD DVD and Blu-Ray DVD it seemed the war would be a long and ardous one. However, upon a recent trip to the local video rental gallery it is fairly clear Blu-Ray has taken a huge lead in the format battle. Of the approximately 30 High Definition DVDs only six were HD DVD, and the rest Blu-Ray. As an owner of a HD DVD player it is frustrating to see a movie come out in HD only to find it is only in Blu-Ray. So, if you are looking to take the next step up in a dvd player you should probably give most of your consideration to a Blu-Ray player, or better yet wait for the price to drop on the combo player and have the best of both.

Didn't I mention this a month ago?

Well, well, it seems sometimes I do know what I'm talking about. Starting in 2008 all AMC, Cinemark, and Regal cinemas will begin the transformation to digital cinema projectors. This marks a major shift to digital projection for major theaters, while mostly indepedent theaters had been making the change until now. "The idea is to drive costs down and push delivery toward a commodity price," said Warner Bros. exec VP of distribution and technology operations Darcy Antonellis while speaking to Variety. As consumers we can hope these price savings will be passed on to us. Now if we could only stay away from the concession stand.

Media pirates gone legit.

Variety has announced that after a year of negotiations with Hollywood, the well-known piracy site BitTorrent is going legal. Having gained the support and content for television shows, movies and video games the site is set to compete with the likes of Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon among others. The popularity of the website already gives the service a headstart in competition though.

The parent company Netco is hoping that current and former users of this service will help spread support for the new legal downloading. Even with this change, pirates will still be pirates. It seems strange that with all the sites and communities for illegal downloads that creating new and transforming established sites will change the mindset. If someone wants to get an illegal copy, they're gonna get it. But, the hope is that with more and more legal download sites the prices will be driven down and the cost will be less a deterent for piracy.

Any place for a short?

As a filmmaker producing short format stories I'm always on the lookout for outlets for shorts. It is so encouraging to see that nearly everyday more opportunities arise, and I'm not talking YouTube.

Most of these opportunities are with different cable networks, Current TV or IFC. However PBS also is giving more chances for short films to be seen on their series, such as Independent Lens. As a long time Tivo-Devotee I'm excited to see that short films are available for download from them directly to your DVR. I even heard about a contest for short films to be shown on an in-flight airline channel.

With so many chances for short films to be seen in venues besides film festivals, it's only the beginning of a shift. With portable video players so prevelant, the short has a perfect match. Have ten minutes watch a short, there couldn't be a better time to check one out; and there couldn't be a better time to be a short film producer.

Can the consumer win in the format war?

For Christmas this year I received an XBox 360 HD DVD Player to go along with my 360, before this gift I'd only taken a passing interest in the format war. Not quite sure what this war is? Well, with more important wars being fought I can understand how you would miss this one. The format war is the battle between HD DVD and Blu-Ray for supremacy in the next generation high-def disc market.

So, after receiving my new HD DVD player I thought I better see if HD DVDs would be around long enough for me to use it. After doing an afternoon of web surfing I had found many articles stating HD DVD was the way to go, but nearly as many articles stating Blu-Ray was king. However, it looked as though HD DVD had a big foothold on taking the crown. Well, they may have won the war for 2006, but for 2007 Blu-Ray is now on the verge of taking over.

Still, no matter what format "wins" does this really mean anything good for the consumer? Probably not. The last time a format was so hyped it was between beta and VHS, and we all know VHS won and held on for over 20 years. Since then, it's gone from VHS, to Laser Disc, to DVD, to who knows. With so much turnover in media formats why should anyone put faith in it being around for more than a year? Especially with new players costing over $600, and most previously purchsed HDTVs won't even give you the full benefit of the format, but that issue is for another day.

So, no matter which format wins in this battle the consumer loses. Sure, we'll get better resolution, sound and features with our High Def dvds, but we'll pay through the nose for it. And, we'll have to pay all over again about two years from now when the next next-gen format comes out.

Democratization Now

If you read my profile you know that I never thought I could be a filmmaker; that was until the digital revolution democratized the filmmaking industry. I had never used an actual film based camera and thought since that was the case I might as well forget about pursuing that careeer. However, with the digital storytelling revolution the entertainment industry has been opened up to a whole new source of content.

Now anyone with a camera and a desire to tell a story has the opportunity to be seen and heard. Whether, the content is good or bad the opportunity exists and that is the beauty of the democratization of filmmaking. The viewing public now has a chance to influence what programming they see and what an incredible power that is. If a story exists that is not being told it only takes a single person to pick up a camera, capture it, and display it for all to see. There are so many outlets for content you never know where it could end up. From the internet to film festivals to theaters to cable channels the possibilities are endless.

Just because you can...

As my last post looked at the emerging trends in theaters, I figured this week would be a good time to look at the small screen, the really small screen. With television shows, movies, or any other programming you can think of you can now watch on portable devices, iPods, cell phones, and numerous other handheld devices. However, just because you can do something, should you?
I'll stick with films, as this blog is dedicated to the cinema. Does it seem possible that that same enjoyment and experience can be derived from watching a film on a two inch screen as a twenty foot, or at least a television? The suspended reality created by watching a film can hardly be duplicated while watching at home nonetheless a tiny LCD. Are we so obsessed with having everything when and where we want it that we don't care about the experience we get from it? I hope we're not doomed to a future where it only matters that someone has seen a movie and not experienced it.

The theater as we know it.

The theater going experience is about to change, and in some cases already has. The age of shipping actual reels of each film to each theater is coming to and end and digital distribution is taking over. With this shift theaters now are beginning to show concerts, sports contests, and other live events along with movies. The implementation of digital projectors is allowing for films to be distributed through portable hard drives and other events to be picked up from satellite feeds.

So what does all this mean for audiences? It means the theater will become more than just a place to experience film, it will also allow you to see the opening date of a U2 tour from London even if you're in Gainesville, Fl. And say goodbye to bad films taking up screens in theaters. With digital distribution the investment in screening a film is greatly decreased allowing for more rapid integration of new films. The only thing left to do is wait for the change.