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.
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4 comments:
I might be a little old-fashioned, but I wish movie theaters would just be what they are - places to see movies...not concerts, operas, or other stage performances. That is what the stage is for. Just because technology tries to do and be everything in a single, palm-sized device, it does not mean that theaters should be the next multitaskers of our techy-obsessed generation. Leave the cinemas alone!
Hi,
I have to agree with Kirsten - I think the movie theaters are just interested in making more money. Thus, they are allowing the showing of concerts, operas, etc. There are already designated theaters and auditoriums for these shows.
However, I don't think the technology is bad as long as it's used for movies. I've worked in a movie theater before and using digital media would be much more convenient. It would also allow for higher quality films and a better viewing experience.
Forget trying to make more money, I think the movie theaters are just trying to stay in business! Things are changing--home theater systems, DVDs, TiVo, video-on-demand, Apple TV, Netflix, crappier Hollywood movies--and people are going out to theaters to see movies less and less, so the theaters have to try new things, new technology, new business models if they want to stick around.
Believe me, I can appreciate the sentiment of wanting to keep the movie-going experience pure and unadulterated, but I'm afraid that's long gone thanks to the multiplex and commercial advertisements shown before the coming attractions. I can remember when the local theater showed only one movie, maybe two ... and now it's 12, 14 ... or more!
You never know, digital distribution may lower costs enough that a new breed of niche theaters will pop up with only a few screens each. I guess I'm talking about art house cinema, but maybe we'll have more of them ... dedicated to recreating the "old-fashioned" movie-going experience of days gone by when less was more.
I have to agree with Kirsten. Technology is great, but sometimes its nice to enjoy some things the good old fashioned way...thanks for the info though...I was not aware of these advancements :)
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