Future of Film

What is the future of film?

Many people would argue that the film industry is in the time of a 3D revolution, and that in the near future all films will be in 3D. However, is this a mere phase of the film industry, like in the 50’s and 60’s? Cinema projection is undergoing a digital switchover, seeing as digital projections require no projectionist and physical film, as opposed to traditional projectors.

Avatar (2009), is a massive budget blockbuster by James Cameron, which was filmed in 3D and has ‘photorealistic’ state of the art CGI effects. Ever since it’s launch, 3D films have been on the rise in cinema’s across the world due to Avatar’s huge success, getting some $2,781,835,502 in gross revenue. These films have lead the public to believe we are going through a 3D revolution. James Cameron encourages this view, saying that ‘a lot more filmmakers are going to use 3D’. However, this is probably biased, seeing as he wants to promote Avatar as much as possible, and by promoting 3D, he is achieving this. Giovanni Ribisi (an actor in Avatar) also promotes 3D (probably also for the benefit of the film) and says ‘It has come from what was being considered a gimmick, to a tool for storytelling’. However, although 3D can be a more immersive experience, it does not enhance the storytelling of the film, and so many people who watch films for the narrative aspect, (where Avatar’s main weakness lies, because the story has been told in famous films before) could consider it as a gimmick. Agreeing with this, Mark Kermode argues that no matter whether Avatar is in 3D or not, ‘they still look like bloody smurfs’. Nevertheless, many go to watch films for an entertaining experience, which is where Avatar excels, with stunning special effects and action. The only reason why this ‘phase’ of 3D could have a future, is that the technology has come a very long way since the last phase of 3D, meaning that it could take off if 3D keeps developing fast.

However, not only does Cameron think that 3D will be the next big thing, he also predicts, perhaps more realistically, that ‘CGI and real photography will become seamless’. Proof of this is Avatar itself, the blue Navi actually looking very realistic throughout the film. The motion capture used in Avatar has been done before, and since the film, perhaps making ‘traditional’ make-it-from-scratch-on-the-computer CGI redundant now you can base every movement on real life actors.

Another element of film that is potentially undergoing change is cinema projection. Until recently, a projectionist would load sections of around 20 minute film into a traditional projector, between film reals as one ends. With a good projectionist, the audience won’t be able to notice a change in the film. However, this requires around 5 cans of film, each of which containing 2000 feet of film and weighing around 25kg. This film costs anywhere from $590 - $640 per 1000 feet, and with multiple copies of the film needed at each cinema, this works out to cost at a large amount. Not only this, but it needs to be refrigerated, and when being transported over long distances, it works out to be costly also. Digital distribution of films came about as an alternative to traditional film in countries where it was too costly or inefficient to transport it over long distances. Films were initially converted from the film stock on which they were shot, however more and more films are increasingly being shot digitally. Although this makes transport much cheaper and easier, cinema’s will need to upgrade all of their projectors from traditional to digital, which will be very costly. Not only are films being digitally downloaded by cinemas to show, but they can be downloaded when they are released for the home audience, over the internet. Now there are even ‘triple play’ packages in which you can buy films, containing, DVD, Blu-Ray, and a digital copy of the film, making it future-proof (at least for the next few years anyway).

In conclusion, film itself doesn’t seem to be changing much, yet the means by which it is shown is fluctuating constantly. 3D films such as Avatar have made a big impact in cinema’s, and many in the film industry want to encourage it. However, it doesn’t change the narrative, which is key in many people’s minds, and therefore could easily be considered a gimmick. Cinema projection is changing for the better however, making films more available to poorer countries, with no obvious flaws as of yet.