Movie Industry Still Focused On Camcorder Bogeymen?
from the but-why? dept
It's tough to figure out what the entertainment industry is thinking much of the time. Lately, they've been so focused on stopping "piracy" that they've basically lost sight of the fact that they're supposed to be making money. In many cases, the fight against piracy is making patrons feel like criminals, discouraging actual movie attendance. And, of course, bad overall experiences in movie going, such as high prices, loud audiences, dirty theaters and other problems isn't helping. Dealing with those should be a top priority, rather than than worrying if someone is taping the video with some cheap camera phone. Apparently, that's not true, however. Rob Hyndman points us to an article in Toronto's Globe and Mail that talks up how upset Hollywood is with the fact that recording a film in the theater isn't a criminal offense in Canada. That means, law enforcement won't get involved, though the theaters and studios can certainly still file civil suits. As Hyndman notes, this is clearly a PR article that was placed by the industry as they gear up to push for a new copyright law that includes making movie videotaping a crime. The article goes on and on and on about how much videotaping occurs in Canadian theaters, making it out to be this huge threat to the industry -- never once noting that videotaped movies aren't exactly hot stuff any more. Michael Geist fills in the details, pointing out that the vast majority of copied videos available are from insiders who leak the films. And, of course, once those leaked films get online, there's simply no reason to even care about the crappy video taped versions. In other words, it's pretty much a non-issue -- other than the draconian steps the theaters and studios take to try to stop this practice, turning off more people. If the industry put the same effort into making the overall moving going experience more enjoyable, the benefits would likely dwarf any impact from camcorder-taped movies.
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Going to the movies?
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sight.
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"No thanks. Please die."
And to the comment about the movie going experience, I would add $12 for 6 ounce of pop corn, $10 for a 24 oz soda. 'Pretzel'? $10.
They just need to add metal detectors and going to the movies will be just as enjoyable as flying.
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Quit releasing crap
Last year, the first pirate DVD purchase was made 13 hours after Poseidon's first screening. The first pirate download was 42 hours after the movie made its big-screen debut.
Who the hell cares if I actually paid to see that piece of crap I would be pissed. When Hollywood stops making complete garbage and sequels/threequels/fourquels/remakes then maybe its time to feel guilty. But no as I sit here and type the announcement of the release of a new Pauly Shore and Jean Claude VanDam remake of "Gone with the Wind" has probably been announced. (btw Pauly Shore is Scarlet)
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Re: Quit releasing crap
Price
Selection
i saw posieden adventure when i was 10
i saw the hitcher when i was 15
the movies all follow the same format of boring plot, some type of bullshit conflict resolution and then a happy ending (or 3 or 4).
The fact that you may shell out 30 bucks and are likely to get a shit movie in return, isn't really much of an attraction. And given the track record of the movie industry lately, what do you expect?
I understand overhead, i really do, I'm a businessman myself. What I DONT understand is a 300% markup on a bottle of coke.
Anyway, just my thoughts on the matter.
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Cinemas
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Its called investment people!
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I still like the movies.
In fact, I do it about twice a month. And there seems to be enough movies that are good enough to make it fun. I couldn't do it twice a week.
Maybe I'm lucky in where I live, because I don't ever have problems with cell phones, rude people, dirty theaters, being searched by security or camcorders at any of the movies I've watched.
I hate the MPAA, just as much as the next person. What I don't understand is... Why is it important that you convince me that all movies suck, and watching them in theaters is awful?
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Re: I still like the movies.
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I confess
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eroding respect
I can get into stolen car, drive about drunk running down pedestrians and then go on a reckless shooting spree with an automatic rifle and still face less punishment than I can sitting on my backside harming nobody.
The criminal justice system is completely on its head in the USA. It is completely out of proportion and hemoraging respect from its own citizens and the rest of the world.
It's just getting too risky to see a movie, use a computer or listen to music. Is that the "land of the free"?
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!!
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Theaters make 1$
Not standing up for theaters, just a little FYI =]
~MC
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cost
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Bit_My_shiny_metal_&$$
ok the cellphone thing is bad, it pissed me off to the point where i called him on, and kicked his ass outside, but as for the camera thing GROW UP, leave them alone and they will leave you alone. IT IS NOT A CRIME TO VIDEO TAPE MOVIES FOR HOME USE ONLY. the companies need to prove you taping it to make pirated coppys to SELL for a PROFIT.
im considering taping all the movies i go to see so i dont need to pay for it a second time when its released on DVD. this is not a crime in canada. but the reason i hate theaters is the people that put thier feet up on the chairs and the people that kick the seats when your right thier in front of them.
to all those people - Kiss my shiny metal @$$
and to everyone making "back-ups" for home use,m MORE POWER to YOU, just remember to delet any pirated movies you downloaded and any downloading programs B4 doing that ( they cant still take you to court and get warrants to check you PC.... so cover ass and dont download pirated movies.
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Going to the theater
Staff don't care about me once they take my money. The theater smells and the crowd is rude and loud. I waste my time and money for a film that's horrible.
Going to the movies is an expensive aggrivation. I'll just take a peak online, or get the DVD if I think it's worth my time. It's cheaper.
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