Hollywood Seeks To Kill Off 3D Golden Goose With Much Higher Prices
from the oh-look,-bad-business-models,-now-in-3d dept
Ah, Hollywood. While the movie business has been doing quite well at the box office lately, many in the industry still haven't quite realized why. Obviously the rise of 3D flicks has given people a reason to actually leave the home and go to the theater -- in part because the experience is much better, and seeing movies in the theater is a social experience. Of course, now that 3D televisions are starting to come to market, there may start to be some more challenges there, and the way to deal with that is to improve the experience and make it even more worthwhile.So what's Hollywood doing? They're just making it more expensive. Yes, they're jacking up the prices on 3D movies, in a typical short-term strategy. Rather than recognize how this might just drive more people to more seriously consider getting a 3D setup at home, Hollywood's simplistic business modeling seems to be "let's see how much we can squeeze out of people as quickly as possible." There is no recognition of the value of building up a longer term relationship and providing reasonable value at a reasonable price. And then they're going to complain about people not going to the movies, and blaming file sharing, rather than recognizing that they're driving willing customers away with much higher prices.
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Re: 3D
> assisted suicide I can get behind. When 3D dies I'll be cheering
> at it's funeral--even when it's done as right as it could be it gives
> me a headache.
So just don't go see the movies in 3D then. They all have 2D versions playing in the same theater. Why would you cheer for the demise of an experience that a lot of people enjoy simply because it doesn't work for you?
"If I can't enjoy it, then I don't want anybody to be able to!" Kind of a shitty attitude.
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Re: Re: 3D
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Re: Re: Re: 3D
They're not mutually exclusive. Curmudgeons have shitty attitudes. It's pretty much a requirement for curmudgeonhood.
Besides, a curmudgeon is someone who mainly just wants to be left alone. He doesn't think no one else should have things merely because he doesn't like them.
No, thublihnk's nothing so exotic as a curmudgeon. He's just a selfish little twat, who believes that if he doesn't like or enjoy a thing, then no one should.
> lrn2read
Behold the irony.
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Re: Re: 3D
And really, it costs 40-50% more to make a 3D movie? I doubt it. Perhaps these movie makers amd theatre owners are the epitome of the big greedy businesses.
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Re:
same. why? Also why should we pay the same amount to watch a cheaply made, transiently funny screwball comedy as opposed to a thoughtful and expensive (in terms of effort at least) movie?
I think filmmakers should have independence to set the ticket price to optimize their earning. It is free market economy after all!
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Re: Re:
Because generally, that's what consumers want.
"In every theater normal and 3D versions are priced same. why?"
No, the aren't the same price in most theaters. Most theaters charge several dollars more for the 3D showing.
"Also why should we pay the same amount to watch a cheaply made, transiently funny screwball comedy as opposed to a thoughtful and expensive (in terms of effort at least) movie?"
You're asking the wrong question.
"I think filmmakers should have independence to set the ticket price to optimize their earning."
They currently *DO* have that independence.
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Re: Re:
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Re:
I can't see too many people upgrading to a 3d TV any time soon as most of them, like me, have only recently upgraded to flat screen.
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"Greenfield said the price hikes reflect a growing belief among theater owners that consumers are "hungry" for 3-D content and are willing to pay more for an enhanced movie-going experience."
Hmmm...not me, I wonder if I'm alone.
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Investing
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3D is the industry's "highest quality product"?
Add in the cost of medication for the migraine I got from the 3D, and it seems to me they're stupid enough to charge more for even less, since there's no mention of quality script, quality acting, a *gasp* story you can get involved with?
I think I'll wait for Toy Story 3 to come out at RedBox.
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Re: 3D is the industry's "highest quality product"?
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Re: Re: 3D is the industry's "highest quality product"?
In the theater I go to regularly, they've got signs posted everywhere warning that if you don't return the glasses, it's petty larceny, and THEY WILL GET YOU.
I don't see 3d shows there...
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Re:
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Dont see the need for 3D tv
I dont want to have to do anything extra to enjoy tv or a movie like has been stated, I want to sit down and just relax for a little while infront of a movie or television. Count me out for the 3D banwagon at the theater and in my home. Cant afford to watch a 2D movie let alone the extra money for the rental glasses to get a headache too.
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Re: Dont see the need for 3D tv
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How about the 2D versions of the 3D movies?
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Re:
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Raising 2D also?
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Really - I already wear glasses to watch TV, hell, just to see at all, now I'll need goggles too?
And FFS! I just bought an HDTV. These aren't wee ticket items that everyone can run out and replace with something that hasn't worked properly since the 50s.
Twenty bucks a ticket to see a movie? Seriously?!
*reads a paperback*
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$19 WTF???
Now with the night vision cams they have in the theater to stop piracy, you can't even get a private grope on your girl anymore. I'm missing the point of the movies.
Don't they realize that once the price hits a certain point they are competing with other more fun entertainment venues. They can blame file sharing all they want, but when you price yourself against nightclubs, gamezones, and even amusement parks, it's just corporate suicide.
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Re: $19 WTF???
59.99 for a new game and then you have to buy the almost mandatory dlc options which will cost 10.00 a pop.
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Too much for too little
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Alice in Wonderland 3d was crap and double the ticket price god!! what a wrought I wasted 10 bucks on shit 3d.
I am never going to see a 3d movie again unless its quality is Avatar or higher, most 3d movies have shit 3d.
Now that I think of it those blurry things in Avatar pocking out of the screen making my head hurt as i tried to instinctively focus on it were terrible.
3d is a gimmick hurts my eyes and sux in general.
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Re:
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Re: Re:
For the record, Avatar was filmed in real 3d, while Alice was filmed in 2d and the 3d was just added later (cheaper).
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You Read My Mind
Yes, the 3D televisions will drop the price of a 2D significantly in the coming months. I too will be shopping to replace my last CRT when the price falls.
Oh, and I did get head during a movie once and IT WAS THE GREATEST FILM EVER!. I can't recall what it was about though.
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Thumbs down
His reasoning was that the movie was shot in 2d and then post-productioned into 3d. He said the technique they used removed about 20 percent of the light but added few interesting 3d effects. He said the colors pop much more and it is much closed to Tim Burton's vision in 2d.
Seems the studios knew 3d was the current thing and figured they could milk it for more money, quality be damned.
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Movie Prices
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Make the Rich Pay!
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Re: Make the Rich Pay!
Is that you?
I thought you were leaving the country
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-- Roger Ebert
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seen the prices LAUGHED MY ASS OFF
BIG TIME THUMBS DOWN
especially for 1950's technology
anyone selling this as new should be executed as a scammer
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theater? no thanks
I am interested in price reductions on LED backlit LCD tvs as the 3d stuff hits the shelves. Still waiting ...
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No Thanks!!
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We will just stay home
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3D
At that point, everyone will just say "screw it" and watch movies at home. Either that, or spend their money on cheaper tickets at a local theater for 2D.
I'm basing this on when Surround Sound came about: originally, people would actually pay a little extra for it. Of course, movies were still around $5 back then, and there were a bunch of theaters that showed matinees or "midnight movies" for $1.
No wonder Hollywood made so much money last year...
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A Little Perspective
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Re: A Little Perspective
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Re: A Little Perspective
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Re: Re: A Little Perspective
So prices go up on movie theater tickets. Some people will choose to stay home, and wait until they can see the movie at a cheaper price.
That means the hardcore people are paying higher prices to see the movies first in theaters, and others are waiting until the movies are cheaper or free.
Isn't this the same as the tiered offerings that musicians are being told to do? You end up with a small group of fans who pay a lot, while the majority pay little or nothing.
Is it a rip-off or giving special fans something in exchange for more money? You offer some things at such a high price that only a few will go for it. Then you offer something at a middle price that a bigger number will go for. Then you have the free stuff for everyone. If the high movie ticket price keeps some people out of theaters, isn't that a selling point of a sort? You'll have a better selection of seats because the number of people willing to pay higher prices will be smaller.
So you have 3-D in theaters for a lot of money. You have 2-D in theaters for less money. You can rent it from Netflex for less. You can get it for free if you wait until it shows up on TV. Yes?
I'm not saying whether this is a good plan or not, but it seems to be exactly what is supposed to work with music.
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Re: Re: Re: A Little Perspective
Not at all. The movie industry has every right to run their businesses as they choose. I've chosen to vote with my wallet, and I vote no as a consumer. It's all good.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: A Little Perspective
Yes, I think that's pretty much how it is going to be with all content. A few fans will pay a premium price and most won't. Given that, industries are going to charge a lot for some offerings if they think they can get it to subsidize the free and low end offerings.
And then when enough consumers say, "I won't pay the price," the marketplace adjusts and overall prices may come down.
Pricing is a very interesting topic. Do you keep prices low and leave some money on the table? Do you set high prices for your best offering to see what the market will bear?
That seems to be what the movie industry is doing now. They discovered that there is a market for 3-D movies. They also have found there are currently not enough 3-D screens. Set the prices higher to see what happens and then adjust after you see the results.
I personally think the average family is tapped out in terms of entertainment spending and I have been saying that for awhile, but if you think the consumers can dig a bit deeper, then you might be motivated to offer some of your stuff at a higher price.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: A Little Perspective
DVD sales have been dropping, remember? Rentals have gone up, but that's because of 3rd parties selling at very cheap prices.
Milking a product is only good for short-term profits, but completely ignores the long-term effects. Rather than making 3D and theatre experiences valuable and in demand, thus increasing the market, they'd rather cash in on the upper tiers of customers and then start whining when the lower tiers have lost all interest.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: A Little Perspective
Isn't it the reverse? 3-D movies are in demand after Avatar, so they raised the prices.
What I don't get is why are musicians encouraged to sell tickets to their shows that range from $20 to $1000 a ticket? I think the thinking with the movie makers is, "If people will pay a lot of money to see a concert and to go to a theme park, they'll perhaps see the value of paying a bit more to see a 3-D movie that has become an event."
If musicians are being encouraged to give their recorded music away for free but then raise money from high-priced concert tickets because the concerts are an "event," aren't we just seeing the same thing here with movies?
Of course what the comments in this thread are pointing out is that people have their limits and they will stay home rather than paying money to be part of an event. And you can't assume that your hardcore fans have an unlimited spending budget. If people will stay home rather than pay too much for a movie, they will also stay home rather than pay to much for other experiences.
The economics of entertainment is not infinite. People will find alternatives when the price gets too high.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: A Little Perspective
Avatar is, to date, the ONLY movie that has successfully pulled off 3D technology. The good business move following Avatar would be to produce more quality 3D movies, make sure the crowd that enjoyed the effects sees that the technology is becoming the norm, thus ensuring that 3D remains an exclusive and valuable product that the industry has control over.
Instead, they jack the prices up, pump out crappy 3D movies (the kind that drove people away in the first place), and are effectively making 3D another cheap, forgettable gimmick.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: A Little Perspective
http://www.deadline.com/2010/03/michael-bay-james-cameron-skeptical-of-3d-conversions-the-jury-i s-out/
"You can't just shit out a 3D movie" - Bay
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: A Little Perspective
It's called "market demand" in economics, Suzanne. Recorded performances rarely command the same market value as do the live versions, even when concerts are made into "concert movies".
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: A Little Perspective
But we don't really know the demand for 3-D movies in theaters yet. That's my point. Hollywood sees that Avatar is a huge hit. So on the assumption that it can get higher prices, it raises them. Maybe it will work and maybe it won't.
With live shows, pretty much every time you see a successful touring act, the ticket prices go up. You saw them for $10. Then you saw them for $20. Then you saw them for $40. Etc.
So escalating prices is the norm when there is demand. And declining prices is the norm when there is competition.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: A Little Perspective
Voting with your wallet is the correct path. Perhaps all those who voted for hope and change and can use some of their change to go pay for a 3D movie....oh, never made mind ...instead of hope we got lies and socialism and instead of change we got massive debt, high unemployment, and massive bailouts to their buddies.
Oh well.
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A corporation developing relationships?
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Remember the transition from Stereo to THX/Dolby Surround? New Movie Pricepoint!
Besides, the problem these days isn't getting people to the theater-- movies are still proving profitable. The problem is not being able to acquire new storylines or determine all the rightsholders.
The main problem is that there doesn't exist a rich public domain to pull from.
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Re: Remember the transition from Stereo to THX/Dolby Surround? New Movie Pricepoint!
By the way, it's not like ticket prices have kept up with the price of inflation from the early days of cinema. We've complained for years that going to the movies is not what it once was. But, now that movie exhibitors have done something to really improve the experience, we expect them to maintain the cheap prices that were facilitated by boring and lackluster theaters of the past few decades.
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Re: Re: Remember the transition from Stereo to THX/Dolby Surround? New Movie Pricepoint!
Link: http://consumerist.com/2010/03/movie-ticket-prices-going-up-this-weekend.html
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I've heard this before...
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I've heard this before...
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Higher concert prices?
So this is the same? Yes? No?
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Re: Higher concert prices?
Going to a theatre is not the same as seeing an artist perform live.
Doesn't give me or anyone I know the same feel good feeling from a movie that we get from going to a concert.
The movie theatre isn't live. So no, not the same at all.
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Re: Re: Higher concert prices?
Going to a theatre is not the same as seeing an artist perform live.
Doesn't give me or anyone I know the same feel good feeling from a movie that we get from going to a concert.
The movie theatre isn't live. So no, not the same at all.
So, you won't pay the equivalent amount for a big movie theater experience as a live music experience.
But others will. One person's entertainment experience is not another's. I'm just saying that if you justify pricing an event for a relative high price because it is "scarce," that concept applies to movies, to parties, to trips, live shows, etc.
The economic thinking of the movie industry is similar to the economic thinking for all of the above.
Now it is possible that consumers will say, "We don't have the money." Or they might say, "We don't want to spend our money on this." We'll have to wait and see. But the movie industry is following the general guidelines for "Charge more for scarcity and hope the hardcore fans go for it."
And my usual response is, "That will work in the short term. Then, if the model is profitable, the scarcity won't last because the supply will increase, fans will have more options, and overall prices will go down."
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To Show You How Old
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THEY been saying 3d will be norm for 60 YEARS
neither a tv show or a movie
200$ for the glasses are you kidding me
SCAMMMMMM
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Prices
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3D Movies
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3D yea right
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Re: 3D yea right
Though like i said before 3D is crap.. and annoying.. 2d is way more relaxing
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Re: THEY been saying 3d will be norm for 60 YEARS
>> me
>> SCAMMMMMM
Well, it depends on the technology. If you're talking about polarized glasses, I found a Chinese wholesaler earlier in the week that sells a nice set with plastic frames for $2.50 in quantities of 1000 or more. The lower-end ones are about 40¢ in quantities of 1000 or more.
Now, if you are talking about a newer technology called "alternate-frame sequencing" glasses, I could see it costing $250 at retail, and perhaps around $50 with labor but $20 for actual materials cost. But because I refuse to go into a theater so I have no idea what they're actually using for Avatar or the other recent films.
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Just don't like the way it looks. I'd rather see a 1930's film in black & white.
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Re: Re: A little perspective
>> prices for both 2D an 3D.
Precisely, but is the media better or is the content better? Ideally, we'd be able to "Attend" a cinema virtually, in our own home if the *THEATERS* would be able to negotiate such a thing with end-customers.
Let that sink in for a bit.
Additionally, and more importantly, we need to reform copyright so we can remake some of the old classics to fit the newer consumer-centric media types available today. With technology such as 3D, there is a very capable platform to re-tell stories that use the new technology and this could be done if the US had a proper copyright, IP, and royalties appropriation system like Europe has. But because few of these pieces are in place, (Such as a "Harry Fox Agency", but for film and cinematic works) it's difficult to see how it can be accomplished without reforming the current system.
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Re: Re: Re: A little perspective
Is this a theater issue or a technology issue? The people who are paying to see 3-D movies in theaters are likely to do so either because they want to see it on a huge screen or they don't want to buy the necessary equipment. So they are paying more per viewing, but spending less as an overall investment.
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a reply
special as in special olympics
for about 5000$ you get the thrill of looking special
and wooo its 3d
HAHA
next up computer monitors that cost your 3000$ with a set of 300$ glasses
hey i know we can make video games 3d and you can buy a 500$ joystick that infra red controls you....and
wait for it
have LOADS a sales as you need to be connected to a ISP to play and guess what
try having a capped , UUB'ed throttled BCE account
HOW aobut a few years of making technology cheaper and internet accounts cheaper rather then MORE MORE MORE MROE MROE
MROEORMEORMOEMROKRROMEORMMEOE
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Re: a reply
MROEORMEORMOEMROKRROMEORMMEOE
I have no problem with that. I think fans are going to keep tight control over their spending. People probably have hit their limits in terms of what they can spend.
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I wish I got a dollar
Keep in mind that the only substitute for seeing 3D movies is not a 3D setup at home.
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Their survey of 10 random theaters (and confirmed by an informal one I did on Fandango by punching in some zip codes from around the country) showed an average 4.1% increase in ticket prices for 2D movies this weekend. Here in New York, that's translating to about $.50/ticket
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Went to see Avatar again with family, and saw that 3D movies in the theater had gone up in price by nearly $3....
That's lame! I'm totally keeping those 3D glasses now whether they can be used for anything or not!
Now I'll go look for a new 3D tv.... wait... $4000 you say? Also lame!
That's it, I'm breaking out my old "Virtual Boy" game console and calling it a night.
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Douchebags
Same with the Department of Water and Power here in Los Angeles, what a bunch of pricks. They're proposing a 35% increase over the next few years, even though they profited by billions! What is wrong with these people? Oh, that's right, they're a bunch of heartless leeches.
Yet, you have others like the 99 cent store who understand the value of low pricing to keep customers buying from you. Heck, nobody cried when they raised their prices to 99.99 cents... they knew that the small increase would result in millions over time, while still valuing the customer and loyalty to them.
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Re: Douchebags
I'm well aware of it and keep pointing it out in my discussions about the economics of entertainment, but I'm guessing this price increase doesn't impact people who have already stopped going to movies because of the recession.
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Re: Re: Douchebags
True, but I'm also guessing that it will add to their numbers.
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Not to "threadjack" but to continue this conversation in another way, I wonder why did you say on another blog that you think sites with anonymous comments have issues.
Seems you're getting a lot of information pertinent to your role here, and we're trying to help. Was this comment directed towards us or other blogs?
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Re:
Chatroulette is an extreme example of what people sometimes do when they think no one knows who they are.
One option is to have moderators who filter comments, but I have seen some discussions stifled in those types of forums (although not nearly as much now as in the past).
Some of the people talking about new media these days are the same ones I was conversing with online back in 1993. If I hadn't been able to identify them then, I wouldn't have realized they are some of the thought-leaders in the field today.
You can develop a sense of community when you start to recognize people who post consistently.
The Velvet Rope is a community where people have established consistent identities, though they don't necessarily use their real names. I was participating there for awhile, but then Twitter came along and the music biz discussions are better on Twitter so I rarely visit the Velvet Rope anymore. Twitter, of course, requires that some sort of identity be established, and I think that helps encourage better conversations.
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Re: Re:
Otherwise know as "the ugly truth". Ugly indeed, sometimes.
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Re: Re:
Oh, you must mean like AngryDude, TheAntiMike and their ilk.
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Re: Re:
...
One option is to have moderators who filter comments, but I have seen some discussions stifled in those types of forums (although not nearly as much now as in the past).
"
If you think you know how to better run a blog than Mike, then START YOUR OWN BLOG. Or go to a blog that enforces rules you like.
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Re: Re: Re:
The only reason I was posting is that I was asked a direct question about the concept of anonymous comments by someone who is working for this blog. He wanted to know if I was referring to this blog when I made a comment on another blog. He made a choice to ask me an off-topic question, and rather than ignoring him, I responded.
My answer was that having been online for years, my personal experience is that communities are better facilitated when people are linked to their comments.
I didn't attack this blog. I didn't tell him what to do. One reason I sign my own name is that I am very comfortable being identified with what I write.
My general philosophy is to be as nice to people as possible. What you want to do is up to you.
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Re: Re: Re:
Suzanne,
Not to "threadjack" but to continue this conversation in another way, I wonder why did you say on another blog that you think sites with anonymous comments have issues.
Seems you're getting a lot of information pertinent to your role here, and we're trying to help. Was this comment directed towards us or other blogs?
I am not telling TechDirt how to operate. I was just asked a question, which I answered.
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Re: Re: Re: Re:
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get more money
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Indeed.
Have you looked at yourself in the mirror lately? You probably need a shave and a shower.
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@79
I don't get one word about what the fuck your saying has to do with um 3d shit?
AND i htought i can ramble ON and on AND twitter and twitter and twitter on and on and on.
YA know there is somehtng to be said for short hand and THE PHRASE
"TO THE POINT"
P.S. i leave all spelling mistakes in for hte annally spell users to give them also things to whine about. SEE im a nice guy....
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Re: @79
Here's what I was responding to:
Not to "threadjack" but to continue this conversation in another way, I wonder why did you say on another blog that you think sites with anonymous comments have issues.
Seems you're getting a lot of information pertinent to your role here, and we're trying to help. Was this comment directed towards us or other blogs?
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I Have to Disagree
There is no long term plan just quick profit. There should be but there isn't. At least it's better than the early 1970s when films became so vulgar you felt you had to shower after the movie.
And remember, it's just entertainment. If thine eye offends thee, pluck it out. Just turn off the TV and stop patronizing movies and support local live theater and read books. Maybe we all should pay less attention to what is essentially a placating drug rather than an art form and do more political and volunteer work.
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Hollywood Greed
Fortunately, the theater in the small town where I live hasn't adopted these practices, so I patronize them and forgo the big movie houses. Who needs it?
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High prices
There are on the average only 2 to 3 movies a year worth watching. The rest of them, I would wish to have the time back I wasted on viewing them.
Bigger FX does not mean a better movie. If it doesn't further the plot then it is wasted money. It does not matter if those FX are explosions, fire, or 3D.
It is evident again Hollydud's mentality. This is no surprise that they would want to increase ticket prices. It is always about the rip off. Read a blurb on a movie, each and every one sounds like the next Oscar contender. Yet in truth, it's on the rare few that are either Oscar contenders or worth the time to see. Most of them are rehashes of other themes. Dress it in cowboy duds, it's a western, in fiction clothing, is fantasy, with a space background, it's sci-fi, yet it is still the same theme with the same story line.
How many times can you redo a classic? I mean get real here. It was no different in outcome nor plot for War of the Worlds original theme nor for the one that had Tom Cruise in it. Was it any better? Not to me it wasn't. Nor was it worth paying to go see.
Face it, the movie going experience isn't what it was either. You think you got robbed paying the price of the ticket only to find that whatever the first holdup was, the second one at the concession stand is even worse. Then there are the commercials you paid to see on your dime.
Followed by sticky soft drinks on the floor, the kid whose mother doesn't know the meaning of saying to behave, the cell phone that the user blissfully seems unaware of not being a proper place to have a conversation while others around them are trying to watch a movie. You also get to see the attendant walking up and down the isle because you might be taking a camcord but in reality is just another distraction where there should be none.
I've long ago had it with the Silver Screen experience. Others have pretty much ruined what was a good thing. I can do without paying for that "Experience". Most of it you can get for free in a mall.
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Re: High prices
I quit going to movies years ago because I was disappointed in them. At least on TV, if you don't like it, you haven't invested anything.
I'm a fan of old movies, and they turn up on AMC.
But the whole mentality of Hollywood lends itself to Avatar-like films. It isn't about the story, but about the spectacle. So it doesn't surprise me that 3-D movies are being sold like an event or a theme park ride. And they are being priced accordingly.
If you just want to see a movie, watch on TV or online.
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the real problem is..
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Re: the real problem is..
I'm not sure I see a problem here. If a studio holds the copyright to a movie, then it is free to make it again in 3-D. It's not like a lot of little indies would be making 3-D movies if only there weren't copyrights.
And if a studio already owns the copyright to a movie, it's probably in that studio's best interests to make its own movie again in 3-D than to work with something that had been released previously by someone else. This way they can maximize a brand they have already previously developed rather than promote a brand that someone else owns.
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Re: Re: the real problem is..
Or, if copyprivilege laws were reasonable, the public at large can own something after a reasonable period of time and do what it wants with it. The public doesn't even owe the studio copy privileges to begin with.
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A lot of the comments here are from people who don't like 3-D. So they aren't going to go anyway.
How does your idea about keeping prices low (and I'm not arguing with you because I don't think people have a lot of money to spend) fit with the high-priced packages that some musicians are offering? It's the same idea, isn't it? You charge more for something only your hardcore fans are going to want to buy.
In this case, the hardcore 3-D fans are being asked to pay more in order to see these movies, and everyone else is going to stay home.
3-D movies in theaters are being offered as scarce goods and being priced accordingly.
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In this case, it's a real scarcity. There aren't enough theaters with 3-D capability. That scarcity probably won't last long because if there is money to be made, more theaters will be upgraded.
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Bought Nimslo 3D camera stock
That said, of course everyone is going to get on whatever 3D curve may persist for some period of time. Why not make what money is to be made during this period. There is no guarantee that 3D will actually make it. It has tried so many times. It may persist in games. It may persist in some sports or nature shows. But public acceptance has been so fleeting in the past, even with good tech... and Avatar represents state of the art.
If you get a headache, you represent part of the market that will not buy. If you convert a movie to 3D just to make more money... that will not do. Word of mouth is viral. I will not see Alice in 3D, it obviously was not meant for 3D!
Produce content for 3D. Shoot 3D-HD sports and put me behind the quarterback... I will watch and buy the content. As for 3D blue ray? Well, I have yet to purchase a blue ray player despite the fact that it IS higher quality than my DVD player... and in many ways I AM an early adopter... that in itself should tell you that I want a significant (not marginal) increase in my viewing experience to make the jump. Does 3D do it? What will the market bear? Remains to be seen.
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the only way to see 3d through as a success is to have the porn industry back it. exactly how blu-ray demolished hd-dvd. so as soon as you see 3d smut, it's here to stay. but wait, avatar made it to theaters. bam.
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Adam Smith
Can we do some trust-busting Pretty Please?
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What about the next generation of remakes?
I'm guessing that there would be lawsuits and all manner of 'infringing' claims by the makers of the current movies and the next generation of re-makes... But they used a rabbit with a hat for their mad hatter, and that's what we used in our movie, so they are infringing and must be stopped... Sherlock holmes's assistants name was "Watson" in their film, which is a blatant rip-off of our movie... Not that anything would 'stick' but it would probably be enough to prevent any smaller studios from even attempting the project.
But then I'm a paranoid conspiracy theorist, and that's just how I roll...
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Re: What about the next generation of remakes?
The copyright as it affects the movie industry is certainly valid discussion, but saying 3-D is suffering because of copyright kind of muddies the 3-D issue right now. Maybe for clarity's sake, it's better to treat them as separate issues until it is full established that there would be a great market for 3-D if only people were free to borrow concepts from copyrighted stories. It's lack of technology rather than lack of content which is driving up prices.
In other words, if people are saying they don't like 3-D in general, it's hard to make a case that copyright is the problem here.
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One writer's opinion on why 3D TV won't take off.
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