DIGITAL
TECHNOLOGIES AND
FILM
Impact of Digital Video

Technology affecting film today...
 Digital and hi-def video (and digital editing)
 Computer generated images –
animation, motion capture
 Digital distribution via internet
 Digital projection
 IMAX
 DVD and Blu Ray

Advantages for Filmmakers
• Cheaper production (DV tape is cheap, easier
to light a scene etc.)
• Realism
• Naturalistic performances – Danny Boyle and
28 Days Later

Advantages for Distributors
• Celluloid film deteriorates very quickly – digital
storage is cheaper and more effective
• Easy to duplicate
• Easy to distribute – directly from net or on tape
where it can be digitally projected
In 2001 Philip Anschutz said that if cinemas
swapped from film to digital it would save $800
billion in distribution costs.

Advantages for Audiences
• Increased realism of performance – ‘emotional
honesty’ of a story
• Cheaper production = wider range of film
styles, themes and content
• Easier to access – via web; YouTube, illegal
sites and licensed vendors
• Become producers themselves – a good
concept can be shot, edited and posted on line
for very little money (bypassing old structure of
industry)

Disadvantages for Institutions
• Poorer quality image – not as much depth of
field, colours aren’t as vivid, detail on costume
etc. unclear
• $300 million to convert cinemas to digital
projection in the US alone
• Exhibitors wary – improvements in home
cinema (surround sound, bigger TVs, video
projectors) plus high speed broadband...why
would you want to go to the cinema?

Disadvantages for Distributors
• Easier to make flawless copies with digital so
open to piracy
• By 2001 80% of revenue comes from post
release sales (TV, DVD etc) which is at risk
• Competition – if digital democratises access to
production and distribution, then this creates
more competition for established industry.
Keep film as something ‘special’ and ‘User
Generated Content’ remains ‘inferior’ – give
the audience an experience they can’t get on
YouTube.