Proliferation of film technology has benefited independent film producers by making high-quality equipment more accessible and affordable. This has allowed independents to produce films that rival major studio productions in quality, despite smaller budgets. Specifically, the independent war film '71 was able to use various cameras and capture fast-paced shots that increased the professionalism and quality of the film through the widespread availability of advanced filming technology.
2. Independent Impact
Proliferation is a rapid increase in the production and
advancement of technology. This increase, has resulted in
independent producers gaining new opportunities in regards to
what can be achieved when creating films.
This has resulted in allowing film quality to be improved, despite
the smaller budgets that independents possess, as more
advanced, e.g. HD, equipment is now increasingly available,
resulting in a greater range of products which are also cheaper to
purchase.
This has impacted independent films as their overall quality can
now rival that of high budget conglomerate made films.
3. For example…
Within the independently produced ‘71,
by Warp Films, the high quality of the
footage throughout the film conveys the
increased availability of using high
quality equipment during the production
of a low budget film.
This quality has the result of increasing
the overall professionalism of the film,
which contributes positively to the appeal
and quality of the reputation that
independent films possess. Therefore
also contributing to the rise in appeal of
independent films, which could
potentially increase the appeal of niche
market films.
4. This high quality can be seen to rival that of
conglomerate made films such as Guardians of
Galaxy, which although is evident in its high budget,
through the extensive dominance of special effects,
perhaps revealing some of the limitations that remain
over independents in regards to their access towards
digital technology, also reveals that when comparing
the two films despite the significant difference in
funding, independents are able to produce films of
equal quality to that of conglomerates.
Revealing the usefulness of proliferation in regards to
building upon a less well known independent
producer’s success in creating appealing, high quality
and professional films.
Although perhaps a slight disadvantage for
conglomerate companies, who are then pressured to
ensure that their films remain dominant among their
mass targeted audience.
5. Also…
Also in regards to the fast paced nature of the film,
shots such as the those taken when following the
quickly chased protagonist is taken from a range of
different shots and angles.
This reveals the assistance this availability in more
advanced and less bulky technologies has provided for
producers, as this use of many different shots for one
scene increases the quality and also reveals Warp’s
possession of many different types of cameras,
revealing that despite their conventionally low film
budgets, such as ‘71’s $2.1 million (this being a very
low budget for the production of a film) it can be
inferred that the prices of high quality equipment is
now more affordable for these lower funded
companies.
6. Affordability…
Also the fast pace within the variety of the film,
would not have been possible to accomplish
without the use of more compact and
manoeuvrable equipment, which has allowed
for subjects within the film to be panned
accurately, as well as provide a variety in
camerawork.
For example the change between hand held
camerawork as well as steady, reveals that
proliferation has allowed independents such as
’71 to purchase a variety of equipment, that
possess a range of functions, as well as
additional steadying equipment, thus revealing
the increased afford ability that proliferation has
provided for such producers.
