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1. Technology in Film
Michelle Grace

2. Developments in audio technology
Advantages Disadvantages
For Audiences:
 Higher quality/clearer audio
recording
 Increased verisimilitude
For Institutions:
 More successful films/higher
production values
 Allows narrative/character/themes
to be communicated
For Audiences:
 Sound effects could be
unrealistic
For Institutions:
 More expensive
 May be difficult/time consuming
to use equipment

3. Development of special effects
Advantages Disadvantages
For Audiences:
 Provides escapism
 More pleasurable viewing
 Can be used to increase
credibility of a scene
For Institutions:
 Increased audience
appeal/increased film success
 Allows a more unique product
to be created/a unique selling
point
For Audiences:
 May seem unrealistic/decrease
verisimilitude
 Decrease audience
identification
For Institutions:
 More expensive – requires a
high budget
 More time consuming
 Result may not be as intended
– waste of time/money

4. Developments in video recording
Advantages Disadvantages
For Audiences:
 Higher visual quality
 Increased verisimilitude
 Increased clarity/communication of
character, narrative, themes etc
 Proliferation of hardware –
audiences can become prosumers
For Institutions:
 High production quality
 Easier to record footage
 Ability to immediately review footage
 Decreased cost
For Audiences:
 Risk of seeming unreal/decreasing
verisimilitude – analogue footage
can appear more authentic
For Institutions:
 Most distributors/exhibitors prefer
digital footage – if filmed in an
analogue style, this would have to
be transferred

5. Developments in pre-production technology
Advantages Disadvantages
For Audiences:
 Films are better/more efficiently
planned, so may be released
quicker
 More pre-production software
available – audiences can
become prosumers
For Institutions:
 Increased efficiency of
research/planning - i.e script
software, allowing scripts to be
edited
 Use of CGI to create
characters/set in advance
For Audiences:
 More careful planning may
mean films take longer to be
made/released
For Institutions:
 Some software must be paid
for/could be expensive

6. The Internet
Advantages Disadvantages
For Audiences:
 Allows technological
convergence – audiences can
consume films on multiple
platforms (i.e smartphone)
For Institutions:
 Cultural convergence – audiences
can share films online/on social
media
For Audiences:
 Some may not use the
internet/social media, so may
miss advertising for new films
For Institutions:
 Cultural convergence –
audiences can share films
negatively/spread bad reviews

7. Transition from film reels to digital film
Advantages Disadvantages
For Audiences:
 New editing methods can make
films more realistic/increase
verisimilitude
 Allow more techniques to be
used (i.e special effects for
escapism)
For Institutions:
 Increased efficiency
 Less expensive
 Larger range of functions
available
For Audiences:
 Some viewers may prefer
authenticity of film
reels/analogue footage
For Institutions:
 Most distributors/exhibitors prefer
digital footage – if filmed in an
analogue style, this would have
to be transferred
 Initial cost of new hardware may
be expensive