1. Unit 8 Assignment 4 Stefan Constantinou
How has technology in TV and Film changed and what has been the impact of these
changes for audiences and producers of film and TV?
Film
Cinema 3D
The world of 3D cinema all changed after Avatar came out in December 2009. This film was
considered the best movie to see in 3D in cinema due to the amazing special effects it has and
how highly anticipated it was for over 5 years. Cinema has always had a family traditional
heritage; this is why film companies and producers are trying to make films that can be shown in
3D via cinema or disc. This is now what the world is accustoming too, even more than 2D films
as it’s seen as a better viewing experience for a small increase in price. However, they cause
problems for the audience, such as brightness concerns; the lighting for 3D films is considerably
more than 2D films, which can have a strain on the viewer’s eyes, this was later changed.
Another problem is that films are not being filmed in 3D but converted into 3D in
postproduction, which reduces quality. 3D cinema has some advantages for the producers and
audiences. Films that are shown in 3D tend to make a greater profit, for example, Street Dance
3D gained a 30% rise from its opening Friday to the following Saturday. The cinemas can
increase prices to make more money. However, there are many disadvantages to 3D Cinema. If
the target audience is not correct, the movie can result in losing a lot of money because.
Producers are worried that 3D movies and 3D technology is just a heat of the moment fad and
that it will not lost much longer, which therefore means companies have wasted their time and
money. Another main disadvantage could be that British companies may fall behind in the
market as they cannot afford to produce 3D films as frequently and to the high standards of
Hollywood (or other big companies) movies. The prices of the cinema tickets may not satisfy the
audience and they may be drawn off watching it.
Online Streaming
Online streaming has become very popular nowadays in comparison to years ago when watching
films online was very limited in terms of amount of films and ways to watch. Netflix is possibly
the most popular way people are watching films online. It is simple and offers many films that
are popular and they’re trying to stay on top and provide the most recent movies. Online
streaming wasn’t around in 2000, it became popular around 2010, and there are also other ways
to stream online. If you are a Sky or Virgin customer, you
have access to Sky Movies on your laptop/PC which
people find very useful. Another way to actually watch the
films is through a specific device. For example, people
watch films through Netflix on devices such as: XBOX
360, PS3, DVR’s, Nintendo Wii, iPhone, iPad, Android
Phones, Smart TV’s, Apple TV and Windows Phone. The
impact from these online streaming applications, such as
Netflix or LoveFilm, have made is incredible. They allow
people to watch their favourite films at home, which allow
them to gain popularity. Having numerous devices to play
the app on allows a much larger audience to have access to it. The impact it has had has allowed
online streaming to become a lot bigger and more popular due to the number of devices
increasing. This affects the audience in a positive way as they can view their favourite films from
home on numerous devices. This affects the producer by filmmakers having the option to sell
the movie to Netflix upon request, this benefits both parties as the producer gains more money
and allows the movie to gain popularity/views, and the audience have more movies to watch.
For the audience, an advantage of online streaming is that it’s all available instantly once

2. Unit 8 Assignment 4 Stefan Constantinou
subscribed. This is very beneficial because audiences get very frustrated with buffering and
adverts whilst they’re watching their films. However, a disadvantage would be that you need Wi-
Fi for online streaming to happen and certain countries only get certain films, which could cause
some complaints.
Cameras
Cameras have changed greatly over the years in terms of the quality of film. They have greatly
decreased in size; however, the quality of film has gone up greatly. The actual size of the body of
the camera has gone down, but the lens size and complexity has increased. Cameras of great
quality have made their way on mobile phones, which is actually used in the film world. For
example, Project X was a popular film for a teenage/young adult demographic and has many
shots recorded on an actual mobile phone, possibly an iPhone. The main changes from 2000 to
now is that the quality of film has been increased to a high standard and not many people see
how the viewing experience can get any better as ‘8K’ is the highest resolution possible to get out
of a film camera. The impact this has had on the public is that they’re able to enjoy films with a
very high quality and can make it more appealing. The producer has been affected by this in a
very positive way as they will be able to choose the quality they want the film in as there are
many different ones, this wasn’t possible 10 years ago as there were much fewer camera lenses
and quality choices. This affects the audience by them being able to enjoy the films that are
highly anticipated in the best possible way.
Sources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3D_film
http://tomsectionb.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/3d-advantages-and-disadvantages.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_One