This document discusses how technology has influenced the film industry over time. It begins with an overview of how technology has impacted theaters, home video, and filmmaking. Then it discusses several key technological developments like the introduction of sound in 1927 and the shift to widescreen formats in the 1950s due to declining theater attendance. Currently, major trends are 3D and IMAX movies aimed at creating a unique theatrical experience, the rise of low-budget independent films due to more affordable equipment and distribution channels, and the future of digital delivery and crowdsourced film projects.

1. Week 9 Lecture
Film Technology

2. The influence of technology
• How has technology influenced film in….?
• Theaters
• Home Video
• Filmmaking
• Are those changes for good or bad?

3. Centers of Change for film

4. How has Technology Spurred the Growth of
Film?
• Technology has always been a force for developing the
ways that movies are made
• The Introduction of synchronous sound with 1927’s The Jazz Singer
allowed filmmakers to begin a whole new era of storytelling
• Over the years, different filmmakers had tried to increase the width of
the screen to make films more of a spectacle.
• We also see a shift towards low cost production which may make it
possible for unknown talents to be discovered as filmmakers

5. Historical Example: The shift to
Widescreen
• From Belton’s “Technology and
Innovation”
• Post WWII, theaters saw a major drop off
in attendance
• Families were moving to the suburbs and
began to engage in more active forms of
recreation
• Theaters had to also compete with the
increasing amount of households that had
television sets
• Theaters sought to find ways to make
movie watching a more active experience
for audiences
• Cinerama was a technique that locked 3
35mm cameras together while shooting the
film
• Produced a viewing angle that was 146
degrees wide
• Cinerama did not last for too long however
as it was too cumbersome to shoot and play
back
• Cinemascope produced a similar
widescreen effect but instead used an
anamorphic lens – became a standard in
the industry to give a widescreen effect

6. The Technological Arms Race

7. What are some of the current trends
that we are seeing?

8. New Distribution Channels

9. 3-D and IMAX Movies
• Film Studios now are presented with the same conundrum that
studios in the 1950’s were faced with “How do you keep an
audiences attention that is increasingly diverted?”
• The latest iteration is 3D and IMAX
• These films create a destination experience for audiences – They
cannot be recreated at home
• Releasing movies in a 3D and IMAX format allows them to charge
premium pricing – often 5 more dollars per ticket
• What has been your experience in watching a 3D movie? Do you feel
that the industry is really moving in this direction?

10. The future in film production
• As non-linear editing systems become more affordable,
we will probably see more and more low budget feature
films getting bought and released by major studios
• Paranormal Activity was made with a budget of $15,000
• The film had a 7-day shooting schedule
• The film has since made over 100 million dollars at the box office
• Colin: $70 Zombie film that played at the Cannes film
festival
• Justin Bieber’s Never Say Never Directors Cut

11. New Means of Production
Red Scarlet - X Canon 5D Mark II
What is the distance between consumer and professional?

12. The Future in Film Distribution
• Increasingly, we will see film content that is delivered to
households digitally through various means
• DVD and Blu-Ray
• On-Demand through cable television
• Netflix Instant Streaming
• Hulu and other online video sites
• How have you seen the way that you access media
content change over the past 5 years? What do you see
happening in the future of film?

13. Crowdsourced Projects
• Crowdsourced projects draw
on the technological skills of
a wide user base
• Science fiction film Iron Sky,
was created through the talents
of over 2000 members
• Star Wars Uncut