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Say That Again

by Mike Masnick

Mon, Dec 5th 2005 4:01pm





Soderbergh Explains How The Movie Business Is Changing

from the good-for-him dept

Earlier this year, we pointed out how Steven Soderbergh (with the help of Mark Cuban) was planning to release his latest (independent) film in theaters and on DVD at the same time -- a move that most, but not all, of the major studios think is a mistake. Soderbergh has an interview in the latest issue of Wired that makes it sound like he has a pretty good grasp on where the movie industry needs to go. He makes the point that too many studio execs still don't get: the competition already exists. "Name any big-title movie that's come out in the last four years. It has been available in all formats on the day of release. It's called piracy." He also understands that the way to make more people go to the theater isn't to treat them like criminals but to make the experience better: "The theater experience isn't always pleasant. Theater owners need to address that. There are often problems with projection; tickets and concessions are expensive; theaters aren't always clean; people talk during the movie. They're making it easy for people to stay home." Is it really that hard for all the industry execs to realize this stuff as well?

8 Comments | Leave a Comment..


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  1.  

    No Subject Given

    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Dec 5th, 2005 @ 4:59pm

    The move business? U-Haul?

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  2.  

    the more things change...

    identicon
    Josh, Dec 5th, 2005 @ 5:28pm

    Check out the current top post on this blog, under the heading "Let's All Go to the Movies".

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  3.  

    Re: No Subject Given

    icon
    Mike (profile), Dec 5th, 2005 @ 5:38pm

    The move business? U-Haul?

    Whoops. Fixed. Thanks.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  4.  

    I'll take it on DVD!!

    identicon
    Jasen Webster, Dec 5th, 2005 @ 5:53pm

    I think this is a great idea. I have very young children and can't find a babysitter for every movie I want to see. I'd be very happy to buy/rent it on DVD just so I can keep up with my friends.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  5.  

    Movies...

    identicon
    Arnie, Dec 5th, 2005 @ 8:24pm


    I think that theaters have made themselves out of touch with the audience. They forget who makes them, US, and they need to make US happy so we will keep coming back!

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  6.  

    Movie Business

    identicon
    Rod Taylor, Dec 5th, 2005 @ 10:22pm

    Yes, the movie experience needs to be more pleasant, I suppose, but that's not the problem. Go to some dank cold basement where a bunch of rockers want to hear a band. They're drawn into a somewhat unpleasant environment because they need what's there -- some truth -- their truth anyway. The movies don't give the audience its truth anymore, only the truth of the didactic, pretensious, left wing totalitarians posing as wise compassionate artists. That's the real problem. When a film is compelling there will be no problem getting the people in to see it. But really controversial and powerful films are completely verboten. All heros must think the same. The predicability is so wearisome that the audience is tuning out. Hollywood now can only make big marketing driven "tent pole" movies from pre-existing sources or romantic comedies. There are no films that enrage or inspire. So to me that's the problem, not the unpleasant theatre going experience. Flying is incredibly unpleasant but everyone does it. They need the product. Movies must be needed to. Then they'll be on fire like they once were.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  7.  

    good going

    identicon
    gopa, Dec 5th, 2005 @ 11:54pm

    man....i hate de theater...it's too cold durin winter too hot in summer...too crowded mostly..noisy(for a movie buff who likes to concentrate on his stuff) n no xtra stuff...i luv dvd's for it's xtra features n wit ma surround soun n tv i get de same effect as a cinema...if dvd's r realeased at de same time piracy will definetley be reduced.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  8.  

    Piracy Reduced? No. Bootlegging stopped? Yes

    identicon
    PolarFlame, Dec 6th, 2005 @ 4:46am

    The only change would be that there will be no more reason to sit in a theater with a small resolution camera and risk getting arrested. Anyone would be able to just rent the DVD and create a DVD image to upload straight to bittorrent, extra features included, and all in less time than the length of movie itself. The only people that will actually go to the theater are those that don't have the technical know-how to use bittorrent or don't have the patience to wait for the download. At least the sales of large HDTV's might go up.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]


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