If Cannes was about the streaming business, or cable business, or broadcast business - maybe. But it's about the cinema exhibition business. If a movie isn't going to exhibit in French cinemas, why should Cannes consider it? Just because people think it's good? Most of the people that think the latest Netflix film is the best thing ever hasn't probably seen half of the Palm d'Or winners of the last 20 years to even compare the quality.
The law wasn't created by Cannes. Cannes changed their own rules to comply with the law. They simply want the competition films to receive a theatrical release. Protectionist? Yes. But it's the law that's horrible, not Cannes.
No question the French law is to blame here, and Cannes should urge a changing of the law, but they're right to deny Netflix for not wanting to comply with the law.
Netflix says, "We want our films to be on fair ground with every other filmmaker”
They are on fair ground with every other filmmaker.
All the other filmmakers (some of whom don't have cushy Netflix distribution deals) have to comply with the French law. Netflix is the one that wants to have its cake and eat it too.
But you could say the same thing about cable producers like HBO and Showtime and AMC and Hallmark. They are subscriber based just like Netflix, and should be competing with them in the home distribution market, not movie studios in the cinema distribution market, which is what Cannes is all about.
They're two different businesses, which is my whole argument. The fact that both make feature length movies doesn't mean they're the same. The audience might not see the difference because for them it's all funneled to the same viewing device and they don't see how it's all bought and paid for and how much money and effort went behind making audiences decide to watch this over that, but from a business perspective it's apples and oranges.
I think the French would argue that the law is there so that they don't have to compete with Hollywood in the marketplace. This allows French filmmakers more freedom to focus on art instead of populism. I'm not sure I entirely agree with it but that seems to be the intent.
That's a good point, although the difference is that Netflix is only giving these movies a release to be Oscar eligible and they still have a distribution deal with Netflix, where for many of those other films, this is their only release, and it's betting its whole future on getting an Oscar nomination. But yes, it's a muddy area and if Netflix is following the rules it shouldn't be an issue.
Yes, he's not speaking in common parlance. He's speaking in business parlance. Then he goes on to praise the quality of television - but everyone ignores that, and the fact that he made Band of Brothers, The Pacific, and Five Came Back for TV or that his own studio has a television division and streaming service.
> Netflix actually tried to get day and date released with its first batch of movies before the theatre owners whined about it.
Sure, but that's a different subject.
But Spielberg's comments make much more sense in the actual context of the interview. People are pulling out that one quote like he's attacking everyone's beloved Netflix and is behind the times, when in fact it's clear he knows exactly what's going on in the business and where it's headed, which is one of the things that makes him Spielberg.
> the festival is not nearly as universal as its reputation might paint it.
It was never as universal as its reputation. The films for competition have always been limited (as it is at most film festivals) but big studios, including Netflix, can still show their films outside of competition if they want the glitz and glamour and hoopla of Cannes.
I work for a film festival. None of the big budget Hollywood films that screen are part of the competition, because that would destroy the whole point of the festival, which is to recognize indie films that don't have distributors or huge marketing budgets.
Yes, the same Spielberg that produced an award-worthy show on Netflix last year.
It's not about being inferior or jealous, it's about the rules the Academy has put in place to define what's worthy of consideration.
Spielberg's not an idiot or an old man yelling at clouds. He knows the business as well as anyone. In fact he praises the quality of today television and options it offers filmmakers. People seem to think that calling it "TV movie" is demeaning, but I'm sure he doesn't mean it that way.
> “The television is greater today than it’s ever been in the history of television. There’s better writing, better directing, better performances, better stories are being told. Television is really thriving with quality and heart, but it poses a clear present danger to filmgoers.”
The guy loves the movie-going experience and wants to keep that option viable for filmmakers. Nothing wrong with that.
Perhaps instead of complaining that Netflix isn't eligible for Academy Awards, we should stop giving this one particular award so much importance. Netflix can proudly tout its Emmy wins, and maybe Emmy > Oscar.
It's not as simple as "these movies are great and therefore should be competing." Cannes tried and failed to get Netflix to comply with French law.
> For the 2017 festival, Netflix tried to get temporary permits to screen the films for less than a week in France, allowing for a day-and-date release so the films could be seen in theaters and online at the same time, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
> However, this move clashed with the French law, which mandates a 36-month delay between a movie’s theatrical release and streaming date, the New York Times reported. The rule also requires a percentage of all box office, DVD, video-on-demand, television and streaming revenue to be pooled to fund homegrown films and help finance foreign films, according to the New York Times.
> “The festival asked Netflix in vain to accept that these two films could reach the audience of French movie theaters and not only its subscribers,” according to a statement from the festival to the New York Times in 2017. “Hence the Festival regrets that no agreement has been reached.”
Maybe the law needs to be changed, but that's not on Cannes, who actually tried to get Netflix to adhere to the rules and failed.
And Netflix isn't banned from showing films, just from competition.
> Although the new rule effectively bans Netflix and other streaming services from entering their films in the competition, Fremaux said the films can still be selected to be shown at the festival.
It has nothing to do with film quality and everything to do with business.
The Oscars have rules about what is eligible. TV movies are not eligible without theatrical runs. HBO movies are not eligible without theatrical runs. That's why the Emmy's exist - to reward television content, which is what Netflix is, and Netflix has won several Emmys.
Cannes is a festival for film distributors. Anything Netflix shows there already has a distributor - Netflix. They gain nothing by being there except the chance to win an award.
Spielberg is right. He's even produced stuff for Netflix. He know's what he's talking about.
Considering he'll only be 36 for the elections in 2020 (and the minimum age to run is 35) I'd say he's got a few more decades to recover from this if he really wants to get involved in politics.
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The movie business is the cinema exhibition business. TV, streaming, cable, etc. are different business models.
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If Cannes was about the streaming business, or cable business, or broadcast business - maybe. But it's about the cinema exhibition business. If a movie isn't going to exhibit in French cinemas, why should Cannes consider it? Just because people think it's good? Most of the people that think the latest Netflix film is the best thing ever hasn't probably seen half of the Palm d'Or winners of the last 20 years to even compare the quality.
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Thanks. That article explains Netflix's position better.
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The law wasn't created by Cannes. Cannes changed their own rules to comply with the law. They simply want the competition films to receive a theatrical release. Protectionist? Yes. But it's the law that's horrible, not Cannes.
(untitled comment)
No question the French law is to blame here, and Cannes should urge a changing of the law, but they're right to deny Netflix for not wanting to comply with the law.
Netflix says, "We want our films to be on fair ground with every other filmmaker”
They are on fair ground with every other filmmaker.
All the other filmmakers (some of whom don't have cushy Netflix distribution deals) have to comply with the French law. Netflix is the one that wants to have its cake and eat it too.
Re: TV and Film what's the diff
The diff is all the people that make a living on that path to the small screen.
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But you could say the same thing about cable producers like HBO and Showtime and AMC and Hallmark. They are subscriber based just like Netflix, and should be competing with them in the home distribution market, not movie studios in the cinema distribution market, which is what Cannes is all about.
They're two different businesses, which is my whole argument. The fact that both make feature length movies doesn't mean they're the same. The audience might not see the difference because for them it's all funneled to the same viewing device and they don't see how it's all bought and paid for and how much money and effort went behind making audiences decide to watch this over that, but from a business perspective it's apples and oranges.
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I think the French would argue that the law is there so that they don't have to compete with Hollywood in the marketplace. This allows French filmmakers more freedom to focus on art instead of populism. I'm not sure I entirely agree with it but that seems to be the intent.
Re: An odd quote
That's a good point, although the difference is that Netflix is only giving these movies a release to be Oscar eligible and they still have a distribution deal with Netflix, where for many of those other films, this is their only release, and it's betting its whole future on getting an Oscar nomination. But yes, it's a muddy area and if Netflix is following the rules it shouldn't be an issue.
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Yes, he's not speaking in common parlance. He's speaking in business parlance. Then he goes on to praise the quality of television - but everyone ignores that, and the fact that he made Band of Brothers, The Pacific, and Five Came Back for TV or that his own studio has a television division and streaming service.
> Netflix actually tried to get day and date released with its first batch of movies before the theatre owners whined about it.
Sure, but that's a different subject.
But Spielberg's comments make much more sense in the actual context of the interview. People are pulling out that one quote like he's attacking everyone's beloved Netflix and is behind the times, when in fact it's clear he knows exactly what's going on in the business and where it's headed, which is one of the things that makes him Spielberg.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hTTvO50QTs
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> the festival is not nearly as universal as its reputation might paint it.
It was never as universal as its reputation. The films for competition have always been limited (as it is at most film festivals) but big studios, including Netflix, can still show their films outside of competition if they want the glitz and glamour and hoopla of Cannes.
I work for a film festival. None of the big budget Hollywood films that screen are part of the competition, because that would destroy the whole point of the festival, which is to recognize indie films that don't have distributors or huge marketing budgets.
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um... they've always been judged by how they're delivered.
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Yes, the same Spielberg that produced an award-worthy show on Netflix last year.
It's not about being inferior or jealous, it's about the rules the Academy has put in place to define what's worthy of consideration.
Spielberg's not an idiot or an old man yelling at clouds. He knows the business as well as anyone. In fact he praises the quality of today television and options it offers filmmakers. People seem to think that calling it "TV movie" is demeaning, but I'm sure he doesn't mean it that way.
> “The television is greater today than it’s ever been in the history of television. There’s better writing, better directing, better performances, better stories are being told. Television is really thriving with quality and heart, but it poses a clear present danger to filmgoers.”
The guy loves the movie-going experience and wants to keep that option viable for filmmakers. Nothing wrong with that.
Perhaps instead of complaining that Netflix isn't eligible for Academy Awards, we should stop giving this one particular award so much importance. Netflix can proudly tout its Emmy wins, and maybe Emmy > Oscar.
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/steven-spielberg-thinks-netflix-films-should-not-qualify-osca rs-1097351
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It's not as simple as "these movies are great and therefore should be competing." Cannes tried and failed to get Netflix to comply with French law.
> For the 2017 festival, Netflix tried to get temporary permits to screen the films for less than a week in France, allowing for a day-and-date release so the films could be seen in theaters and online at the same time, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
> However, this move clashed with the French law, which mandates a 36-month delay between a movie’s theatrical release and streaming date, the New York Times reported. The rule also requires a percentage of all box office, DVD, video-on-demand, television and streaming revenue to be pooled to fund homegrown films and help finance foreign films, according to the New York Times.
> “The festival asked Netflix in vain to accept that these two films could reach the audience of French movie theaters and not only its subscribers,” according to a statement from the festival to the New York Times in 2017. “Hence the Festival regrets that no agreement has been reached.”
Maybe the law needs to be changed, but that's not on Cannes, who actually tried to get Netflix to adhere to the rules and failed.
And Netflix isn't banned from showing films, just from competition.
> Although the new rule effectively bans Netflix and other streaming services from entering their films in the competition, Fremaux said the films can still be selected to be shown at the festival.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/03/26/cannes-film-festival-bans-net flix-films-from-competition-also-no-more-selfies/?utm_term=.ccac1b297946
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A cinema is a movie theatre. I think I did miss something? What?
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It has absolutely nothing to do with if something is shot with film or digitally, and it never has. It's solely about how content is distributed.
The Emmys gives awards to broadcast, cable, and streaming. The Oscars gives awards to theatrical distribution. That's the only difference.
Re: Old man yells at cloud
It has nothing to do with film quality and everything to do with business.
The Oscars have rules about what is eligible. TV movies are not eligible without theatrical runs. HBO movies are not eligible without theatrical runs. That's why the Emmy's exist - to reward television content, which is what Netflix is, and Netflix has won several Emmys.
Cannes is a festival for film distributors. Anything Netflix shows there already has a distributor - Netflix. They gain nothing by being there except the chance to win an award.
Spielberg is right. He's even produced stuff for Netflix. He know's what he's talking about.
(untitled comment)
The sequel to the Social Network is going to be a much better movie.
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Considering he'll only be 36 for the elections in 2020 (and the minimum age to run is 35) I'd say he's got a few more decades to recover from this if he really wants to get involved in politics.
Re: Spotify is NO "innovator", it just uses the work of artists.
"The advertising supported model TOO has been shaky since the 1930s."
Yeah, that's why NBC, ABC, FOX and CBS aren't media empires.
That's why when you turn on the radio there's absolutely nothing being broadcast over the airwaves.
Because there's no way to build a business on advertising.