Proliferation and Negative Distribution

Proliferation

• a rapid and often excessive spread or increase.

• the increase in film piracy has become a serious concern for the film industry.
• piracy costs the industry money and undermines the position and control of the producer.
• the proliferation of piracy is the biggest concern for the film industry.
• piracy referred to as "negative distribution", and is illegal but very difficult to control.

Negative Distribution

• films being distributed/shared illegally.

A report for Motion Picture Association (all the big studios) found that

• they lost $6.1 billion a year.
• the industry itself lost $18.2 billion.
• of the $18.2 billion, $7.1 billion was due to internet piracy.

New technology has made piracy easier.

Everyone has the ability to do this because of convergence of technology and the affordability of this.

The control moves from the institution to the audience.

Smaller companies are affected more - they can not afford the losses.


Reasons for film piracy:

• Cheaper way of accessing the film
• It is easy to do for the consumers
• Quicker/faster way of accessing the film
• Accessible from the comfort of your own home
• Because of the poor quality of many films (paying to see a rubbish film would be a waste)
• Bootleggers make money
• Search engines (torrents) (results for piracy come up on the first page of search engine)
• It doesn't appear to be a victimless crime
• The image film companies have of being very rich is undermined
• Disengagement from cinema when there are so many other films of entertainment
• For the fun of it

What are the industry doing to tackle it?

• Taking legal action against illegal download sites
• Prosecuting bootleggers
• Encouraging consumers to use access sites such as Netflix
• Working with search engines (e.g. Google), to change availability and profile of illegal download sites
• Making films available more quickly
• Advertising via exhibition platforms (creating awareness) (e.g. the "Piracy Ad" on film adverts)

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"The Hobbit" was the most pirated film of 2013, with 8.4 million people downloading it using BitTorrent networks.

"Django Unchained" took second place in the list, with 8.1 million downloads.

"Iron Man 3", the top grossing film of the year, also appeared on the list.

"The Hunger Games Catching Fire" did NOT feature on the list.

List of most pirated films of 2013:

1. The Hobbit
2. Django Unchained
3. Fast and Furious 6
4. Iron Man 3
5. Silver Linings Playbook
6. Star Trek Into Darkness
7. Gangster Squad
8. Now You See Me
9. The Hangover Part 3
10. World War Z

"The Pirate Bay", a file sharing site, has had to change its name six times in a bid to get around the site-blocking moves from several courts around the world order internet server providers (ISPs).
This site saw an increase in uploads of 50% during the past year with 2.8m files being listed.


Digital sales of video grew by 40% in 2013, helping to offset a 6.8% decline in sales of physical formats. This was helped by services like Spotify, Netflix and ITunes.

The overall UK music, video and games market was worth £5.4 billion in 2013, up 4% on 2012's total of £5.1 billion.

Film Funding and Social Media: Crowdfuning

Crowdfunding

• finance to sustain an initiative from a large pool of backers (a crowd) usually made online by means of a web platform.
• anyone with an idea can post their project on a crowdfunding site, and appeal for funding from the public or internet community.
• for example:
• indiegogo
• the most successful crowdfunding site is:
• Kickstarter
• passed $1 billion (£599 million)
• there are now over 9,000 websites registered with the word "crowdfunding".
• it relies heavily in community generosity and interest.
• these projects will often offer incentives to anyone who invests.
• to qualify for funding from the BFI, the project has to meet a strict set of criteria based on a points system to prove its 'Britishness''.
• many completed films never secure a distributor and do not get a release.
• projects by unknown writers and directors are rarely considered.

• Advantages
• easy money.
• anyone can open a crowdfunding project.
• could exceed required budget.
• filmmaking becomes accessible to public.
• creative freedom to spend money.
• creates sense of online community spirit.
• don't have to apply for funding.

• Disadvantages
• high risk when no professional experience.
• no intellectual property protection offered by the sites. Their idea can be taken/copied.
• might not meet expectations.
• tax - donations are a form of income and tax will have to be paid.
• cannot control time management.
• hard for potential investors to find you, because there are so many films on the website.
• you don't know where the money has come from.

 

 

If celebrities use these websites, it may lead to more attention, more producers looking at it, and more money being put towards it.

Celebrities may look to these websites.

You can get rewards ; signed photo, etc.

 Example:

Faint Heart (2008)

·        The first feature film to be created using input from an online site.

·        The production was a collaboration between Myspace, Vertigo Films and Film4 under the name MyMovieMashup.

·        Cast and crew members were recruited through Myspace and professional Viking re-enactors were cast. Myspace has 120 million members world wide.

·        The film was made outside of traditional film industry practises although it does have professional input.

• This film also stars well known actors, Eddie Marshan and Jessica Hynes, attracting more attention.

Myspace comes out ahead. It gets a cut of the profits if “Faintheart” is a smash. If not, it doesn’t lose any money as Myspace didn’t have to put up cash to get its producer credit. That’s how eager Vertigo was to tap its user base who from a ready made audience.

 

I think that crowdfunding could change the way film financing in the UK works. Marketing a film this way is more accessible for the public, and you do not have to apply for funding. Some well known actors have already been involved in some of the films advertised by crowdfunding, such as Benedict Cumberbatch. Because of this, it is likely to gain more attention, and more producers will show interest. Because there are so many films on crowdfunding websites, it may be hard for potential investors to find the film they want to invest in, but if there are more better known actors on it, there will be a higher amount of investors looking, therefore creating more of a chance that your film will be noticed, liked, and possibly invested in.

Because social media holds such an influence over everyone’s lives at this point in time, and it is likely it will continue too over the coming years, it is more likely to be noticed by people accessing these types of media and seeing these films. A great example is Faintheart, which was produced by Vertigo Films and Film 4, along with Myspace, which is accessed by over 120 million members worldwide. If films are advertised on these kind of social sites, especially big ones like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Vine, then they will attract more attention.

The Disappearance of Alice Creed Showings and Gross

Overview

 

A rich man's daughter is held captive in an abandoned apartment by two former convicts who abducted her and hold her ransom in exchange for her father's money.

 

Released: 2009

Rated: 18

Country: UK

Language: English

Genre: Crime/Thriller

Director: J Blakeson

Writer: J Blakeson

Starring: Gemma Arterton, Eddie Marsan, Martin Compston

 

Showings

 

In the UK: 67 Screens

In then USA: 10 Screens

 

 

Gross

 

In the UK: £142,324

In the USA: $40,258