RESEARCH- Technology research

 Digital technology changes in how filmmakers are using web 2.0 

• In the past, an internet site was simply an area to host your reel and supply contact information. These days, a well-designed website may be a reliable tool to assist you in marketing your films and building an audience.
• During pandemic the few remaining analog outlets for entertainment (e.g. music concerts and theatres) have moved into the digital domain.
• So, what does this mean for film makers? You must remain up-to-date on recent website design trends if you’re a filmmaker.
• Allows for easy access to target audience..

Some trends within the screenland to observe in 2022:

• The media and show business is continually changing. To remain before the curve, it’s essential to stay up with the most recent trends.

-decline in traditional television

-increase in use of streaming services- fragmentation.

-expansion of digital media

-Arrival of VR and interactive films

2016’s Late Shift was billed as the first-ever interactive feature film, allowing audiences to influence the characters’ behaviors and the story’s outcome. 

Diversity and real life events

-more people are wanting films based on real life stories or events 

-Artificial Intelligence AI

Netflix has said that 80% of its CONTENT DELIVERY is achieved through RECOMMENDATIONS.

-The Metaverse (interconnected digital environments where we can socialise work and be entertained)

e.g. during lockdown online concerts of Ariana Grande and Bruno Mars were streamed.

NETFLIX:

Netflix spent $6 billion in 2017 on original film and TV series, and the company plans to expand that budget to $8 billion in 2018. Television is currently outpacing cinemas as the more popular way to watch film, mostly because today’s widely available 4K digital flat screens provide a clearer visual experience than many movie screens do.

What’s more, television seems to be doing a much better job of tapping into pop culture than film. Part of that is because TV shows have shorter production cycles, so they can be more responsive to culture. Netflix’s big budget is another big reason: With some 700 series in production for 2018, there are so many more opportunities for showrunners to take chances creatively.

CROWDFUNDING:

 crowdfunding has become a viable source of film funding for many projects.

The new rules, based on the 2012 Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act, allow securities to be sold via crowdfunding and set parameters for those sales — allowing crowdfunders not only to contribute to film projects, but actually invest in them.

Keanu Reeves Documentary...

FILM VS DIGITAL

-1st CCD chip created in 1969 

-mid 1980's sony produced the first consumer quality CCD camera

-digital video is going to replace 35mm film

-digital is the reinvention of a new medium

-digital is the new 'trend' and film makers must choose if they want to jump aboard this trend or not. Simultaneously, film is becoming less commonly used.

-with digital--they wanted anything they can imagine to be something they could realise... there is a field of opportunity that opens with digital that is not possible with film.

-digital film is processed to look like film.. as though we like the look of film better anyway.. so why not just stick to film?

-this is as far as film is ever going to go- not just technological development can occur through film.. time to move on

- do not think film will completely be eliminated- many will still fight for film, the motion film.

production process: 

1. capturing the images in camera- director of photography (dp) is required to know how all the equipment works, required to check the composition and the angles of the shots.- this has become even more important nowadays as equipment is so technical.

film camera...

-1000 ft load of film lasts 10m of camera time. then it must be reloaded with a new 'magazine'.. gives a natural break in the action.

-the film is then sent away to a film lab where it is developed and printed overnight.

-the next day 'daily's' are seen.

-the dp holds most of the power as they have the most knowledge of how the film is going to look.

however, with film, many did not like that the results were not evident- after the days work it seemed as though nothing had been accomplished.

-Editing process- film had to be physically cut and connected, however the digital editing machine was introduced which turned film into tape.

-Film brought with it a discipline that doesn't exist with digital editing, it caused one to truly stop and think about what they were doing and what the best result would be. 

2. with digital camera.. the result is much less fuzzy as the pixels are more finite.

results are instant and allows for retakes to be taken if result is not what was desired. Everyone can be involved, not just the dp with the vision- everything the dp is doing can be seen critisised and questioned.

no longer 'daily's', now 'immediatley's'

however, this process can make the film shoot take much longer than it needs to as many people can express their own opinions of changes- for eg. some actors become self conscious and obsessed with needing to see every shot and may not like what they see, wanted more and more retakes when this is not actually necessary.

Editing Process:

-1980, first working "editdroid"

-late 1980's- first compact, computer based editing system  

- digital editing brought speed

Quotes:

"(digital) Gives us more scope to be creative"- Cinematographer Geoff Boyle

"if we lower our budgets we get more freedom as producers"- Producer Jason Kliot 

 cutting in film can "break the moment"- Director Darnell Martin

- digital camera films at first did not look like an acceptable substitute for what film was.

- digital video makes it seem as though you are there in the room with the actors, sense of presence.

- increased accessibility and opportunity for independent film makers to emerge and produce and display films at Sundance.

-many made the switch to digital because of the amount of material you can have, whereas previously there was much tension around each film shoot knowing every roll of film is precious, and time is running out. HOWEVER, in saying this, when you know time is money actors tend to bring their a-game and take it a lot seriously

-you can be talking to the actor simultaneously  

- cutting in film can "break the moment"- Director Darnell Martin

-Because of its cheap cost digital videos allow budget for several camera's, allowing multiple shots to be taken simultaneously.

Special Effects- CGI, VFX

- for the 1st 100 years, VFX were very limited and could only be created with models and film cameras.