Legal Research

Through the looking glass to the crystal ball

By scott

The Odeon Cinema chain has confirmed it will refuse to screen Tim Burton?s 3D version of Alice in Wonderland over the decision by Disney to issue to the film on DVD after just 12 weeks after its Cinema release date (the usual release window in 17-18 weeks). Several other chains across the US and Europe are planning on doing the same. All claim such a move will kill their business. In a world of short-termism any chain who decides not to take a stand there looks like being a good opportunity to make some extra money on additional screenings of the film though.

Disney’s reason for the shortened window are certainly to do ? in part ? with piracy fears. It only takes one copy to get online (and it will) so this is a concern that should be immediately dismissed, and the less time and money the entertainment industry wastes trying to stop something that is impossible to stop the better for everyone [ And I’m sorry but all the ‘piracy’ ads talking about bad copies with people walking in front of the screen etc ? most copies online are original screener copies that are faultless, not copies made by some Muppet with a camcorder].

According to Disney they are not planning to move to a 12 week window across the board although Odeon believe even doing it here opens the door for studios to do just that.

“The negative impact on cine¬ma attendance that such a reduction in the window will have will threaten the continued existence of many cinemas, especially the smaller and medium-sized cinemas,” a representative from Odeon said in a statement.

I have to say I’m with the good doctor, Mark Kermode, on this issue in the wider context. If the studio’s really want to reduce piracy (and it will never be totally eradicated because there will always be people who want things for free) then the logical end-game for all film releases is simultaneous release: Cinema, DVD/Blueray, Online.

People will stop going to the cinema some might argue ? and indeed Odeon do. I’m not sure where the evidence for this is. Are people going to suddenly stop going on dates? Not only that, but I can buy alcohol and drink it in my own house, I can buy food and cook it ? quite well if I do say so myself - in my own house, does this stop me actually drinking in Pubs or eating in restaurants? No. Why? Because the experience is different.

Seeing a film on the big screen is still a special experience that can’t be replicated at home even with the best home cinema. Seeing a film in a packed cinema ? watching people jump at scary moments, laugh out loud at funny moments and being taken along by the reactions of the others around them is impossible to replicate at home ? it’s the same reason why we always laugh more if we go and see a comedian live than we would do if we had sat at home watching a recording of that same routine. In fact, how many times have you seen a film on the big screen and then seen it on DVD and felt let down that it didn’t seem as good on the small (relatively speaking) screen? Or vice versa, one you didn’t rate at all on the big screen that somehow doesn’t seem quite as bad on the small screen?

How many times have you gone to see a classic film at the cinema? Maybe a screening of ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ at Christmas, a screening of the Star wars films/ Star Trek films, Laurence of Arabia etc. Why did you go if you can just sit at home and watch it on TV/DVD? You went for the Cinematic ‘experience’ and to see the film how it was meant to be seen.

An additional advantage of simultaneous release is that it might reduce the amount of people who show up to the cinema and are apparently incapable of going two hours without the need to hold a conversation with the person next to them ? regardless of whether it’s about the film or not.

Full post as published by Information Overload on February 23, 2010 (boomark / email).