Including proliferation in hardware and the impact of technology on British

cinema

The Future of British Cinema

Proliferation in HardwareToday, there is an extremely wide range of hardware available for us to buy, and very easily because technology shops have widened their range of products in recent years as technology becomes more accessible. For instance, Currys – a technology superstore has now merged with PC World to provide customers with a wide range of products including laptops, computers, televisions and cameras, some of which you would previously have to buy from specialist stores, like cameras which were sold by their creators because they were considered to be specialist equipment. This readily available technology is also becoming cheaper as it becomes more common and widely produced, meaning that most people can go out and buy digital recording equipment, and make a film, if they so wish. However, even though more independent films are being created, there are fewer independent cinemas which show independent films and this is largely down to the Internet, as more and more films are being distributed via the Internet because it’s cheaper, easier, and a medium that more people use, although it often means that the filmmaker receives less money for his work. In addition to this, the divides between media formats are becoming increasingly blurred (technological convergence), such as games consoles being able to stream films and phones being able to take high quality photographs, meaning that there is less of a want, and less of a need for cinema in general, but particularly independent cinemas as they don’t show films which necessarily appeal to the masses – more people are likely to want to see a big Hollywood blockbuster than a small, low-budget independent film.

More Choice for Audiences, Less Control for Institutions

In recent years, the speed of broadband has improved drastically, with most homes in the UK receiving broadband working at an average speed of 18.7Mbps, and even rural areas of the UK receiving their broadband at 13.6Mbps on average. This means that it has become far quicker and thus far easier for audiences to stream films at home, reducing the need for cinemas to do put on as many showings, as many people would prefer to stay in the comfort of their own home to watch recent films if they can do so easily, where they can pause it whenever they like, or rewind it if they miss something. In addition to this, web design is becoming increasingly easy thanks to tutorials that can be found on YouTube and new specialist websites which teach you how to put your own website together, allowing amateurs to create websites especially to stream film, and again reducing the want for cinemas to show films, and this is set to continue in the near future.

The Impact of Technology on British Cinema

It is impossible to ignore the fast approaching world of downloading film legally, and this is bound to have a massive impact on the British film industry, especially as piracy has such a huge impact on the film industry as a whole already, and the problems piracy causes will only increase as downloading films becomes legal. Hollywood investors claim a 10% increase each year in revenue lost due to piracy, although it’s actually small production companies who are affected most by piracy, as they make less profit, so a bigger percentage is stolen through piracy.

The Future of British FilmThe UK Film Council has been pushing to digitise British cinemas to help them stay relevant and to enable them to show a wider range of films in an attempt to entice more people to come to the cinema. They are seen by them as an investment for the future, as the world of film becomes increasingly digitised, and more films are being produced in a digital format. The UK Film Council staged a publically funded intervention, where 230 digital screens and projectors were installed in both commercial and independent cinemas. However, no advancements have been made since then with public sector funding, as no public sector funding has been available. They are now also calling for an expansion in digital distribution in order to make the process more efficient.

The Future of British FilmHowever, the future of British film hangs in the balance and it is undecided what turn it will take. 3D film is said by many to be destroying the British cinema industry, especially independent cinemas that can’t afford to put on 3D films, as they can’t afford the capital cost of the equipment. Peter Buckingham of the UK Film Council warned that 300 independent cinemas – many in rural areas - are in series danger of closing because they can't afford the transition and the major multiplexes, which account for about 85% of film takings, have so far refused to use their large amounts of funding to help smaller cinemas convert. The UK Film Council estimates it would cost £50 million to update all the vulnerable cinemas.Despite this, it’s said that the elder generation could be the saviour of British cinema thanks to ‘the grey pound’. This age group don’t really care much for fancy special effects or 3D showings, they simply want to be entertained. Arguably, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is responsible for the influx of elderly people who are now interested in cinema, as the film deals with the trials and tribulations of those in their later life, which is far more relatable for the age group of pensioners and since its success, filmmakers have followed its lead. The retired are a great audience for filmmakers to target as they have plenty of leisure time, as well as money from their good pensions to spend on entertaining themselves, and therefore they could be the key to keeping British cinema alive.