George Lucas has a message for studios that are cutting their slates and shifting toward big-budget tentpoles and franchises: You've got it all wrong.The creator of "Star Wars," which stamped the template for the franchise-tentpole film, says many small films and Web distribution are the future.And in case anyone doubts he means it, Lucasfilm is getting out of the movie business.
They guy's right. My buddy at work (a nearly 40-year old 3D animator) says he pretty much hates going to the movies, and that most of the people he knows his age would rather take the big screen home and catch the flick on DVD. He's a youth-group leader in his local congregation, and says that most of the buys would rather watch stuff on their iPod than hit the theaters.
What's my point? Same as Lucas's. Big expensive movies are going to die (slowly, but they'll die all the same) and regular episodic content is going to become the king. It's already happening ala Tivo and great shows like:
24
Scrubs
The Office
Lost
Now consider Apple's last "It's Showtime" announcement and the iTV. Here is a device that's designed to stream content from your PC to your TV. Mix in some RSS, Frontrow, and Apple's great usability track record and poof... you're watching only the stuff you want, possibly commercial-free (via subscription), right from the comfort of your living room. Guys like ZeFrank and Dawn and Drew have access to a whole new audience.
Yea. Smaller budget episodic stuff. It's the only way to go.
I agree. I think the trend is moving towards on-demand content, DVDs, and interactivity.
I think that people enjoy episodic content because they often have more complex and original plots and better character development. With the current changes in audience viewing habits, it is becoming more convenient to follow a series as opposed to watching an over-priced, generic film in theaters that rarely spawns any additional content like sequels or spin-offs.
They guy's right. My buddy at work (a nearly 40-year old 3D animator) says he pretty much hates going to the movies, and that most of the people he knows his age would rather take the big screen home and catch the flick on DVD. He's a youth-group leader in his local congregation, and says that most of the buys would rather watch stuff on their iPod than hit the theaters.
What's my point? Same as Lucas's. Big expensive movies are going to die (slowly, but they'll die all the same) and regular episodic content is going to become the king. It's already happening ala Tivo and great shows like:
Now consider Apple's last "It's Showtime" announcement and the iTV. Here is a device that's designed to stream content from your PC to your TV. Mix in some RSS, Frontrow, and Apple's great usability track record and poof... you're watching only the stuff you want, possibly commercial-free (via subscription), right from the comfort of your living room. Guys like ZeFrank and Dawn and Drew have access to a whole new audience.
Yea. Smaller budget episodic stuff. It's the only way to go.
I agree. I think the trend is moving towards on-demand content, DVDs, and interactivity.
I think that people enjoy episodic content because they often have more complex and original plots and better character development. With the current changes in audience viewing habits, it is becoming more convenient to follow a series as opposed to watching an over-priced, generic film in theaters that rarely spawns any additional content like sequels or spin-offs.