Headlong Into The Future
Apr. 1st, 2008 09:42 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
proggrrlI have mentioned before that I used to work in the independent music business, and now work in film marketing…and have been eagerly awaiting the digital transformation of the film business that we have experienced with music over the past decade.
So wasn’t I gleeful today to read this Stream Feed piece (not to mention the links to other pieces within it). It is no surprise to hear that revolution will not be televised: as usual in the film world, it will be the indies - mainly micro-street-indies, natch - that drag us kicking and screaming into the future. Aka “Indiewood 3.0”…Exciting stuff to be sure, egged on by the WGA strike no doubt.
But riddle me this: if it all goes digital, and possibly even “Free Economy,” where does the money to make the films come from? Product placement? Advertisers? Donations? Monetizing Free is the key issue here, with film & TV makers/distributors working it out through trial and error like the music business had to.
Nowadays, free song files and legal streams can result in immense, sold-out live tours, huge profits from official merchandise, live-show CDs and DVDs, and brand-building value for individual artists. Film and television will need their own equivalents – not a big step, but an area where innovation is definitely needed.
So wasn’t I gleeful today to read this Stream Feed piece (not to mention the links to other pieces within it). It is no surprise to hear that revolution will not be televised: as usual in the film world, it will be the indies - mainly micro-street-indies, natch - that drag us kicking and screaming into the future. Aka “Indiewood 3.0”…Exciting stuff to be sure, egged on by the WGA strike no doubt.
But riddle me this: if it all goes digital, and possibly even “Free Economy,” where does the money to make the films come from? Product placement? Advertisers? Donations? Monetizing Free is the key issue here, with film & TV makers/distributors working it out through trial and error like the music business had to.
Nowadays, free song files and legal streams can result in immense, sold-out live tours, huge profits from official merchandise, live-show CDs and DVDs, and brand-building value for individual artists. Film and television will need their own equivalents – not a big step, but an area where innovation is definitely needed.
