ART BY JOSEPH MENDOZABY ALEX CASTRO
STAFF WRITER
Film, an art lost in time.
Frankly, the film industry is in a slow but noticeable decline. A combination of corrupt methodology as well as the essence of progression have rendered things like movie theaters almost completely pointless.
Motivations change and large companies are no different. In earlier years, movies were higher in quality, focusing on the experience of the viewers, the meanings of the films, and the messages they contained.
Classic movies are the epitome of their media. When watched, they leave the audience with a lasting impression and allow them to completely immerse themselves in the experience. However, newer films created by big companies and producers have almost polar ideals, and their main purpose is to generate revenue and give the companies more commercialization opportunities.
Nowadays, big companies produce low budget and poorly written movies that are designed to take advantage of what the viewers believe they want. However, no amount of underfunded computer generated imagery or undercut scripts can save these new productions, nor will they fill the whole left by empty cash grabs.
Moreover, one of the biggest reasons for the decline of the movie industry is social media outlets and streaming platforms, such as YouTube, Hulu, Instagram, and Netflix.
Although film is in decline, the entertainment business is seeing a record turnout of material being produced and placed on the aforementioned platforms. Consumers have reached a time where we are seeing an unprecedented amount of shows, independent movies and series being presented on 3rd party platforms.
Due to this outsourcing of content creation and presentation combined with easy accessibility at anyone’s disposal, fewer people are willing to make the trek to movie theaters. Consequently, the revenue in the movie industry suffers from a loss of profit, hurting their producers and investors.
The key reason for that is technology; with equipment being more affordable than ever, anyone with an imagination and a camera can make a movie and artists can immerse themselves in the medium and test the waters. If they truly have what it takes to be a filmmaker, it is a long winding road.
However, this decline is not evidenced in pure revenue, which can be clearly seen in the performances of movies such as Avengers: Infinity War, which recently broke the record for highest grossing film as well as Avengers: Endgame which succeeded Infinity War as well. Yet these spikes in popularity prove to be a sign of the film industry’s declining state.
In turn, the economics of it all may eventually dictate closure of theatres across the nation. Many conglomerates and partners have already noticed this trend and jumped at the opportunity to maximise their profits and minimize costs by making venues smaller with more comfortable seating such as the downsizing of theaters. These changes cater to a demographic that is less interested in the works themselves, but rather, the almost nostalgic feel and experiences.
Furthermore, while major studios may feel the effects from all this and are the most negatively impacted, many independent filmmakers can now produce higher quality works without being stifled by major production studios. As consumers, people love to be entertained and given the rising availability of media on digital and streaming platforms there will never be a shortage of enjoyable material, especially if viewers can choose to do so from the comfort of your couch.
So in the end, while the decreasing popularity of theaters and films may prove to be detrimental to studio or companies morals and profits, it gives both amateur and smaller producers more freedom to create better works, and the unceasing progression of technologies will only enhance the movie experience.