Blog Post Week 6

Discuss issues arising out of the lecture particularly why Hollywood is having so much trouble adapting to the rise of the internet. For it 116 year history, cinema has depended on technological change for its existence and then for the new developments (colour, sound, TV, recorders, 3D, VHS, DVD, CGI) that have kept the format fresh and interesting to audiences who can quickly become jaded. What makes the internet different? Is downloading killing Hollywood or could it be the path to new beginnings?

After the rise of the internet and illegal online downloading, Hollywood has become noticeably nervous in recent years. The reason for this is not entirely due to a loss of money or finance – as Hollywood seems to still be reeling in millions of dollars with each new blockbuster screening. No, Hollywood is more concerned with the internet’s ability to reproduce, along with a much smaller audience in comparison to past years.

If Hollywood has adapted to previous technological advances such as colour television and the rise of CGI effects, perhaps today’s cinema is so concerned with the rise of the internet due to its unpredictability. With anonymity a key aspect of online downloading, copyright laws are often meaningless in most cases. The heavy distribution of illegal online content also falls out of Hollywood’s hands, leaving producers vulnerable to things such as illegal “leaks” or defamation.

But the internet doesn’t have to be Hollywood’s biggest enemy. After the music industry was also affected by illegal downloading and torrents, iTunes has helped to counter the problem by assuring artists some form of money for their work. This kind of online “database” method would be beneficial for Hollywood – even though movie buffs are against small screen viewing.