I just sent out an email about my upcoming Guerilla Film Makers Masterclass, and it got me thinking more about 2012.
And upon reflection, I am pretty sure that 2012 will be the year that the film business changes forever.
Here are a few of my thoughts…
- Kodak may go bankrupt in 2012
It’s been widely reported that Kodak is looking at filing for Chapter 11 in the USA. This is basically a way of going bankrupt in a graceful manner, or putting it another way ‘Chapter 11 protects companies from their creditors while they try to reorganise financially…’ Kodak have not gone yet, and I am sure the brand will endure, but I am also sure that there is no real money left in making film stock for movies.
- The internet has finally matured in 2012
It appears that there are no barriers to entry now. If you want a blog, website or social media presence, you can have one. You can have it pretty much free too. No tech skills are needed. You may need an eye for the aesthetic, an ear for good writing, and determination to succeed, but as a film maker, you should already have that in bucket loads.
- NetFlix moves into the UK and DOES NOT support DVD in 2012
As far as American distribution giant NetFlix is concerned, DVD is dead. NetFlix has just muscled into the UK market to give monopolised Love Film a run for their money. And NetFlix ONLY offer online download. Countless other small indicators in distribution tell us that we are moving to a completely online world, and I suspect that this year will see a significant move in that direction.
- The World Financial Crisis grows in 2012
Whether it’s the Eurozone crisis, the threat or new recession or the endless ripples from the banking collapse, money has become ever more elusive. Paradoxically, this is good news from indies as makes us work harder on our scripts, weeds out overpaid time wasters and radically shakes things up (and boy do they need it!) I say it again, this is GOOD for us all. It may not feel it right now, but remember, cream floats.
- DSLR will be replaced by ‘proper’ digital cine cameras in 2012
Finally, cameras that have been designed to shoot moving images, instead of stills cameras that have been modified to shoot video, are starting to proliferate. Potentially, this puts a ‘designed and fit for purpose’ movie camera into the hands of any determined film maker.
- The battle for online distribution heats up in 2012
Historically, when a new technology comes to market, there are usually a number of innovators who eventually merge / buy out / collaborate, to create a single ‘killer solution’. Right now Apple, Distrify, Dynamo Player and many others are all vying for the crown of online distribution. The next year will be fascinating to see who ends up at the feast table and who is left out in the cold.
- Collaboration, knowledge and sharing in 2012
The culture of sharing knowledge now dominates. Don’t know it? Ask on Twitter. Need a crew? Post on Facebook or other sites. Want to test a camera? Don’t bother, someone has already done it and uploaded to Vimeo (and probably done a brilliant job too). Your project is now only limited by your idea, your ability to execute and your enduring tenacity.
Your success or failure is limited only by your taking massive action. It’s simply a decision. Something you choose to do, or not to do.
This has always been true, but up until now, there have been genuine tough barriers to entry. Consider this, you have everything you need, you JUST NEED TO DO IT!
The film maker of today and tomorrow has or shares their own kit with a small community, is decentralized from the perceived heart of the old-skool film making community, controls their own distribution, fosters a fan base or tribe through sustained online media and perhaps best of all, is free to choose to tell the story THEY want to tell.
We are living into very exciting times.
And remember, I am running the Guerilla Film Makers Masterclass on the weekend of Feb 18th and 19th – that’s two full on days of world class film making workshop, plus networking and tons more. Tickets are £135, but as a blog reader, get £50 off by using the discount code CHRISJONES. So your pass will cost £85.
Sign up below or check out the site here…
http://www.guerillamasterclass.com/
Onwards and upwards
Chris Jones, Film Maker and Author
www.livingspiritgroup.com
www.ProductionOffice.org
e: mail@livingspirit.com
Really interesting points here Chris.
I will be interested to see how mainstream “Hollywood” reacts to all this. I think we will see a change from Movies and Tentpole Films to content.
Of course there will still be the big blockbusters but content is the way forward for studios and that means they are competing with you and I.
I think the mega films will always have a place, but the mid strata will need to seriously reconsider their options.
i am feeling deeply jealous of all the people who get to sign up for your workshop in february. i’ll be in new york shooting – but thinking of you and your genius mr. jones as the director says for the 20th time, “are you sure we don’t have a little money in the budget for this?”
🙂
xo Roberta
Yep, there really is never enough time, money or light. A wise director will always choose their batles carefully.
All very good points. I especially agree with 3, 4 and 5. It’s actually scary how fast things are changing and just thinking how much I have adapted to all these things and yet just realised upon reading your feature. There will always be an issue with budget, time etc but you are completely right; now more than ever there is an opportunity and want to collaborate and a DIY approach between filmmakers and the like: “just do it”. Excuses are a marginally redundant – even the big wigs are looking to the festivals we put on, the films we post on vimeo and youtube, the books we write on blogs. Exciting times. I need to take my head out of the sand and get involved.
Thanks Alex, yep and I am writing a blog now about David Cameron and his comments on the British Film Industry right now – it’s all connected!
CJ