Is this the beginning of a new era?

ChunkyC · Jan 29, 2008

I ran across this today while looking for any updates on the upcoming Trek movie:

Renegade Studios

I realize there have been lots of ways to download content on the Internet, but this really piqued my interest. Full length online original movies, with recognizable talent, for less than you'd pay to rent a DVD at the video store.

So how long will it be before we are getting most of our TV and movies via the Internet? If this is any indication, perhaps not as long as it might have seemed only a short time ago.

PS -- Pete, if you think this would be better over in the movies forum, go nuts. I just thought I'd start it here since this studio appears to be all about science fiction.

MargueriteMing · Jan 29, 2008

Hmm, the trailers had no sound, for me. Is sound working for anybody else?

PinkUnicorn · Jan 29, 2008

$2.99 per showing.... but how many people can you fit in front of a computer screen? We got a family of 7... it would save money, but it'd be hell for all of us to try to squeeze in front of the computer to watch it.

I'm going to say I still prefer movie theaters... and I still miss drive ins.

ChunkyC · Jan 30, 2008

Marguerite -- the sound worked fine for me. Perhaps it's a Flash Player issue since that's what they use to stream the content.

Good point about the screen, EK. However, with the rising popularity of HD TVs, many of which have inputs to be used with computers, that will change. At some point in the not too distant future, your TV will be your computer monitor.

I think this might be the leading edge of a new way of distributing movies, one that could be a harbinger of the traditional movie theatre going the way of the drive-in. It is going to take a big paradigm shift in the way we think about how films are distributed, but as with so many other things, the generation that grows up with the "new thing" will wonder why we "oldsters" want to cling onto the antiquated way.

The music industry is already feeling the effects of online distribution eating into sales of CDs, I think it's inevitable the movie industry will be faced with the same issues when all the technological pieces are in place and working well. I too miss the drive in, and will miss theatres if they do "fade to black".

We live in interesting times.

Shades of Humanity · Jan 30, 2008

EelKat said:
$2.99 per showing.... but how many people can you fit in front of a computer screen? We got a family of 7... it would save money, but it'd be hell for all of us to try to squeeze in front of the computer to watch it.

I'm going to say I still prefer movie theaters... and I still miss drive ins.

I hook up my computer to my tv, it's really easy. Not only good for watching movies, it's nice being able to type away on your novel while sitting on the sofa or your bed. Then again I guess that's what a laptop is for... meh.

III · Jan 30, 2008

The days of separated electronics are numbered. If it isn't already, your TV will soon be linked to your internet and sync'ed with your PID with every movie and song and website ever made. Your TV will also be as thick as a sheet of paper. 5 - 10 years and the idea of un-integrated media will be as laughable as dial-up.

ETA: I don't think this will signal the end of the movie theater. As one theater executive said "Do you have a kitchen in your home? Do you still go out to eat? Same thing."

ChunkyC · Jan 30, 2008

I hope that turns out to be true, Jay. There's just something magical about sitting in a room with a few hundred other people and watching a movie on a screen big enough to use as a sail.

Thing is, when everyone has surround sound audio and 50+ inch hi-def flat panels in their living rooms, the theatre experience had better offer something you can't get at home (the way a good restaurant offers food you probably couldn't cook yourself). It'll probably be the small town theatres like the one in my area that go the way of the dodo since they won't be able to keep up. Heck, my home audio system is better than what they have in two of their four rooms (plain old stereo), so they're already falling behind.

Shadow_Ferret · Jan 30, 2008

I'd hope you can view them full screen, that little window would be annoying.

And the trailers look nice, but heck, anyone can make a good looking trailer. How many awful movies have suckered you in with a good looking trailer?

Actually, I take that back. The Inalienable trailer looked good. The Star Trek one looked cheesey. The ships looked like my old Aurora models hung on strings.

benbradley · Jan 30, 2008

EelKat said:
$2.99 per showing.... but how many people can you fit in front of a computer screen? We got a family of 7... it would save money, but it'd be hell for all of us to try to squeeze in front of the computer to watch it.

I'm going to say I still prefer movie theaters... and I still miss drive ins.

Computer monitors have always (well, for a good while now) needed higher resolution than TV's which means a computer monitor as large as a larger TV screen will cost more than a TV of that size. But yes, as was mentioned, the merging of computers and TV is "right around the corner." People have seen it coming for a long time, but it's actually happening now.

Shadow_Ferret said:
I'd hope you can view them full screen, that little window would be annoying.

The question is if it can go "full screen" with really good resolution and full frame rate. DVD's are really good (but it's still COMPRESSED VIDEO!), Satellite TV is good but not quite as good as DVD (high-speed action can be noticably blurred and pixelated). You can click an icon below the window on a Youtube video to go full screen but the resolution sucks. This is because of the reduced data rate in Youtube videos, not any inherent lack of ability for modern computers to provide decent video.
But this is an important point, quality streaming video may require a higher data rate than many people have over DSL now. Otherwise, you can start watching lower quality video immediately, or maybe wait and hour (or four or five!) before you can start to watch a 90 minute movie at "DVD quality."

I've never seen an episode of South Park on TV, but I've seen a couple from southparkx.net. Substantial amounts of my "TV viewing" in recent years has been of video over the Internet.

maestrowork · Jan 31, 2008

We already can download full length movies at iTune. It doesn't really take that long. And AppleTV is launching their movie/TV rental services. Not sure about the pricing, but with the AppleTV you can actually see it on your TV and not on a computer monitor. I assume they will use some hybrid of streaming + download technologies, which they already use for the networked media stuff and YouTube.

With networking, we can stream videos from our laptops to the AppleTV as well, and watch everything on TV -- I just watched the Fantastic Four last night. There were some pixelations, but the quality is good enough for TV viewing.

The technology is already here. It's about finding the right applications and use. I think AppleTV or XBox has the right idea -- one media server hooked up to your A/V system and the Internet. Now you can download rental or purchases (XBox can do that as well, not just Apple).

And yes, they deliver HD quality videos. With H.264 compression, the quality is really good and the file size is kept to under 1GB. I just watched Ratatouille (downloaded from iTune) and it's just as good or better than DVD.

You guys are a little behind the times, actually. LOL. Jump on the bandwagon!

p.s. movie theaters are not going to go out of business soon. But they will be bigger and with better sounds and bigger screens, and digital 3D projections, etc. Something very few people can duplicate in their homes (unless their names are Bill Gates or Donald Trump or something).

III · Jan 31, 2008

maestrowork said:
With networking, we can stream videos from our laptops to the AppleTV as well, and watch everything on TV -- I just watched the Fantastic Four last night.

And therein lies the rub. Get all the technology you want, but the movies can still suck. Once again underlining the fact that story is king!

maestrowork · Jan 31, 2008

III said:
And therein lies the rub. Get all the technology you want, but the movies can still suck. Once again underlining the fact that story is king!

True -- just because you can make a film that anyone can see anywhere doesn't mean it's going to be good. The problem with accessibility is that more and more crap are going to going around... the Internet is a big cesspool sometimes. Just look at YouTube... it's entertaining, but practically a big waste of time with all kinds of crappy amateur videos. It's hard to find the good stuff.

That said, what's nice is that if you do have something you like (say, Ratatouille or There Will Be Blood or Hot Fuzz...) you can download one file and they will play anywhere -- on your TV, on your computer, on your iPod, in your car... in the past you're stuck with one output (you need a DVD player and a TV/monitor) and format. But now you can pretty much do anything you want with it (watch it, edit it, stream it, share it across the network...)

I love my A/V toys!

childeroland · Jan 31, 2008

May I ask you how? :Hammer:

I've been trying to do that so I can watch Veoh stuff on my TV.

Shades of Humanity said:
I hook up my computer to my tv, it's really easy. Not only good for watching movies, it's nice being able to type away on your novel while sitting on the sofa or your bed. Then again I guess that's what a laptop is for... meh.

maestrowork · Jan 31, 2008

childeroland said:
May I ask you how? I've been trying to do that so I can watch Veoh stuff on my TV.

Get a video card -- it's cheap. Then just plug into your TV in jacks. Some PCs already have video cards with RCA jacks.

Shadow_Ferret · Jan 31, 2008

maestrowork said:
We already can download full length movies at iTune. It doesn't really take that long. And AppleTV is launching their movie/TV rental services. Not sure about the pricing, but with the AppleTV you can actually see it on your TV and not on a computer monitor. I assume they will use some hybrid of streaming + download technologies, which they already use for the networked media stuff and YouTube.

We can download movies through Netflix, too. Except it doesn't like Firefox so I haven't tried it yet.

maestrowork · Jan 31, 2008

Shadow_Ferret said:
We can download movies through Netflix, too. Except it doesn't like Firefox so I haven't tried it yet.

I hate the Netflix interface. Crappy. I like iTune much better. Amazon.com also has a thing with Tivo -- the problem is you can only watch the movies on your Tivo. Normally it's not a problem, but sometimes I like to take them on the road.

Yeshanu · Jan 31, 2008

maestrowork said:
p.s. movie theaters are not going to go out of business soon. But they will be bigger and with better sounds and bigger screens, and digital 3D projections, etc. Something very few people can duplicate in their homes (unless their names are Bill Gates or Donald Trump or something).

The digital 3d thing is already happening in a lot of the newer theatres, and I'm told that within a few years every screen will have that technology. (I work for a big theatre chain in Canada.)

And they're still not building homes with the capability of having three-story-high (or bigger) screens that are fifty-plus feet wide, so I think we'll be in business a while yet.

Our chain (Cineplex) is also trying out different things. We've had pro wrestling and hockey games streamed live into the theatres for a while, and they do about as well as some of the movies. Last year they started streaming Metropolitan Opera productions, and those are actually doing quite well. The bigger theatres are also branching out by having more variety in food choice, or partnering with restaurants for dinner-and-movie night out specials.

But the theatre I work at was built in 1988, and it's amazing how out-of-date our technology is. I can't see us being in existence for many more years. *sigh* They'll build a big multi-plex nearby and close our little theatre down.

maestrowork · Jan 31, 2008

The AMC here are also targeting business seminars, etc. Imagine your pie charts and multimedia presentations on a 50' screen with Dolby surround sound, in an auditorium that sits 400 of your clients? That's REALLY attractive. The one at the waterfront has a sit-down restaurant and bar upstairs -- the food is good, too. It's really convenient to go there, grab a quick bite, then go directly to the movies.

Shadow_Ferret · Jan 31, 2008

Yeshanu said:
And they're still not building homes with the capability of having three-story-high (or bigger) screens that are fifty-plus feet wide, so I think we'll be in business a while yet.

Actually...

At home you don't have to listen to other people talk, throw popcorn, hear cellphones ringing, have to get up for the guy with the tiny bladder every 5 minutes.

And a decent home theater system with an excellent subwoofer isn't all that pricey these days.

maestrowork · Jan 31, 2008

Shadow_Ferret said:
Actually...

At home you don't have to listen to other people talk, throw popcorn, ....

Sometimes that's the best part of going to the movies (I saw Borat! at a packed theater full of college kids -- wouldn't want to watch it any other way) -- to be around other people. Like III said, you could stay home and enjoy a nice cooked meal in front of the TV... or you can go out and eat at a crowded restaurant... it can be fun either way.

p.s. that's the new 103" plasma HD-TV they're talking about...

Shadow_Ferret · Jan 31, 2008

I know it's the new 103". That's how I googled it and found it. I'm not that out of touch. Sheesh.

To tell the truth, the last time I was in a theater, King Kong was playing.

ChunkyC · Jan 31, 2008

Good grief, you'd have to take the roof off my house to get that thing inside.

maestrowork · Jan 31, 2008

Shadow_Ferret said:
I know it's the new 103". That's how I googled it and found it. I'm not that out of touch. Sheesh.

To tell the truth, the last time I was in a theater, King Kong was playing.

The 1976 or 1933 version?

Ravenlocks · Jan 31, 2008

Nobody has mentioned the companionship part of the movie-going experience (or if somebody did I missed it). If there were no movie theaters, what would you do on a first date? And when I hang with friends probably at least half the time we go to the movies. Going over to somebody's house to hang out is a completely different dynamic.

ChunkyC · Feb 1, 2008

That's a good point, but that too may fall by the wayside if and when kids grow up without the theatre as the mainstream form of movie distribution. I can see parents twenty or thirty years from now telling their kids about their first date at the theatre, and the kids snickering because to them it seems so weird.

Is this the beginning of a new era?

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rockin the suburbs

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Court Jester

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Fear the Death Ray

rockin the suburbs

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What happened to my LIFE?!

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Elf Queen

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How novel.

It's hard being green