Star Wars Producer Says Box Office is Doomed 1203
Cutriss writes "Seen at CNN, this article interviews Rick McCallum, longtime producer at LucasFilms. McCallum says that DVDs will be responsible for the downfall of the movie industry *without* taking piracy into account, due to the fact that people think the home theatre experience is just as good, or better than the big screens, and they know that in five months, the DVD will be out on the market. Of course, his claim that "studios are barely breaking even" falls on deaf ears when I hear about 9-digit salaries for individual actors in a big-name film that's just some rehash of an old concept. He also mentions, of course, that DVD piracy and movie "sharing" groups will only speed up the cycle, and that they'll be putting Hollywood out of business, possibly within the next three years."
Well... (Score:4, Interesting)
So ... (Score:3, Interesting)
-- RLJ
humor folks...
Naturally... (Score:5, Interesting)
Sure, the chump with $20,000 home theatre could wait, but obviously, money isn't a big factor in his decision.
Personally, I enjoy a night at the movies, but I also enjoy snuggling up at home to a movie with the girlfriend... I think both will be around for a while, personally.
I'm sure someone said similar things when VHS was introduced.
They said the same about home video in the 80s (Score:1, Interesting)
Yaaahh! (Score:5, Interesting)
And oh, here's a thought...who forces them to release a DVD in 6mo's??? Seems like they could delay the release of alternate distributions indefinately. Don't think so? Go ask Disney. They did it for a VERY long time.
If it's such a risk...release alternate media 1 or 2 years after the movie comes out.
Wow. That was hard to think of wasn't it. Perhaps if he stopped thinking about his next big rip-off-money-making-flick, such an obvious concept would be obvious to him too.
What was his point again...
Nonsense! (Score:4, Interesting)
Pretty sneaky!
Cost vs. Value (Score:3, Interesting)
Anyway, my seats are comfier (no seat kickers), I can adjust my audio levels to match the film I'm watching and the drunk guy making a nuisance of himself is me!
Re:Bullshit (Score:4, Interesting)
The basic fact of the matter is that these companies have fossilized. It's time for new blood.
whatever... (Score:1, Interesting)
I don't think anyone at Lucas has a grasp on what people want, with pushing digital projectors, producing bad video games and even worse movies.
McCallum proves that point with even the first two statements in the article...
1. "McCallum feels that the experience of watching the movie on DVD is superior to most movie theaters"
I don't know anyone that prefers to see things at home, I still hear 'its a film you need to see on the big screen' from a bunch of people all the time (not to mention most movies worth watching don't play at your major movie theaters). It's just the fact most movies aren't worth seeing or paying to see (ala no different then the music industry right now)
2. He blames DVD for "why young people aren't going to the same movie five or six times a la 'Titanic.'"
Its not DVD, its most movies don't have the appeal. I saw the Matrix a few times in the theater since it actually had some depth to it and was worth watching a few times. Of course I don't know a lot of people that saw Titanic more then once but I'm guessing a lot girlfriends dragged their boyfriends to it (poor souls).
Don't blame DVD, wake up and blame your crappy movies. People aren't going to see Episode I and II a bunch of times because they sucked and aren't worth watching over and over, not because it's coming out on DVD in a few months...
Bah humbug (Score:5, Interesting)
Furthermore, people will STILL go to the movies as a social event, it's something to do with friends, it's an experience, and most people just don't have home theater equipment that comes close to that yet, until we all get InFocus-style LCD projectors for our living rooms. Oh yeah, and if you want us to come to the theater, consider that just maybe 10 bucks+ a person, not including snacks and soda is a little outrageous - when I was a kid, I remember it was 4-5 dollars, and I'm only 23. Price has gone up substantially faster than inflation, and the quality of most major studio releases has gone down. Hmmm....
Re:Propoganda (Score:5, Interesting)
*sniff* Bye bye, Natalie. It was nice while it lasted...
Re:Funny? He's serious (I think)! (Score:5, Interesting)
I don't know about you, but the last few DVDs I bought have this 5 minute mandatory intro on them that plays before it gets to the main menu. The skip buttons are disabled during this thing, so you have to basically stop the DVD and then press play to get past the damn thing. I'm sure that this will be where trailers and teasers will be placed next.
And to add to whatever list is building, I'm kind of getting tired of the damn teenage kids running into the theater and screaming to their friends from the wings and then running out. WTF is with this? I never did this when I hung out at the theater as a kid, and I don't remember any other fellow-annoying teenagers doing this either.
Another point to add to the negative theater experience is that it is impossible for parents with babies to go to the movies. While there are ways of going without the baby, sometimes those options just aren't available. We decided for the price of a movie, we could go out and buy two thick steaks and a new DVD and just barbecue at home. Nice dinner, a movie, and we don't need a sitter and we can watch the movie again if we like.
Re:Yaaahh! (Score:3, Interesting)
Well the movie major pushed a lot to have it changed, and in order to do so they kinda bought all indepedant theaters. Now it's 6 and 3 months.
So, now I hear this coming from people who are against regulations in their turfs! Jokers.
The cycle of life (Score:3, Interesting)
The more you dont go cause of those reasons, the more others have to pay to keep going to the movies. They recoup your boycott by charging more, and then more people boycott.
Of course, good riddence too them. When Hollywood can start turning out more than 2 movies worth watching a year again, I might start going back to the theatres.
Until then, there is plenty of good indie cinima to be had; much of which has lots of insightful, poingant things to say about our society/culture
What a bunch of baloney... (Score:2, Interesting)
If Hollywood thought that the DVD business was cutting into their market then they just have to release the DVD version at a later date, simple...
Gimme a break! This is just a doomsayer trying to get people to go to the theaters to get their numbers up (read profit).
Make it worth going (Score:3, Interesting)
Screens are shrinking to the point where I might as well watch something at home. Every theater in my area that had large screens shut down. It is to the point where I will only consider going to two theaters in an area that has fifteen or so.
Want something to eat or drink? Better pay up. Oh yeah, and you already paid 8 bucks to get in the door. But wait, it gets better, you have the *pleasure* of paying to watch commercials. It's disgusting.
The reality is that Hollywood has no sense of rational spending, the same affliction affecting professional sports. I am a customer. I am not your enemy. I am not here to inconvieance you. I just want to see a movie in comfort. Is that so much to ask?
Re:Too Bad... (Score:5, Interesting)
Huh? (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Funny? He's serious (I think)! (Score:4, Interesting)
--
Re:Funny? He's serious (I think)! (Score:3, Interesting)
My wife and I go to the same, megasuperduper stadium-seating theater every time. We even drive extra miles for it. The seats are comfy, no obstructed views, and the food is actually much, much better than it used to be in theaters (ice cream, nachos, free soda and popcorn refills -- where were those?).
All told, it's probably a cheaper experience than dining a tier above fast food, plus we get to watch a movie.
If we stayed home, rented a DVD and ordered a pizza it'd be about the same money. I just wish that there was a pizza+movie delivery service.
They've got it all wrong. (Score:1, Interesting)
Re:movie theaters suck... (Score:5, Interesting)
Studios aren't making money? Bwahahahahaha (Score:2, Interesting)
Studios are primarily financial factories, they only happen to make movies as a side effect of their operations.
If you sign up as an actor in a major movie, your compensation 'deal' is not done as a percentage of sales, or even as pure fixed fee. It is most often done as a 'share' AFTER studio expenses are tallied. The problem with this is that everything the studio does can be considered an expense. The practical result is that even though hundreds of individuals benefit handsomely for selling services at top dollar to the studio, the studio can claim that it made no money on a particular movie because it's expenses happened to equal its income.
The actual costs to make a film in LA are enormous, not because of the logistics involved (although those can be considerable for big budget flicks) but because Screen Actors Guild wages are so damned high.
I live in Colorado, my neighbor across the street was the stunt guy who was thrown into a sack, kicking and screaming, in that Wild Wild West debacle. No lines, and his face never actually appeared in the movie... his SAG pay for half a day: $5000.
Beats pumping gas, doesn't it?
Re:Too Bad... (Score:2, Interesting)
(Long time reader, first time poster)
Re:Too Bad... (Score:5, Interesting)
Than what?? If you're comparing with a few years ago, see point #1.
It's more expensive for two tickets to see a movie then it is to buy a new release DVD at the Suncoast that is 100ft from the door of the theater.
It's $8.50 per ticket to see the movie in the theater, and all DVDs are 25% off duing the week after release at Suncoast. The decision becomes pay $17 for two tickets to see some commercials followed by a movie where I my or may not have the experience ruined by some obnoxious audience members, and the sticky floor will need to be washed off my shoes later, or I can spend $16 and watch the movie at home with no obnoxious people, and I can keem the movie to watch again whenever I'd like. Screw the theater.
Re:movie theaters suck... (Score:5, Interesting)
My main beef is being in a movie theater where a group of kids are there -- not the eight year olds, more often the 15-18 year old -- and chattering away. I wonder why the heck they bothered to pay to come to the movie in the first place if they're not going to pay attention?
I once was in a theater where a whole row of school kids was sitting and goofing around, with the guys trying to impress the girls, and generally being a nuisance. Apparently someone finally got sufficiently irritated to complain, because the theater manager came in, stood at the end of the row, and told them all to get out. A couple of them started whining that they'd paid good money and he couldn't throw them out, and his only reaction was that it was his theater and he could do as he pleased, and if they wanted to bitch to him about it then they could do it outside, but they weren't staying in his theater one more minute.
He got a round of applause from the rest of the audience as the whole row of kids got up and filed out.
Re:Bullshit (Score:4, Interesting)
[flameproof suit on... check.]
I think the quality has gone up.
Off the top of my head, in the last 3 years: The Matrix, Toy Story 1 + 2, Lord of the Rings, Spider-man, American Beauty, Being John Malkovich (tell me that would have come out of a studio 5 years ago.. ha!), Fight Club, Traffic, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Requiem For A Dream, Shrek...
Don't forget how completely full of drek the early 90s were. The ratio of good-to-bad in studio films, IMHO, has improved.
Re:Funny? He's serious (I think)! (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:They are also ridiculously expensive (Score:3, Interesting)
It seems to me that research and development in most industries is like this. That is, the profit from the few successes pays for the R&D on everything else.
I disagree with your statement that the film industry is bad at marketing. I think they're really really good at marketing, even for crappy products.
Also, it seems to me that MPAA and RIAA employees don't make films or records. I'm guessing you meant movie studio and record company executives, in which case I must point out that I've never ever heard any of those people refer to any of their products as failures.
Re:They are also ridiculously expensive (Score:1, Interesting)
When I lived in Washington state (5 months ago) tickets were $7.25/ticket. So I am paying a premium of, um, 20% to see a movie here.
Plus some movies get censored here. I went looking for Jonah (a kids movie with "Christian" values) and found the nearest cinema showning was over 45 minutes away, directly away from the population centers. This same movie was still running heavily in areas with fewer theaters, but was censored in the tolerent and loving Bay area.
Re:movie theaters suck... (Score:5, Interesting)
Make the movie theatres smaller, charge 15 or 20 dollars to go. That price includes all the soda or water you can drink.
Offer a bar which serves beer and wine (maybe mixed drinks - but that license is more difficult to get and more expensive and not to mention the possible fallout of really drunk customers etc)
offer more confortable custom seating - like real couches for example.
Have a waitress, and offer food for sane prices.
Show movies two months after they debut.
This will allow for a true *experience* as the movie industry would like you to believe that they offer, which they do not.
If you do this - people will enjoy coming and seeing a movie. Hollywood needs to pay the actors less, and focus more on the viewers experience.
We will see that there will be more of a hit on the industry than just DVD. Eventually there will be entertainment options far more interactive and on demand than DVDs, cable and movie theatres.
Its obviously going to take time and money - but their industry is dying, as it should. Its modle is obsolete and impractical and over priced.
The entertainment system will be truely on demand in the future. The Computer will be the pipe for all media to come through. the "Television" will just be the chosen display device due to its proximity to the cumfy couch.'
movie thatres dont suck because people have forgotten how to behave - they suck because they are a dinosaur of a media delivery method. Its more like public transportation - rather than a limo ride, which is what a true movie going experience should be like.
People should show their distaste for hollywood by simply not going to the movies.
There was a theatre that opened in LA that costs 14 dollars per movie. 14!? A bottle of water costs 3.50 at the metreon in SF.
Hollywood deserves to go out of business.
Re:Propoganda (Score:3, Interesting)
US Centric Geek Humor Alert (Score:2, Interesting)
{BLANK A} is going to put {BLANK B} out of business within {X} years.
Possible A answers:
1. The Audio Cassette
2. The Compact Disc
3. Television
4. Beta Video
5. VHS Video
6. Napster
7. Public Libraries
Possible B answers:
1. Radio Industry
2. Movie Industry
3. Music Producers
4. Theatre Owners
5. Book Publishers
When are they going to learn? Embrace, extend, profit. It's just that simple.
Listen up: You're right! You have reason to be afraid, YES. Therefore read up, get some geeks on staff, and take advantage of the technology. Those that have have gotten ahead, while the bitcher/whiner/moaner/"it's not fair"ers have been passed by.
How is Lucasfilm hurting? (Score:5, Interesting)
His citing Titanic isn't a good example either. Titanic was a total aberation for movies. It made as much the next 12 weekends as it did it's first weekend (within 10-20%) instead of having the usual 30-50% drop off that most major movies do now. People just kept going back again and again, and you can't expect any movie to come close to what Titanic did. I just think they're blowing everything way out of proportion. Yes, I'm sure downloading movies hurts them some, but not that much (I know I'm not going to take the time).
Not all theaters are created equil... (Score:5, Interesting)
Some theaters are already doin' some of this stuff. The Warren East, here in Wichita has a balcony in one of it's theaters (only one, though). The balcony only seats 96 people, I believe. The seats are HUGE. The aisles are HUGE (absolutely no worries about stepping on toes, etc. on your way to the bathroom - it's 6 feet to the next row!) While you watch, they have a nice little coaster with a button on it - press it, and service shows up to take your order (usually bent down, to garantee they don't get in the way of other people's viewing. They are fairly considerate, and quiet - and the way the seats are set up, they are so high backed that it prevents almost all of your noise talkin' to the watress from reaching the people below or above you.) You can have a meal - pretty good food ranging from burgers to artichoke dip. Not a huge selection - the menu is like three pages. But enough variety for pretty much everyone to find what you want.
One of the cool features is the fact that the balcony serves alcohol. That in it's self is neat, but, the side effect is that no one under 21 is allowed in the balcony seating! No people with kids, no noisy teens (though, I've never had that much problem with 'em.)
Food price is pretty normal, but, the ticket prices are nasty - $15 a ticket for night shows, or $10 a ticket for shows before 6PM.
My wife and I went to see Spiderman, first showing opening day of the theater, in the balcony seats. After that, anything we want to see, we check to see if they have a balcony seat. It's expensive, but ya know - it really ends up being an experience. Having someone serve you, never have to get up from your seats (well, obviously to use the restroom), huge seats (oh, and the arms lift up - if you and your SO are setting together, just lift the arm up, and you have a chair the size of a couch! Seriously!), awsome sound system, no one bumping you as they try to go through, etc. make movie watching what it should be. Just wish it cost a tad less.
They... (Score:4, Interesting)
They. That's right. THEY will be putting hollywood out of business, but when he says "THEY" he doesn't me us, or the file sharers, or the fans. What he really should be saying is "THEY", Hollywood themselves.
If you're in the automotive business, and business is doing lousy because of the economy, you cut costs. If you're a dot-com, before you go bust, you cut costs. If you're a doctor, HMO, Radio Station, Factory, Fast Food Joint, anybody in business, when business is lousy, you cut costs.
So why is it then, that when Hollywood feels the economic crunch, they blame everyone, raise their salaries, raise their costs, and then stick it to the fans with a higher ticket price?
If they were any other business, they would have folded by now. I kind of hope the big studios fold. Little studios will take over, for cheaper, with new and innovative ideas. We'll still have movies to watch, it just won't be the movies THEY make. Good riddance.
Re:You think movies are expensive HERE? (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:movie theaters suck... (Score:5, Interesting)
--jeff++
Re:Wow! (Score:1, Interesting)
Out here in Southern California, a cell phone rings in a theatre more than 60% of the time. Some theatres flash a screen that says "please turn off all cell phones" before the movie starts.
I really hate going to the theatre now. I paid $18 for LOTR (Me and girlfriend) and it was 3 months after opening. The quality of the film was horrible after being played hundreds of times. The frames would skip as would the sound. Some parts were out of focus and had that annoying "film hair" dancing around. Oh yeah and the sound that seems to "waver" now and then as the projector speed adjusts itself.
Now compare that to watching the DVD in full digital sound at home with a flawless picture on a 60" big screen while naked. A quick shopping.yahoo.com search gives me a price of $13.99 + S&H. And if I were so inclined, get a "free evaluation" DVD divx rip which is nearly as good except for a half-way intermission between the 2 files. Reminds me of good old monster Laser Disks when you had to flip them.
Hollywood going out of business? Good! (Score:1, Interesting)
Did you know commercial TV is going out of business too? I am so psyched! For example, that means no more 30 second attack ads influencing our elections, and that means that the corrupting influence of money will be minimized. We may have to pay for our TV, but we'll make up the difference elsewhere. Products shouldn't be as expensive without the TV advertising built into the price.
The music industry is doomed for real. The artists are fed up, the audience is fed up, and how long do you think it's goign to take for these disgruntled parties to find each other? New bands are already distributing their music via the internet. Someday soon, an established artist's conract is going to lapse, and he or she is going to do the same thing. What do you need a record company for, anyway? Promotion and distribution... all of which can be handled by the internet.
The sky is falling? Let it fall.
You complete wuss (Score:2, Interesting)
It would have neema damn site more interesting than most "blockbusters".
Easy fix. (Score:5, Interesting)
SW: Clones just sucked. That's why I didn't see it again and again like I had previous Star Wars movies.
Digital Theatres the next generation (Score:1, Interesting)
Examples; A Live concert broadcast in local communities simultaneously, theatre productions broadcast on full screen movie cinemas, MTV Videos larger than life, hell even TV episodes (I personally like Star Trek Next Generation Re-Runs... how cool it would be to see those on full screen THX sound theatres).
I personally don't think this guy has thought through all the options movie theatres have in their hands. He's hitting the panic button like Hilary Rosen (the dictator chick at RIAA) did when Napster came out.
Same old story . . . (Score:3, Interesting)
In every case, savvy content people got bigger and bigger and bigger, wealthier and wealthier, precisely because of the new media, not in sprite of it.
Yes, theatres and hollywood had better get the message clearly -- they serve a marketplace, not the other way around. Those that get it will prosper, those that don't will fail.
Another way to look at this (Score:2, Interesting)
If cinemas are so much better than DVDs, how come they don't release the DVD at the same time it comes out in the cinema? This way people get to choose.
Hey, they could even buy the DVD on the way out from the cinema if they liked the film so much..
Surely any industry which relies on this level of controlled marketing is never going to survive in the longer term.
Q.