There is a bit a controversy brewing in the world of movies, which I have been following on IMDb the past few weeks.
Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner, owners of the Landmark art theatre chain, have proposed that the window, between releases of films theatrically to its release on DVD/Pay-TV, be closed and, as compensation, theatres would get 1% of the DVD revenue. The pair is in the process of releasing, the Steven Soderbergh movie, Bubble, in such a way, for early next year.
This proposal was responded to, last week, by M. Night Shyamalan. Shyamalan said that such a move could spell the end of movie theatres, since the majority of them would probably have to close. He further went on to say that he no longer would want to make movies anymore, if it wasn’t for theatres.
I have to say that I have to agree with Shyamalan. There is a certain escape from the world one feels when you see a movie in a theatre. It is very hard, if not impossible, to get the same feeling watching a film at home.
I have to say that this is probably all a result of people wanting to make as much money as they possibly can. I just read today that a British study has concluded that DVDs outsell theatrical films. Well, considering the fact that DVDs tend to be more available than theatrical films (which stay in theatres 6 months at the most), I wouldn’t that’s a surprise. However, I’m sure some people will look at those figures and decide that there is no longer a need for the “magic” of theatrical films and that movies should just be mass produced on little plastic disks, so they could make boatloads of money.
I’ll say one thing: The second movies go 100% straight to video is the second I stop watching them.
