The Benefits Of Embracing Digital Film Production: A Study On Accessibility And Promotional Benefits

Flexibility and Affordability of Digital Film Production

Question:

Discuss About The Including Accessibility And Promotional Benefits?

The rise of digital technologies and its integration into the world of film have been well analysed in the past to understand its potential implications on a wider aspect. With this advancement, there has been the advancement of availability of three-dimensional space and sound in the production of cinemas. Films today have a vast difference with that of old times. The shift from the physical film into the digital has eventually prompted the film industry to witness a massive change that is outright comprehensive. However, it is to be noted that though such a change has occurred, some personalities making films in the contemporary era express grief and are lamented (Dix 2016). In the present essay the author argues that though the film industry is embracing the use of digital technology and is open to the shift from physical film to digital, there is a tendency to mourn this change. The essay would first carry out an assessment of the argument that comes forward in association to film production and its flexibility and affordability. The purpose would be to highlight the benefits of the same. There would be an elaboration of the same through evaluation of the means of distribution including accessibility and promotional benefits. The film Godzilla would be analysed for supporting the arguments.

According to Locke (2016) since the change in film making is not a representation of the fundamental break from audiovisual and cinematic history, the present film making signifies the integration of the association between digital technologies and past cinematic techniques. As technology is being perceived to be increasingly advanced, the tendency is now to utilise digital film making techniques at the optimal. Film makers are confronted with the chances of elimination of celluloid with the entry of digital technology. Metz and Britton (2016) support this idea and state that filmmakers are moving directly into digital forms of hardware and software as a contrast to celluloid since this permits a more efficient, faster and easier process of picture making. In addition, digital media also has the capability to bring enhancement in the experiences of the audience due to the better quality image as well as sound. It is to be noted that the recent change has been responsible for eliciting a celebration of the present technology and an essence of reminiscence of the past. The possible benefits and advantages of digital cinema are constantly being recognised, and filmmakers are utilising these as per their suitability. It is, therefore, to be stated that the industry is going through a phase of both uncertainty and curiosity for the coming future, and grieving for what has been left behind. A logical solution would perhaps be attained if the past is admired and the new culture is clinched on to. Change is a natural process, and there is not denial in that.

The Benefits of Lower Production Cost and Flexibility

As per the discussion put forward by Bordwell and Thompson (2013) the primary reason why some film makers at the present time are in staunch support of the modern day technology is that there is a chance of lower production cost when a comparison is done with physical film. The cost of film making mainly revolves around costs for special effects and talent costs. Due to the fact that actors who are well-recognised and famous can raise awareness about the film and contribute to increased public connection, filmmakers consider it a valuable option to provide them with huge fees. Such an example is appointing actor Aaron-Taylor Johnson for the famous film Godzilla where the actor had to be paid a large sum of money. He charges such a high amount since he is famous and well known in Hollywood as well as across the world and has been attracting a large section of the viewers. The impact of this is a lower risk of incurring a loss from the film making. In addition, since audiences prefer special effects and realism, fil makers spend a decent amount on special effects and realistic sets. The film Godzilla had most of its content based on special effects and computer-generated images (CGI). Nevertheless, the movie has instilled within itself an essence of the past. The movie has its opening credit involving footage involving nuclear tests in the previous black and white format, taking us back to the era of the 1950s. It then cuts the shot to 1999 where the scenes revolve around the skeletonised carcass of Godzilla. The scenes show, at present times, the return of Ford to home from the US navy (Dew, 2014). Though there is a sense of nostalgia through the scenes of past, the use of modern technology is there. The rationale behind this is low production cost.

The second factor that comes into focus in this discussion is the flexibility of the production. The reason for grieving for the celluloid and death of physical film is the flexibility of the production of films. It is to be objectified in here that inclusion of modern medium might have given rise to visual effects that are efficient and spectacular; however, the shading palette and rich texture of the images could not be overtaken (Child 2016). The novice technology has permitted merging of movie making techniques. Creation of special effects and editing of these is now easier by rewriting, reshooting and restaging. The movie making process has, therefore, become more accessible and revisable. Filmmakers at the present time are showing keenses to produce digital films. A live example is a movie Godzilla. The main character Joe contrasts with Ford as Ford is not keen to recall the past while Joe is not able to overcome the grief of losing his wife. The movie has attempted to showcase the concept that it is completely explicable to get back into the past. However, the present too holds much importance since digital use brings into focus the past too. Moreover, digital technology permits an absence of all the actors in a simultaneous manner. The green screen has enabled actors to act out as per the script in front of it after which that is put against the required pictorial environment. In the movie Godzilla, the scene where Ford has to encounter Godzilla and MUTO has been completely done in a digital studio. The digitalisation of the scenes has been prominent in here (Dew 2014).

Distribution and Sustainability

Burch (2014) study that another prime reason behind the rapid integration of digitalisation into films and the wide support given to the elimination of physical filming technique is a better distribution of films. As the authors suggest, there has always been a huge interest in attracting the public through advertisements. The industry has wide potential, starting from early times, to advertise and market the products. The realism of modern that films, that are uncanny, are used as a tool for increasing the interests of the public as this tool is amazing with a promotional function. Film makers can now distribute the films through different platforms such as television trailer and YouTube channel. These channels have made capacities to go viral and form the base for mass consumption of the films. Media publicity for the film is quite high. In Godzilla, Ford’s son is found to watch television to see destruction being done by Godzilla (Dew 2014). This is a reflection of the fact that better distribution of information is an outcome of digital technologies. Although the use of advanced and modern day technologies is imperative, the utilisation of old media cannot be denied.

The last section of the discussion would highlight sustainability and cost-effectiveness of distribution. There is more convenience in distributing digital films. As stated by Kerrigan (2017) cost saving has become a chief incentive of embracing the change. The two most common delivery system is shipping by hard disk nd streaming through internet cable or satellite link. While new technologies are used, the traditional methods are also there. In the movie Godzilla, the time of loading of vintage nuclear test footage by Serizawa is shown by a videocassette recorder in the opening credits (Cheney 2014). Distribution of films might be convenient through modern methods as there is a negligible loss of information when transfer is through computer media. However, distribution through shipping ensures that a broader mass is communicated and reached up to for the distribution purpose. Overall, digital movies allow essential conversions in connection with film distribution due to cost effectiveness.

The above essay gives rise to the conclusion that there is an evident struggle between embracing the present day technology and moving forward from the past. Due to the fact that the concept of modern day technology is widely complicated and multivalent, this transition has both positive and negative aspects to it. Despite the fact that a number of film makers are grieving the celluloid era and not in a position to embrace the change, the change is here to stay. This can be attributed to the change in film distribution and production process. The amalgamation of embracing the modern technology and nostalgic feeling can be successfully understood from the famous film Godzilla. This film marks the coming together of both the eras. All must agree to the fact that for remaining successful in the modern times, one must be ready to embrace the coming changes.

References

Bordwell, D. and Thompson, K., 2013. Film art: An introduction. McGraw-Hill.

Burch, N., 2014. Theory of film practice. Princeton University Press

Cheney, A., 2014. Godzilla director: the film takes itself very seriously.

Child, B., 2016. Steven Spielberg warns VR technology could be'dangerous' for film-making. 

Dew, S., 2014. Godzilla. Film. Directed by Gareth Edwards. A Legendary Pictures Production, 2014. Religious Studies Review, 40(4), pp.217-217.

Dix, A., 2016. Beginning film studies. Oxford University Press.

Kerrigan, F., 2017. Film marketing. Routledge.

Locke, J. W., 2016. The end of cinema?: a medium in crisis in the digital age.

Metz, C. and Britton, C., 2016. Psychoanalysis and cinema: The imaginary signifier. Springer.