‘From Big Screens to Short Clips: How Streaming and Tech Are Reshaping Film Industry in the Digital Era.’
Technological advancements and the widespread use of the internet have propelled a significant shift from the traditional movie-going experience to the digital realm, redefining the film industry’s landscape. . Streaming, at the forefront of this transformation, characterized by its on-demand delivery of content directly to various devices, embodies the principle of “AnyTime, AnyWhere, and On Any Device” (ATAWAD), revolutionizing the film engagement of the audience. This digital transition affords autonomy and democratization to both viewers and content creators, audiences relish in the freedom to choose what, when, and where they watch, unfettered by showtimes or geographical limitations. For filmmakers, streaming presents an avenue for democratization, dismantling the conventional barriers to market entry and amplifying a multitude of voices that had previously gone unheard in the mainstream distribution channels.
With the explosion of information and popularity of TikTok in the digital era, the public attention spans are shrinking, and so-called the new phrase of ‘TikTok Brain’’, the audiences. therefore, has less patience in sitting in front of a screen for an entire film, instead, is satisfied by watching highlight clips. Streaming platforms, such as Netflix, have adapted to the changing situation with short-video effect, and catering to the desire for film-like excitement in fragmented time, Netflix’s Love, Death & Robots, gives the example of a short-storytelling success, each episode is composed of a different director, theme and style, in addition to being no longer than twenty minutes in length and aiming for a high level of cinematic quality, the third volume holds a 100% rating from 18 critics reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, with audience score of 86%.
Traditional film studios and cinemas often focus on the funding and commercial aspects, such as the schedule of long movie runtimes, and the market of niche films, thus potentially shutting out creators with high-quality works. Streaming platforms use it as a breakthrough point, combining their characteristics of ‘ATAWAD’ to compete with the traditional film industry. A good example of this is ‘The Irishman’, produced for Netflix by acclaimed director Martin Scorsese, a film that officially cost $159 million and ran for 3 hours and 29 minutes. This has allowed Netflix to attract more filmmakers to produce diverse projects rather than traditional production companies that are reluctant to make risky financial ventures, which has energized the traditionally commercially focused film industry.
The streaming platform’s vast content library allows for a wide variety of films from different genres, languages, and countries, contributing to the globalization of cinema. The first non-English language film to win the Oscar for Best Picture, ‘Parasite’, became the second most-watched film on the streaming platform Hulu in 2020, providing global audiences with the opportunity to learn about cultural practices and social issues in South Korea.
Moreover, the contribution of streaming to globalization has potentially accelerated the de-Hollywoodization of the global film industry. As more and more countries find that the film industry provides an export of values and culture to the globe, hence, attempting to develop local film industries, yet Hollywood continues to have a dominant monopoly on the film industry. Streaming platforms, in fact, invest heavily in the production and distribution of content around the world, Netflix, once again, is a good example of this, announcing an increase in investment in Korean content to $2.5 billion after the huge success of Netflix’s ‘Squid Game’ episode, partnering with local organizations, and funding training programs for young talent in the local industry.
The progress of technology is unstoppable and it’s revolutionizing the film industry in a digital era. The interactive technology used by Netflix in Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, enhancing the brand-new experience, allowing audiences to participate in content creation, gives them multiple endings and story paths to choose from on their own, which has brought about an increase in the number of viewers and provided a whole new path for the industry. In addition, the emergence of Virtual Reality (VR) offering immersive and interactive experiences that the traditional industry cannot match, also a reshaping and potential opportunity for the traditional film industry.
The main form of streaming lies in online engagement; thus, the notion of the digital divide is unavoidable when compared to the physical cinema of traditional theatrical films. This unequal access to technology stemming from factors such as socio-economic status, geographic location, education, and age challenges the universality of streaming. Despite There are indications that the digital divide is narrowing between 2019 and 2021, it is greatly due to the temporary coercive effects of the COVID-19 lockdown period. In addition, discussions in United Nations meetings underscore a concerning trend: the digital gap between developed and developing countries is not merely persisting but expanding. This has issued a challenge to the digital transformation of the traditional film industry, where the online nature of streaming may not appeal to a wide audience, limiting its inclusivity and potential for success.
Streaming’s rise is transforming the film industry, sidelining traditional intermediaries with its direct-to-consumer approach, and by offering payments exceeding production costs, streaming attracts a flood of producers and talent, drawn by the immediate financial benefits. However, this shift strains traditional film industry roles, with workers less versed in digital technologies facing a precarious future and rising unemployment. While historically, technological advancements haven’t triggered widespread job losses, the global recession triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic amplifies these employment concerns within the traditional sectors of the film industry.
The film industry has long been ruled by a series of unwritten rules and oligarchies, and the digital transition has brought with it resistance from within the industry, such as the 75–90-day theatrical exclusivity window. Netflix’s effort to reduce this to 45 days for “The Irishman” sparked industry backlash, resulting in a limited US release in eight cinemas. Additionally, amid the pandemic, AMC and Universal’s agreement to a 17-day window met with criticism from the cinema giant, highlighting ongoing tensions over distribution practices.
In Fact, the cinema experience is still valued amongst audiences. Cinemas and online platforms are not incompatible, research suggests that technology, such as interactive entertainment, may also be a trend in the cinema market, therefore, win-win co-operation will be the future of the film industry, not a unilateral crackdown on traditional or digital.
