Those who read about the economics of the film industry know that the movie business is financially troubled. I lot of blame and second-guessing is going on. What do you think is the major culprit from the reasons listed? Or, perhaps you have a reason not listed.
1. Movie prices have reached a point where, in spite of good films, many will watch fewer movies.
2. Film companies are not producing enough qualilty films to make us want to spend the money, whether cheaper or more expensive.
3. Hollywood cannot find that "middle-ground" between issue-oriented films and our need to escape and just be entertained. Either films are so heavy from a political and issue-oriented perspective, or are too lighthearted so as to insult our intelligence.

All of your choices are partially responsible, but I believe that there's a new generation which is into "disposable entertainment". Instant music on iPods, etc., instant movies on portable mini-DVD players, pirated copies of movies from your neighbor which you watch on a computer. People want what they want when they want it, and there are many choices. The ironic thing about this generation is that THEY'RE still responsible for most of the box office revenues.

I fear that the day of the communal film experience may be nigh, but there will always be some people who want to share movies on the big screen with crowds of people. I just hope that the bankrollers understand that we don't require endless amounts of FX and miniscule amounts of creative scripts and storytelling. You see, this newer generation is also getting into the Hollywood studio board rooms making decisions. I don't mean to offend anyone. I'm just mentioning something which I'm exposed to on a daily basis since I'm a high school teacher.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by mark f:
All of your choices are partially responsible, but I believe that there's a new generation which is into "disposable entertainment". Instant music on iPods, etc., instant movies on portable mini-DVD players, pirated copies of movies from your neighbor which you watch on a computer. People want what they want when they want it, and there are many choices. The ironic thing about this generation is that THEY'RE still responsible for most of the box office revenues.

I fear that the day of the communal film experience may be nigh, but there will always be some people who want to share movies on the big screen with crowds of people. I just hope that the bankrollers understand that we don't require endless amounts of FX and miniscule amounts of creative scripts and storytelling. You see, this newer generation is also getting into the Hollywood studio board rooms making decisions. I don't mean to offend anyone. I'm just mentioning something which I'm exposed to on a daily basis since I'm a high school teacher.

[/Outstanding info! I've never considered the "disposable entertainment facet of all this. I do know that watching films in tiny theaters doesn't offer the experience of the larger theaters. The sense of community is lost and thus, watching a film is no longer the "shared experience" it should be.]