Tuesday 30 May 2017

Is Netflix killing Cinema?

If the Cinema versus Netflix was a conflict that was simmering before the controversy at Cannes then it is certainly now boiling over after Bong Joon-ho's Okja became the first Netflix feature to screen at the prestigious French film festival. The subsequent booing at the appearance of the Netflix logo at the films end and the scandal that surrounded the appearance of Netflix movies at this famous film festival as well as the current trend of big Hollywood stars such as Brad Pitt and Robert Redford abandoning the traditional box office route and starring in Netflix original movies has led me (eventually!) to the burning question.... Is the Netflix regime killing Cinema?
On the outset it would appear that with US box office figures from 2016 boasting a record breaking $11.16 billion in revenue that the cinema industry is thriving and Netflix is not damaging it economically at any level. Movie fans everywhere quite obviously still enjoy parting with their hard earned cash for big screen entertainment that only the movie theatre can bring.
Whereas, economically there doesn't seem to be a considerable conflict with both mediums catering for all movie lovers tastes, there are however so quite noticeable differences in experiencing a film on Netflix rather than on the big screen which may have long lasting effects on that particular movie.
Firstly, on release day, it is obviously in the interest of Netflix to promote the film, therefore it will take pride of place on the homescreen of every user, urging us to watch this particular film! The days that follow however, will see the film slide in the pecking order as more and more television and movie premieres appear until eventually the film gets lost in the bountiful buffet that is the Netflix catalogue, forever lost in the annals of online entertainment.
The journey of premiering with a film, publicising it and it's message is also lost in the instant gratification that has become the Netflix fix!
Whereas it can be financially rewarding for the film's producer (especially those who produce independent film) as the sleepless nights of wondering if the film can be sold to distributors are no more , there is something artistically and spiritually  rewarding about having this film shown (either in smaller cinemas or film festivals etc) to an audience that actually wants to see it!
Viewing a film on Netflix can also compromise the experience as watching it on your tablet or smartphone while you simultaneously check your twitter feed isn't really doing justice to that particular movie and comes nowhere near to what you would get out of a film in a movie theatre!
Therefore, whilst financially the status quo seems to remain, in the war between Cinema and  Netflix there have been some casualties in the preceding battles as artistic integrity, longevity and that real cinematic experience that only the movie theatre can bring,have all been compromised and will continue to do so as long as this trend continues.

No comments:

Post a Comment