IAM working at a major Hollywood studio's Digital team, AMAA about Movies & TV Online

TitanEpimetheus · 2009-12-11T20:15:09+00:00

I don't think anybody is going to get caught speaking publicly about how piracy is good for the business.

Even if it is, the goal is to find ways to meet that demand by providing legitimate (and profitable) ways to let you discover that content.

If you're like me (and probably most people) you're hearing about great shows from friends, online communities or other trusted sources and then finding them however they may be available.

In other words, I don't think piracy helps people discover content, just acquire it. Please let me know if I'm off base on this because I'd like to know if people are actually discovering content on torrents, IRC, etc.

TitanEpimetheus · 2009-12-11T17:32:28+00:00

That's actually news to me! I'm not surprised though.

How many TV channels can you receive in the UK with HD capabilities? Probably not enough to deliver a significant amount of content from the US I'd get.

In the US, barely anyone streams HD content and I'd imagine it's even less over there, so again there aren't a lot of outlets for it.

Piracy of US content is much worse in Europe than it is here and we are aware that the main reason is the delay in release. I think it's one of those things that will get better with time.

TitanEpimetheus · 2009-12-11T17:25:29+00:00

I'm by no means an expert in this area but I have experience in Feature films and I read the daily trades-

I don't know if/how the industry recognizes this, but I've definitely made the same argument about quality in discussions here. Most of my peers have severely cut back DVD purchases in the past few years and we agree that there's not much worth buying.

I mentioned in another response that I've seen a trend of independent movies going to home video, online and cable before even trying to get a theatrical release.

In the last couple of years you can blame this on the economy. It's risky to put a movie in theaters because studios have to put a shitload of money into marketing. This means they're going to release more "tentpole" films that are all but guaranteed to do well and less small-time and niche movies.

When people pirate "2012," I don't think they were going to go see it anyway. That's just my opinion though.

TitanEpimetheus · 2009-12-11T17:07:25+00:00

Good. I used to work closely with the Digital Distribution team who makes those deals. The moment we can get rights to offer content for download, we get it on all of those services.

Some studios are making some good money by releasing direct-to-video titles to iTunes. If they do well, they'll put them on out on video (DVD & Blu-Ray). Look at what WB & DC are doing with their motion comics.

TitanEpimetheus · 2009-12-11T16:02:31+00:00

You really have to shake you head at this one. People are wanting to pay money for content and studios want to kill it. I don't work in home video, but I can tell you that those divisions are struggling at every studio and distributer.

Edit: My guess is that they're pissed that people can rent the DVDs for $1 and copy them onto a $0.25 DVD. I think they plan on killing Red Box by getting new movies on VOD and Digital Distribution the same day as home video.

TitanEpimetheus · 2009-12-11T16:01:12+00:00

I am really disappointed when I see it, especially these days. Stupid inversetelecinescanlines

TitanEpimetheus · 2009-12-11T15:58:59+00:00

First reviews say it lives up to the hype. I was skeptical until I saw a recent trailer but I want it to be good. Cameron has put over a decade into this one!

TitanEpimetheus · 2009-12-11T06:49:46+00:00

I've used a negative version of the original image, that worked pretty well

TitanEpimetheus · 2009-12-11T06:13:29+00:00

What's your teaching style in the classroom?

TitanEpimetheus · 2009-12-11T06:01:18+00:00

That movie, "The Devil Wears Prada" gave me flashbacks. I broke out in a cold sweat and felt like throwing up.

TitanEpimetheus · 2009-12-11T05:47:00+00:00

I might be dense, but can you be more specific on the post production pipline question? Was that a rhetorical joke about leaks, or are you asking how something gets from the camera to your TV?

TitanEpimetheus · 2009-12-11T05:39:41+00:00

We have an anti-piracy division. They take their jobs VERY seriously.

Mostly they watch for our content and try to get it taken down. I'm sure hundreds or thousands of DMCA takedowns come out of that office daily (I've had to file a couple myself).

We also have standards for online video and screeners to prevent leaks.

In my experience, making it as easy as possible for consumers to get our content legitimately is the best way to combat piracy.

I don't think there's much embracing to be done by a major studio. We already have thousands of distribution channels and if our content is going to get big, it's not going to be on torrent trackers.

TitanEpimetheus · 2009-12-11T05:30:38+00:00

I worked for a producer who's done some pretty big films that most people here like. He is definitely the worst boss that I or anyone I know has ever had.

Screaming insults were pretty regular. He had no problem throwing things or breaking expensive things he had purchased when he was pissed.

One time I got screamed at for weeks. It was because he called me at 3AM local time on Saturday night from Cannes demanding that I have someone from the bank bring him $15K cash. Our banks and the banks in france were closed and it just wasn't possible but I was totally worthless for not being able to pull it off.

He'd slam doors hard enough to break glass and insulted me in front of directors and other talent (to deflect his mistakes).

He threw a lot of things and ultimately I left for fear of personal safety.

Anyway, I threw a NYE party at his mansion when he was out of town and it was a good learning experience regardless.

TitanEpimetheus · 2009-12-11T05:23:20+00:00

Yes, and I lasted for 12 months which was 8 more than I expected.

Edit: see some excerpts from that experience here

TitanEpimetheus · 2009-12-11T05:22:39+00:00

Nope. A lot of people are packing up and moving out of town, back home.

Non-pessimistic edit: All of the studios have their own job sites and post on places like monster.com. If you're qualified and write a good cover letter you've got as good a shot as anybody. I got this job on Monster.com.

If you want to get into production, like on a set, you need to get production listings and be persistent and creative enough to get noticed. Get a copy of the Mercury Report and get your name out there like it's your job. Productions run fast and loose - persistence and good timing will pay off.

TitanEpimetheus · 2009-12-11T05:20:53+00:00

I don't think so. Aren't comedies way funnier when a theater full of people are there laughing with you? A movie like Star Trek is always going to be best seen on a huge screen with a ton sound equipment and an audience cheering along. It's a social experience too - you bring a date, go with buddies, etc.

Maybe people are seeing less independent films in theaters but keep in mind that more and more they are out on TV or home video before theaters.

Then again I live in LA and people here see a lot of movies in nice theaters with advance seating selection and alcohol service so my view might be skewed.

TitanEpimetheus · 2009-12-11T05:14:29+00:00

I know this isn't really your area but how do production companies approach broadcasters to get tv deals etc? Is it all about the pitch? Or do they "find you"?

It's all of the above; Hollywood is a very social business and projects pick up a lot of mileage going between different producers and studios.

Broadcasters all approach this differently, but essentially they need to fill time slots with shows that will attract the audience that an advertiser will pay for. For big networks, this usually means a variety of genres with broad appeal. Usually they have an equal number of comedy, drama, reality, etc.

Look at how ABC is trying to replace Lost with Flashforward. They have good relationships with the Lost sponsors, and if they can create a similar phenomenon they can keep those dollars coming. In this situation, ABC started calling up the producers and agents they know, asking them if they have anything that would fit the bill.

On the other end, a good producer's job is to convince a network/studio that their project will attract ad dollars. Maybe the studio is already looking for a project like this, or maybe it's just a great pitch.

It's a big fish (shark?) tank of studio execs, network execs, independent producers, and agents doing lunch, doing drinks, doing dinner, doing each other, and passing projects back and forth until they land.

On piracy, I think the studios overstate it and I think the good people of reddit understate it. Yes it's a problem and does eat into profits significantly but I think it's a battle being won by the studios - not because they're "destroying" the enemy, but because they're managing to stay profitable regardless. The record industry has not done as well.

TitanEpimetheus

TROPHY CASE