Some of Hollywood’s biggest stars have expressed their anger at studios agreeing a deal with DirectTV that could see films available on demand to audiences as little as eight weeks after their theatre release.
The agreement comes as studios are struggling with declining DVD sales, with most people opting for the cheaper download or monthly rental options. However, will this be the final nail in the coffin for the already fading traditional cinema? Not only this, but with such a tight window for theatre release, it will be even more difficult for independent films to win audiences. On the other hand, will it be a fairer system if the audience can choose any movie they like, as at present many films are unavailable in cinemas outside of the major cities.
Joing the protest were familiar screen names such as Michael Bay, Kathryn Bigelow, James Cameron, Guillermo del Toro, Peter Jackson, Todd Phillips, Brett Ratner and Robert Rodriguez to name but a few. So far the studios who have agreed the deal are Sony, Fox Searchlight, and Universal.
Would you rather have the choice to see any film at any time, or will Video On Demand be the end of the cinema experience, and is that a bad thing? In my opinion – Yes, Yes and Yes.
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