tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6279678409089205149.post2493686436820620243..comments2024-03-23T16:19:36.154+05:30Comments on A Potpourri of Vestiges: Faith (2012) (TV Series): A swashbuckling television drama with a unique blend of medical science, history, mythology and Korean folkloreMurtaza Ali Khanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09747183316188241022noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6279678409089205149.post-69051284229121925882014-05-22T23:02:42.134+05:302014-05-22T23:02:42.134+05:30You're welcome, Mohammad. I guess another way ...You're welcome, Mohammad. I guess another way of describing formulaic productions is 'corporate filmmaking'. The studio executive(s) control all aspects of the production and everyone involved is a work for hire, including the director. Rather than be concerned with elements like theme or style, they are more concerned with product placement and merchandising. Nothing edgy, innovative or thought provoking in corporate filmmaking. So I continue to look to the 'indies' for cutting edge cinema. There's a general misconception that the 'digital revolution' was a boom for indies. In fact it was a disaster, not only for indie filmmakers but for independent cinemas too. Professional digital filmmaking is astronomically expensive compared to shooting in standard 35mm. And the end result is merely a temporary digital file which is not archival and subject to obsolescence as formats change or the data is lost. The only way to preserve a digital production is to output it to a 35mm negative which is also more expensive than just shooting in 35mm to begin with. For theaters, many if not most of the independent cinemas have folded since they cannot afford the digital equipment which is also subject to obsolescence. 2K projectors were replaced by 4K projectors for instance. Both cost a little under $80,000 which is a huge expense for small theaters and it's an ongoing cost since they need to be replaced very five years or so or when a new format replaces it. In contrast, a new 35mm projector is about $10,000 and that's good for the life of the theater. Used 35mm projectors can be purchased for $1000 or under. As the small theaters folded and the large megplexes switched to digital, indie filmmakers lost a source of revenue and venue to play their movies. The megaplexes play studio product exclusively which pretty much revives the pre-1948 Studio System where a handful of large corporations controlled exhibition. On top of that, a new 35mm print was about $2000 and it could be booked into multiple theaters. A DCP (Digital Cinema Package) is $3500 and it needs to be uploaded in each theater it plays in. I know that indie productions will continue to be made but most will never be shown in cinemas and most will not survive unless they are putted to 35mm film for long term preservation. Fortunately, my seven features were shot on film so I have a 'hard copy' that can be transferred to whatever new format is developed in the future.Richard W. Hainesnoreply@blogger.com