Star Wars Producer Says Box Office is Doomed

Cutriss writes "Seen at CNN, this article interviews Rick McCallum, longtime producer at LucasFilms. McCallum says that DVDs will be responsible for the downfall of the movie industry *without* taking piracy into account, due to the fact that people think the home theatre experience is just as good, or better than the big screens, and they know that in five months, the DVD will be out on the market. Of course, his claim that "studios are barely breaking even" falls on deaf ears when I hear about 9-digit salaries for individual actors in a big-name film that's just some rehash of an old concept. He also mentions, of course, that DVD piracy and movie "sharing" groups will only speed up the cycle, and that they'll be putting Hollywood out of business, possibly within the next three years."

Comments

What they said about TV and VHS

[Strider-]

Seems to me this is the exact same thing that the studios said back when television became common, and said again when VCRs became commonplace. Yet, the studios continue to rake in huge profits at the box office.

Quite frankly, I don't think that a home theatre can ever replace the theatre experience. Until my home theatre has a 6 story screen, and a 50 000 watt, 12 channel audio system, I think I will continue to spend the money to see good movies in the theatre.

Now, if Hollywood wants to get more profits from the Box Office, they really ought to start producing better movies, but that's a whole other ball of wax.

Re:Propoganda

[JonTurner]

I get a lot more enjoyment out of my toliet seat than I do out of most hollywood movies.

That's surprising, considering that the content is the same.

Six Trailers?

[theonetruekeebler]

6. Six or seven trailers before the show starts

The trailers don't bother me. It's the commercials before the movie that I find amazingly offensive. They seem a great way to further alienate their dwindling captive audience.

Then again, I'm ten minutes late for pretty much everything, so that's one more worm the early birds have to eat.

What's interesting about trailers: Go to the local GooglePlex and see a guyflick. Watch the trailer for the new Summer Blockbuster. Now go across the hall to the chickflick and watch the trailers. Usually the Summer Blockbuster will be there, but with a very, very different take. Where did all the car chases go? Why are all these characters actually talking to each other instead of firing guns? You'd never know it was the same movie.

YOOHOO!

[el_mex]

...putting Hollywood out of business, possibly within the next three years.

Best news I've heard all year!