James Cameron: Theater Experience Key To Containing Piracy (torrentfreak.com)

Director James Cameron says that the key to containing movie piracy is preserving the theater experience as something special. He made the remarks when reporters asked him about his views on Sean Parker's upcoming streaming service Screening Room which will reportedly allow users to watch a new movie on the same day as its theatre release. From a TorrentFreak article: Cameron believes that having first-run movies in the home will stop people heading off to the cinema, the place where filmmakers can really showcase their art and take the fight to piracy. "The biggest hedge against piracy is still the sanctity of the viewing experience in a movie theater -- when it comes to movies," he says. "With The Walking Dead or something like that, that's not what you're selling, but if we're talking about movies and theatrical exhibition, keeping it great, making it a special experience, is still the biggest hedge against [piracy]." Interestingly, Cameron also says that even if piracy somehow became legal and download speeds were drastically improved, viewing content outside the theatrical setting would still come up short. "You're still watching [movies] on a small platform, and it's not that social experience," he explains.

Comments

Re:The Theater Experience

[TechyImmigrant]

How will screaming kids, sticky floors and overpriced snacks help them stop piracy?

The theater/cinema experience is just too horrible. To make it less horrible they will have to:
Stop selling popcorn and pop at the theaters.
Use cellphone jammers.
Have people who talk forcibly silenced.
Refuse entry to children.

No, this is not going to work out. Cinemas are dead.

I know of three cinemas like this (except for the cell phone jamming, which is illegal) in the greater Portland area.
They can do this because they serve alcohol and real cooked food. Children aren't allowed. The movies are geared towards a mature audience. One has a mix of tables chairs and sofa to sit in. One has more traditional cinema seats, but spaced better with an integral fold out table for your food.

These are great. You can get dinner and watch a movie at the same time without kids, sticky soda or popcorn.

I assume it is financially viable with the lower room capacity, because they make it up on food and drink.