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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.
How will screaming kids, sticky floors and overpriced snacks help them stop piracy?
I don't want a movie theater to be a social experience. Consider: ... people-watching (and yelling).
* The rotten parents who bring their too-young children to adult films.
* That ridiculous moron in the row behind you who can't get off their cell phone for 5 minutes.
* The 10-year old who won't stop kicking your chair.
* The guffawing dimwit who laughs like a throat-cancer riddled donkey and does so incessantly.
* Paying $12 bucks for crappy popcorn covered in artificially flavored cottonseed oil.
* The gang-bangers who decided that the parking lot is a hugely entertaining place to spend some time
I've not been to a theater film in 8 years and I've no plans on changing that.
We've been telling the industry for years what's wrong with the " Theater Experience " but none of you seem to listen.
If you want folks to start going to the theaters again, you're going to need to step up your game or find yourself going extinct in the not too distant future.
You need to set your rules, and enforce them.
Folks chatting / texting on their damn smartphones mid show ? They need to go. Manager up and boot their ass from the theater.
The five year old heathen Mom or Dad brought with them who is running up and down the isles screaming mid show ? They need to go. Like ten minutes ago.
The employee who cranks the theater audio system up 10db past the threshold of pain ? Yeah, they need to go.
The nearsighted one who can't seem to understand what the f*ck focus even is ? They need to go.
Clean the damn place.
Most theaters are downright disgusting with the amount of trash and general filth you expect me to tolerate while in your facility.
I feel like I need a round of immunization boosters or a Biohazard suit when folks ask if I want to go out to the show.
Fix your damn gear.
That annoying ass ground hum coming from one of your speakers ? FIX IT.
The distortion coming from another speaker because of +10db guy above ? FIX IT.
Seriously, you're going to have to put in a SUPREME EFFORT to keep me from waiting for the home release. I have total control over everything mentioned
above when I wait and watch it at home.
The theater owners and employees I rely upon to ensure a positive theater going experience have failed miserably over the past decade or two.
Read that again. MISERABLY.
If you industry types don't get your shit together you may as well shut the lights off now and call it a day.
We won't miss you.