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

Posted by msmash on from the battle-against-piracy dept.

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.

4 of 331 comments (clear)

  1. The Theater Experience by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

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

    1. Re:The Theater Experience by Calydor · · Score: 5, Insightful

      So let me get this straight.

      I complain about people showing an absolute disregard for the comfort, expense and attention of the people around them, and you call ME the anti social one?

      --
      -=This sig has nothing to do with my comment. Move along now=-
    2. Re:The Theater Experience by Deadstick · · Score: 5, Insightful

      This. Attributes of my den:
      Comfortable seat.
      No loudmouths.
      Feet don't stick to the floor.
      Pause button.
      Clean bathroom.
      Fast-forward button for the trailers.
      Movie starts whenever I damn well please.
      Food at grocery store prices.
      Liquor.
      If the movie turns out to be crap, I can abandon it without spoiling my wife's enjoyment.
      Attributes of a theater:
      Big screen.

  2. Dear god no by Kobun · · Score: 5, Informative

    I don't want a movie theater to be a social experience. Consider:
    * 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 ... people-watching (and yelling).

    I've not been to a theater film in 8 years and I've no plans on changing that.