Streaming and Theaters: The Transformation of the Filming Industry
Description of the video:
Views of the Buskirk Chumley theater in Bloomington, Indiana University from the street, near the entrance and a list of upcoming movies
Narrator: Movies have existed in cinema since the late 1800s but with new innovations both in and outside of the film industry cinemas had to adapt to keep their audiences entertained different ways. Streaming services are rising in popularity competing with the theater’s prominent spot in society.
Interview with Alicia Kozma, Director and Marketing Manager at IU Cinema
Alicia: We now just exist in a world where you have multiple ways to watch something and so movie theaters and production studios just have to account for the fact that some things get streamed, some things go to theaters. some things do both.
Scene of outdoor dining area on Kirkwood Avenue
Narrator: Factors such as Covid-19 have impacted the movie industry with productions only back to 80 percent while audience levels at 85 percent of pre-Covid levels
Scenes of empty streets
Interview on the street with Matt Hoham, Banker
Matt: I’ve maybe been to one movie since Covid.
Netflix logo
Interview with Keily Hart, Student and Waitress
Keily: Many people turn to streaming as a different option for the theater experience problem with going out to the movies is that it’s super freaking expensive to do last time me and my boyfriend went to the movies it was like almost 100 dollars, which is crazy!
Narrator: Others prefer viewing a movie in a theater
Interview on the street with Jamie Pratt, for IU Business Professor
Jamie: I wish that we would go back to the more traditional style
Back to Alicia at the IU Cinema in her office and then the front of the IU Cinema Building
Alicia: I’m so tired of logging onto four or five different streaming services and just scrolling
Narrator: Theaters like the IU Cinema are continuing to promote the theater experience with their own curated showings throughout the year.
Alicia: It is part of my job it is part of someone else’s job here to watch truly thousands of hours of movies so I can say to you no this one is the one that’s worth watching
Image of movie schedule and old movie posters at IU Cinema
HSJI Reporter, Micah Doherty standing in front of Franklin Hall at Indiana University
Micah: While the general preference between the theater and streaming experience continues to change, audiences hope that the two can coexist together peacefully.
Going to the movies is a staple of American culture. The idea of a cinema screen, the smell of freshly-buttered popcorn, and the gasps of audiences in an emotional scene is an experience that Americans have enjoyed for over a century.
Despite being a staple of American culture, we have witnessed significant changes in the movie industry. Recent technological developments and the COVID-19 pandemic have transformed how cinema is viewed by movie-goers and the business of showing films.
Recent lower theater revenue is attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic; however, many cinema megaplexes began struggling even before the start of the pandemic. This is largely due to streaming technology. Streaming services have allowed for the creation of platforms that offer a multitude of choices for movie nights at the click of a button. More recently, streaming services are producing and screenwriting movies, specifically made for the small screen, further eroding the large-screen consumer base.
“People have gotten comfortable with staying at home [due to the pandemic],” said former Indiana University (IU) Professor Jamie Pratt. “Things like streaming are really influencing the way [films are released].”
Aside from changing how audiences view films, the post-pandemic economy increased the cost associated with seeing movies on the large screen, making streaming more appealing..
“The problem with going to the movies is that it’s so expensive,” said waitress Keily Hart. “The last time [I] went to the movies it was almost $100.”
The in-person movie experience certainly has its advantages. “I’m tired of logging onto four different streaming services and just scrolling,” said IU’s Cinema’s Director, Alicia Kozma. “There is a programming aspect of going to the movies that streaming doesn’t have.”
Meanwhile, other audiences prefer streaming services due to their effortless and convenient nature.
“I prefer streaming. It’s just easier and more convenient,” said IU student Shane Romoff.
It is also important to remember that streaming services come with their own costs. The average family spends $48 monthly on streaming. Perhaps the most important costs of streaming are time and social connection. Artificial intelligence (AI) allows streaming services to engage viewers more effectively by recommending viewing options. This viewing is often solitary and without the same enjoyment and benefits of a group experience.
Streaming services and AI will continue to influence the movie industry and movie-goers. Most recently, actors and writers are on strike, demanding to abolish the rise in AI use during film production. It is yet to be seen where the balance between traditional cinema and technological innovations will settle, but it is clear that movies will remain a part of American culture and history.