29/09/2005

The Metropolitan Film School (MFS) based at Ealing studios and set up in 2003 to provide digital filmmaking training, has launched today in London its first annual report on ‘The impact of digital technologies on the UK film industry’.

The report based on over 100 interviews with UK film specialists, highlights the advantages of this film viewing revolution, in particular for filmmakers who will have a genuine chance of finding an audience through innovation in film distribution and for producers who will be able to make films in greater number and even try to diversify their slate.
Savings on prints was a key positive factor for UK distributors interviewed as costs associated with the transportation of films would no longer apply, and for those specialised in art-house and European films, digital technology will provide them with greater flexibility and opportunity to make wider releases than the usual 10 prints maximum for foreign language film releases.

However cinema owners, in particular those not included in the UK Film Council’s Digital Cinema Network -that represents 250 screens to be equipped with digital technology within the next 18 months- were worried about who was going to pay for the £100,000 (€ 146,000) cost of digital screen conversion… Other respondents in the report stressed that digital technology will be more cost effective in continental Europe where smaller releases due to the smaller territory sizes and additional expenses such as sub-titling or dubbing swing the balance further in its favour.
The report finally highlights that proper training will be essential for industry people not to be left behind.