What are the benefits of 3D films for audiences and producers

What are the benefits and the negatives of 3D films for  audiences and producers ?

What are the benefits of 3D films for audiences and producers?

Source: Business insider

As a result of the popularity of 3D films in recent years this has caused a rise in the installments of 3D screens in theaters. As evidenced by the knock on effect of the film Avatar's box office performance with there only being 9,000 3D screens in 2009 worldwide and in 2012 a significant jump from only 9,000 to 43,000 screens.

This as a consumer benefits us as we have more or a variety in ways to consume film, furthermore its much more easier for us now to access these new film formats. As a producer this means distributing a 3D film is much easier than it would be say in 2005 with only 98 cinemas housing 3D film projectors. This also means that producers no longer have to fear as much when producing a 3D film will it receive a mass audience as compared to a standard 2D film.

According to an article written by Hugh Langley for Total film, Langley claims that 3D benefits we as an audience as it allows us to be even more immersed in the narrative and setting of the film; allowing us to interact with the environment of the film much more effectively. He goes on to claim that revisiting 3D films such as Hugo and Coraline in 2D just seems "cold, distant and flat".

Furthermore Langley proposes that 3D for producers is a solution to the threats of piracy and on demand services that are threatening cinemas, "3D is putting bums on seats". Meaning that 3D is bringing in audiences in an age when consuming film has so many alternatives. This benefits Producers as the fear of loosing money to piracy in someways is lessened to how it was post- avatar.

Langley also suggests that we as audiences are allowed to consume classic films that we may not have seen but can now due to 3D re-releases. "It's given a new generation a chance to see classics revived on the big screen, and for others to relive them from a whole new perspective". This benefits audiences as we can watch classic titles now return on the big screen in a new format but this also benefits producers as they can potentially convert older films that were both critically and commercial successes into 3D films and some form of success can be made as compared to producing an entirely new film this process should be cheaper.

Source: Business Insider

Another benefit of 3D films for producers is that they earn a lot of money. According to the business insider, 9 of the top 15 highest grossing films of 2012 were in 3D contributing to make 2012 the biggest projected box office earnings so far making $10.8 million worldwide.

What are the negatives of 3D films for audiences and producers?

For consumers of film the rise in 3D films has meant an increase of the average ticket price. In 2012 the regular ticket price for a 2D film rose to around $8.12, if one wants to purchase a 3D ticket we as consumers must pay somewhere between $10 to $18.50.



The increase of 3D films since 2005

Another result of the popularity of 3D films that can be considered as a negative as it has caused an increase of of 3D films being released every year. In 2013 it is estimated that 39 films will be released in a 3D format in the U.S. The problem this poses for some consumers is that what if there are audiences that simply don't like the idea of 3D. Moreover there is the chance that these 3D films offer nothing to add to the viewing experience and are simply just "cash grabs"; a way of producers and film makers to shelve any film regardless of the quality of  how 3D adds to the experience and just charge extra for a ticket.

For producers the negatives 3D films offer is that producing a 3D film is much more expensive than producing a 2D film as evidenced by the graph on the right.Source - cost of 3D movie by falsecreekproductions.com.

Furthermore it is apparent that 3D conversions are not selling as evidenced by Disney's sales in their 3D re-releases.  According to the business insider none of Disney's re-releases have lived up to their projected sales. From this one may suggest that for producers 3D films are expensive to produce but also pose the chance of simply not selling; becoming a box office bust in a way.






What are the benefits of HFR films for audiences and producers?

For audiences the benefits of HFR films is that there is that there is reduced motion blur and allows more clarity when viewing films. According to the Den of geek.com HFR can also improve our viewing experience as it removes "the rather gloomy pall we usually associate with 3D film."

Moreover Director Peter Jackson claims that HFR offers more a immersive viewing experience to audiences allowing them to interact with the setting and environment of the film's narrative in greater detail.

For producers the development of HFR films allows new waysof telling stories in film. Furthermore Producers can also charge more for a ticket similar to how producers charge more for 3D viewing as marketing it as the premium viewing experience.

What are the negatives of HFR films for audiences and producers?

According to an article written by Vincent Laforet the problem HFR poses for viewers is that its so clear that, "It's like being on a film set in person: all of the magic is lost. You get to see behind the curtain and you're no longer under the spell."

Laforet goes on to mention that he's viewing experience felt like a "Universal Studios "4D" Ride ...where everything is painfully fake, but at least THERE you're moving fast enough on that ride to forget that and you can let yourself be distracted by the thrill of the ride."

He then went on to claim that it felt like watching a really cheap British TV soap that "just looks plastic."

To summarise Laforets points he the downsides to HFR is that because everything is so clear we as an audience react to these films as if we are watching a cheap soap opera due to how we have been trained to viewing films in a certain way because of previous viewing experiences.

Moreover another downside for audiences for HFR screenings is that because filmmakers and costume designers and other designers are so accustomed to using design methods that would work more for 24 fps on 48fps we the audience can see so much clarity and detail, we can also see how fake these designs are which take us away from the immersion of the worlds that is attempted to be crafted.

According to the Den of Geek this can be best seen in scenes which contain CGI; "We look at an actor, whose every skin pore and arm hair can be made out with perfect clarity, then the monster he’s fighting, and we can see how different the digital textures look."

This may also pose a problem for producers and film makers of HFR films as more money may have to be invested in order to develop new design methods such as set and props to counter this "fake" looking problem.

Another problem that HFR poses for producers but more importantly distributors is that if HFR becomes a norm similar to the rise of 3D films many cinemas would have to upgrade most of their projection equipment which can cost up to $1 million per screen.

What makes a successful 3D film according to working title films?
According to working title films 3D films that are post converted never work, they believe that this type of 3D film doesn't add to the viewing experience. That said they mentioned 3D works well when it is built from the ground up . Currently Working title still film their films such as Anna Karenina on film but do plan in the future to use digital.