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Agnes Varnum is a freelance writer, film programmer and communications manager for the Austin Film Society. She is the primary contributor to doc it out and Tribeca Film Institute's Resources.

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Instant Gratification

September 9th, 2006 • Related Posts • Tags

The MatrixA while back, I noted some intriguing issues with a new movie download service. Self-Reliant Filmmaking’s Paul Harrill reports on downloading movies from Amazon.com.

I totally agree with his comments about The Matrix, and looking over the film selection, it looks like perhaps they don’t have distribution deals with the studios yet to allow much of a selection. I’ve been surprised how TV has broken out of the proverbial box to lead digital downloads. Not that I do it, but I think if I missed the latest Lost episode, I’d happily download it for $1.99 (especially if I had an iPod that I could watch it on). Yet, ABC offers Lost for free on its website after it airs, and I have watched episodes there.

It’s odd how the price point makes such a big difference. $10 for a film when you can get the DVD for the same or less, vs. $2 for something ‘disposable,’ essentially. That’s how iTunes has blossomed, right? Plus ease of use, though I refuse to buy iTunes due to the DRM encoded, but, I have issues. This I know.

There Are 3 Responses So Far. »

  1. Comment by Brian Newman on 10 September 2006:

    The price is forced by WalMart, who threatened all the studios that they would pull their films if the price was much less than a customer could buy the DVD at WalMart. Seriously. Monoply power still rules…

  2. Comment by Bob Alexander on 10 September 2006:

    Hi Agnes … I think that you’re right about DVD download for products that are otherwise available in multiple other channels and lower prices. This is a case of digital fever trying to drive some kind of business. Everybody loves movies, right? Let’s do something so we can download ‘em … And the point about WalMart controlling overall pricing throughout the industry is both true and really disturbing!

    But for Independent Filmmakers, life does not have to be like that. At least we at IndiePix don’t think so. Checkout our download service at our site.
    These are independently produced films not really available elsewhere. Try, for example, Love Math from one of the festivals we work with. It’s an entertaining short film for $4.25 — and the festival and filmmaker (together) take home from 60 to 70 percent of that.

    So your purchase of this independently produced film, which you cannot find anywhere else brings you some enjoyment — on a DVD which is a full quality playback environment, not dumbed down for a portable screen — and supports the filmmaker!

    One filmmaker we are working with is supporting his title with blog advertising that reaches almost 1 million people a day. His view is that this gives the indie filmmaker direct access to his audience — unfiltered through studios, retailers and others.

    We’re very happy to be part of this overall effort and very proud to be able to offer this capability to windows and mac users alike!

  3. Comment by agnes on 10 September 2006:

    Thanks Bob for your comment and directing me to your new initiatives. I’m a big Indiepix fan. You and your team have some great ideas.

    I’m still mulling Brian’s comment. On on one hand, it doesn’t make sense to sell movies for so low that no one is making any money (not that I’m crying for Hollywood but if the prices get so low because of mass production, it makes the marketplace even tougher on indies). But on the other hand, for instance with organic food, WalMart’s pushing the marketplace toward something that is better for us (nutritionally as well as environmentally). So, like I said, I’m still considering it.