While nothing is certain, we may be witnessing the beginning of
the end.
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| Hey Billy Bob! How's that transition to cable treating you?!! |
Arthouse films have been dying a slow death. For decades arthouse theaters have been the place to go to see something unique. Independent films with dark and often perverse plots offered something new, enticing viewers away from the multiplex theaters. They offered more than the typical summer action movie or cookie cutter comedy. Made for a fraction of most big studio budgets, these films accomplished so much more with so much less. They were made out of passion, and a desire to tell a story rather than make a profit. The big screens had little to offer in comparison.
Things began to change when cable television and online
streaming entered the picture. With complex plots and engrossing characters,
these shows and original movies have been giving arthouse films a run for their
money for nearly a decade. Actor Billy Bob Thornton and director David Lynch
have both been vocal in their praise of the freedoms of television, with Lynch
confessing that independent films are not just dying, they are already dead.
Cable and streaming is where Independent films are now, Thornton said
recently in an interview for Indiewire. So now, if you want to do
realistic, kind of heavier acting stuff, you do it on Amazon or Netflix or
whatever or HBO.
With mega franchise films dominating the majority of box office
revenue, independent films are struggling in terms of cinematic presentation.
This doesn’t mean the art itself is dead, but the means of how we appreciate it
is dramatically changing. This transformation is similar to the independent
coffee house boom of the '90s. You could go to any trendy downtown area in the
‘90s and pick from several different cafes for a cup of coffee. They were all
unique destinations to experience. They offered more than the long time cup of
Joe standards of Dunkin’ Donuts and Denny’s. They offered lattes, cappuccinos,
and espresso, classic coffee based drink that were dominantly only enjoyed in
Europe at the time. It was like walking onto the set of a foreign movie, and
ironically these cafes were the place you went after watching an independent
film to discuss the plot with like minded film aficionados. And then suddenly
Starbucks entered the picture and changed the industry. Starbucks monopolized
the market and quickly became the standard, and the death of independent coffee
house was swift. Like craft produced coffee, independent films will never
disappear. Yet the way we appreciate the art has dramatically changed. We can
now watch unique and original programming at home on our HDTVs while enjoying
Keurig made Salted Caramel Macchiatos.
This constant transformation is changing all of our favorite
past times. The sports industry is also suffering the same challenges. While
going to a game use to be an experience, advancements in at home entertainment
in the last decade are leaving open seats in the stadiums. For many fans,
having 30 camera angles and instant replay offers a deeper sense of enjoyment.
There are no lines, ridiculously overpriced food and beverages, and the
bathroom is only a step away. There are no parking fees, sweating or freezing
in hot or cold weather, and when the game is over, you're home, rather than
waiting in traffic to enter a jammed freeway.
The at home entertainment experience is just that, an
experience. We have reached that point. It is no longer a trendy term used to
sell the latest TV or soundbar. Movie quality home entertainment has now become
the standard. We say we go to the theater or the game for the experience, but
that is now being rivaled. It was recently announced studios were entertaining
the idea of making films available at home via online streaming 2 weeks after a
cinematic release. To be honest, I’m all for it. Wouldn’t it be nice to stay
home and enjoy those Christmas Day released films critics are always calling an
Oscar contender? Art and how we enjoy it is constantly evolving. Remember
buying Cds, remember when there was a video store on every other corner. We no
longer have to leave the comfort of our homes to experience new music or films.
We’ve seen a similar evolution in film before. Remember drive-in theaters. The
long time standard eventually gave way to the mega theaters, where the screen
quality and surround sound where far superior. Not to mention the weather
conditions and bug free environment, both which could effect the clarity of the
screen projection – rain, fog, locus apocalypse, ect. Today only a handful
remain, and while they are fun, it is more for nostalgic reasons today.
Perhaps the most hurtful thing effecting arthouse theaters today
is a successful independent film. As strange as it may sound, if an independent
film generates a lot of buzz multiplex theaters will often pick it up,
sometimes weeks after its premier. This takes away viewers, business, and money
from independent theaters. This practice has changed the production of some
these movies, with some directors and producers looking for stars to help gain
attention for their film. This takes away opportunities for new talent, who’ve
relied on independent films for years for breakthrough roles. This isn’t a bad
thing per say, it’s not a crime for a director to want to have his or her film
seen. Nor is it wrong for a producer to want to break even or make a profit,
but this new approach is another contributing factor to the decline of the
independent arthouse theater. Meanwhile, billions of dollars in tickets sales
are spent on giant franchise films. These premiers often break records and
control the majority of the money spent on the world wide market. The increase
in box office revenue over the last decade is simply staggering. There was a
time when we’d only see a handful of blockbuster films a year. Today it’s
practically a weekly occurrence. This puts stress on smaller independent mom
and pop theaters. Outside of big cities and their surrounding suburbs, these
theaters are often the only means to see new films for the residents of these
communities. With so many films being released, it’s often hard for these
theaters to keep up. Especially 2 screen theaters who often reserve one screen
for family friendly films. The changing landscape of film is also putting these
theaters at risk. Many are unable to keep up with the new standards in
technology, seating, and screen format, let alone the plethora of new releases.
The money these mega films generate cause ripples that transcend
throughout the entire industry. While the effects are very little when it comes
to the big studios, the smaller studios and independent productions are the
ones who suffer. Theaters will show these blockbusters for weeks, taking away
potential screens for smaller films. Some fans of these mega films will even
see second and third screenings, dissecting and absorbing every detail. The
decline of independent and arthouse theaters is inevitable. The quality of new
programing on cable and streaming services are causing big waves in the
entertainment world. As the way we enjoy film and entertainment continues to
change, it will only be a matter of time before the multiplex theaters start
feeling the heat. It is a very real possibility that we will witness the
decline of the multiplex theaters in our lifetime. Never fear
Lee L. Lind