Changes in Motion Picture Creation + Distribution

Since its inception, the motion picture industry has embraced new technologies in both the creation and dissemination of its content. From the nickelodeons of the early twentieth century to the emergence of Internet distribution, the film industry has consistently embraced a wide array of communications innovations and technologies. In keeping with the tradition of progress, the film industry has undergone significant change within the past three decades.

The advent of computer generated and engineered content, which began in the mid 70s, drastically altered the face of the motion picture industry. The film “Futureworld” was released in 1976 and provided the first integration of computer generated imagery (CGI) into mainstream cinematography. This drastic step toward digital integration proved to be the spark that would ignite contemporary filmmaking.

This is an early attempt at 3-D CGI.

Following the release of “Futureworld,” CGI gained momentum and became increasingly prevalent throughout subsequent films. Drawing upon this relatively new innovation and the advances in computer technology, the first fully computer animated film “Toy Story” was released in 1995. “Toy Story” proved to raise the bar for animated films. In today’s society nearly all commercially successful animated films rely solely on CGI, making traditional “hand rendered” animation in films obsolete.

Through advances in computer technology, today’s CGI technology is capable of rendering nearly photorealistic productions in films. Nevertheless, despite the rise in CGI prevalence, there remains a glass ceiling of sorts that has prevented a totality in public reception of hyper realistic CGI films. Japanese theorist Masahiro Mori labeled this phenomenon as the “Uncanny Valley.” Mori theorized that simulated lifelike presentations actually have the capacity to be repulsive to the public should they too closely mirror reality without capturing reality to the to the most minute detail. (This theory explains the commercial failure of such films as “Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within.”)

The current state of CGI technology.

Additional advances in the computer technology have enabled filmmakers to capture and engineer their works with an enormous reduction in production costs. While the film industry used to be largely relegated to an elite few who possessed the funding necessary to produce the films, modern advances have made it possible for an individual to fully produce a full-length feature film at relatively insignificant costs. This fundamental change has enabled the rise of the independent film industry. Notably, Michael Moore’s “Bowling for Columbine” was produced on a minuscule budget of only $4 million and went on to reap tremendous financial success, grossing more than $40 million worldwide.

Changes such as those mentioned above are only a few of the innovations that have drastically altered the face of the motion picture industry. Nearly every aspect of film production and distribution has been enhanced or altered through computer technology. Modern films, while appearing to bear many of the hallmarks of traditional cinematography, have become increasingly divorced from the craft of early filmmakers.