Reason #6,348,234,985 to Solve the Problem
Without using the words, Variety suggests that for television production, film is dead (OK, barely breathing.) Everything’s gone digital. A snippet:
Of the 31 new scripted series ordered by the broadcast nets, 25 will be shot in high-def digital video, including 16 of the 20 frosh dramas. Even the two new entries from Jerry Bruckheimer Television (ABC’s “The Forgotten” and CBS’ “Miami Trauma”), a shop known for the stylish cinematic look and feel of its shows, are going digital. Also making the leap from sprockets to zeroes-and-ones are established series such as NBC’s “Law & Order: SVU,” CBS’ “CSI: Miami,” “Numbers” and “Criminal Minds.”…
Of the majors, 20th Century Fox TV, ABC Studios, Sony Pictures TV and Universal Media Studios opted for AFTRA contracts on their entire pilot slates. CBS Television Studios did all but one of its 13 pilots under AFTRA; Warner Bros. TV did 11 of its 14 pilots on digital.
That means that without some resolution, the SAG/AFTRA friction will continue. (We know, we know, the Variety post is entirely wrong in its statement that the line between SAG and AFTRA is whether the production is film – but that doesn’t take away from the rest of the item.)
We know that a number of you have been involved in the continuing how to merge discussion, which has drawn an unprecedented number of comments. This should add more fuel to that fire.
Well, since TV is now broadcast digitally it makes sense. I know Law & Order was experimenting with digital: shoot in NY then transmit the footage to studios in LA for editing. Saves tranport costs, and lab fees. Besides, when you shoto on fim, the footage is then digitiezed for editing on the Avid, then sent back to film for theatrical. That’s also changing, with 1000’s of theatrical venues outfitted with digital projection.
This only underscores the need to merge – the question is to find a way to make it happen.
Its my opinion, that the AMPTP SAG impasse and the fact that AFTRA had a contract, is what put the final nails in the coffin of film, in TV. Most DP’s would still prefer film.
Mike
It’s dollars and sense. IMHO what the DP’s prefer doesn’t matter any longer in these day’s of cutbacks, saving money and spending freezes in all industries. The economy (even if the film industry has seen profits) is the main issue.
I remain unconvinced the digital medium itself is saving anyone much money. This isn’t to say it is not possible, but the manner in which the technology is currently implemented is, to be kind, awkward.
But, it has allowed the studios to significantly reduce their crew-related expenditures… and, my impression is the actors have similar language in their contracts.
Most people I know prefer film because it pays better. It’s also generally more reliable, particularly because no one wants to pay for an electronic maintenance person any more (I used to get an $8/hour bump and a parking spot on the lot, right next to the stage, for that).
A few years ago I was on a show called Teachers. The crew was so unhappy with the videotape gear that the producer went to NBC and got them to approve shooting on film. But — I suspect it was the last time that’ll ever happen. Even Jim Burrows (a sitcom director with extreme clout) is now shooting on videotape…
Digital. Audio and video.
Digital is mainstream across the map “at this moment in time.” I suspect it will be so for as long as it takes to discover yet another form of delivery. Holograms are being experimented with … so we could see someone perform in one place, when they are actually in a completely different location. That’s just one example.
Here are some “stops” we’ve made along the way; some had sticking power, some didn’t. Some, like cable, we failed to take seriously when it arrived, and it cost us plenty. But check it out:
Television
Rock and Roll
Vinyl records
8 track tapes
Cable
cassette tapes
Home Computers
CD’s
DVD’s
File sharing
MP3’s
The list could go on, but you get my drift. Purists and audiophiles will always turn to film and tape as an art form. But – as a way of doing business in the present day – the mainstream industry has moved beyond these formats.
V.