SSC Film Studies

Box office figures are falling. Why do you think this is and do you think this trend will continue? 

The increase in box office sales is also down to many factors, For example, there is an increased focus on appealing to foreign audiences in order to raise global ticket sales, in 2014 the Chinese box office total was up by 48% and China is predicted to be the largest cinema market by 2017. Tent pole films mean that there is a greater focus on expensive franchises and so less 'risky' films are made. However, this leads to less choice but a greater focus on cinematic experience, making it a more unique experience for the audience. Franchises now become 'universes' with many characters which means they can continue making films for release every year, because franchise films operate in two year cycles, dips are expected. 

There are many reasons for the decline in box office figures such as, the declining appeal of stars, new technologies and Hollywood's reliance on familiarity. In 2014 around 1.26 billion consumers purchased cinema tickets, making it the lowest US box office revenue since 1995. This is because a number of Summer tent pole films underperformed compared to previous instalments. However, this led to 2015 being a huge year for box office hits. This is because franchises are usually released in two year cycles and so audiences were waiting for the franchise to return in 2015. Because of this global box office in 2015 hit an all time high of $38.5 billion due to releases such as Fifty Shades of Grey, Minions and Jurassic World.  

Another reason why box office figures are falling is due to the increase of new technologies. Surround sound systems can be expensive however they are a one off payment in comparison to paying extortionate prices each time you visit a cinema. This means that audiences are able to replicate the cinematic experience in their own homes without having to pay to go to the cinema to enjoy it. Other new technologies which contribute to the decline in box office sales are things such as illegal pirating, sharing and uploading on the internet, digital distribution through iTunes, Apple TV and Xbox Live, and the increase in TV production values.  

Video sharing websites such as YouTube, Vimeo and Dailymotion allow aspiring filmmakers to store, distribute and exhibit their work to a global audience for free. From this studies can identify future talents as filmmakers can use the internet to profile their abilities. In 2001, YouTube financed the education of 25 up and coming filmmakers (each $35,000) in an attempt to foster future talent. This shows how films can be easily accessed online for free rather than contributing to box office sales. An example of a filmmaker who had success from posting a short film on YouTube was Patrick Jean who produced and uploaded his short film 'Pixels' to the website. Sony then developed this short idea into a feature length film starring Adam Sandler which was released in 2015. This proves how video sharing websites can help to start the career of amateur filmmakers and mean that talent can be found online which can lead to movies being released in the cinema. Which in comparison, contributes to box office figures. 

Kickstarter is a crowdfunding website which allows people to search through a database of media projects and contribute money to any media project that catches their interest.