Friday 15 March 2013

The Rise of The Blockbuster

The rise of the cineplex and the resulting changes to film distribution.
The cineplex rised due to its significance in uniqueness. Instead of the little amount of screens with less films to watch, the cineplex offered a larger variety of film, with multiple screenings and various screening rooms. This was a new and groundbreaking concept offering a new form of cinema. Cineplexes provide enhanced sound (surround sound) and visuals (CGI and 3D) that were starting to be used in the 1970's - 1980's, and they were providing a new cinematic experience for audiences all over the world. The smaller town centre cinemas closed down due to the increase in popularity of the cineplex; and also cineplexes were able to offer the higher technological advances of CGI and surround sound, compared to the small town cinemas that could not provide this. Some films were able to acquire extended runs at cinemas due to demand from audiences and some have even been re-released (E.T. The Extra-terrestrial re-released in 2002). Films began to be released only in cineplexses and independent cinemas were not able to cope with the competition, forcing many of them to close.

The phenomenon as a contributing factor in the rise of the blockbuster.
Through cineplexes having multiple screenings of films, they were able to keep up with audience demand. With this occurring simultaneously with the new sound and visuals being used in cinema, people were being offered a brand new cinematic experience, increasing cinema attendance. Mainstream films with guaranteed audiences were being screened at multiple times throughout the day in many large capacity cineplexes, so many audiences could go and watch them. This helped in establishing blockbuster films as due to their frequent screenings, blockbusters could be frequently screened to large audiences.The new visuals and sound also meant that VHS and independent films could not match the quality of cinema cineplexes brought to their audiences.

No comments:

Post a Comment