Creative Community Speaks Out in Favor of Longer Release Window

Bookmark and Share

Thu, 04/28/2011 - 20:00 -- Nick Dager

Twenty-three leading directors and producers called into question plans to shorten the current model of theatrical release windows in an open letter to be published Thursday April 21 in an industry trade publication. The letter is the first public step in an ongoing effort by theatre owners to air the concerns of all movie industry stakeholders in the release window issue.

 In light of the imminent launch by some studios of a premium video-on-demand service that would radically shorten the current average four-month 12 day window between the opening of a film theatrically and its release to the home market the filmmakers chose to speak out.

 “As a crucial part of a business that last year grossed close to $32 billion in worldwide theatrical ticket sales ” the letter states “we in the creative community feel that now is the time for studios and cable companies to acknowledge that a release pattern for premium video-on-demand that invades the current theatrical window could irrevocably harm the financial model of our film industry.”

 The letter also details a variety of concerns that the creative community has over announced premium VOD release plans that could negatively alter consumer buying habits exacerbate film piracy and severely limit the ability of theatre owners to play specialty films in platform release patterns. 

 You can argue about VOD windows all day long but what you can't deny is that there is an overwhelming outcry from the theatre owners that they feel threatened by this ” said director James Cameron (Terminator Titanic Avatar).  “The cinema experience is the wellspring of our entire business regardless of what platforms we trickle down to. If the exhibitors are worried I'm worried. We should be listening to them.  Why on earth would you give audiences an incentive to skip the highest and best form of your film? My films aren't going to the home early but many will and that will weaken the movie theatre industry—and then my movies are threatened.

 Director Karyn Kusama (Girlfight Aeon Flux Jennifer’s Body) said “As someone who hopes to have the ability to keep making small movies alongside the opportunity to make some bigger ones I am concerned by how much a shortened VOD window might affect a filmmaker like me. This shortened window might imperil the robustness and challenge the already shrinking flexibility in programming of the very venue that makes movie-making and movie-watching the work we choose to do.”

 Producer Jamie Patricof (Half Nelson Blue Valentine) stated “The theatrical window is a crucial component in bringing a film to the marketplace especially for a smaller movie that relies on word of mouth.   If moviegoers assume they don't have to go to the theatre to catch something that has great word-of-mouth they most likely will not.” Over the last several months National Association of Theatre Owners executives have met with a broad range of film industry professionals on those issues. “The directors and producers we’ve talked to are passionate filmmakers and very informed business people who care deeply about their art and craft ” John Fithian president and CEO of NATO said “Whether they are the makers of blockbusters or independent films Oscar winners or just starting their careers all have expressed extreme concern over announced plans to shorten the distribution window and stated their desire that films can be seen in the venues they were made to be seen in: movie theatres.”