Leaked Oscar Screeners Flood the Internet… Is This a Bad Thing?
By the time the nominees are announced for the 81st Annual Academy Awards later this month, it will be under slightly different circumstances than in previous years. For as long as I can remember, the trend has always been for Oscar contenders to get a limited theatrical release in December, and then use their Academy Award nominations to build buzz and expand to more screens a few months later. The problem is that during the Oscar ceremony itself, the average moviegoer has probably not yet seen most of the nominated films (unless they happen to live in New York or Los Angeles). Sure, the Academy Awards are an industry event first and foremost, but the ceremony is televised and it’s frustrating for movie fans when they watch because they feel excluded and can’t fully participate in celebrating the year’s cinematic achievements.
That’s why I find it interesting that things are shaping up a bit differently this year. Thanks to the widespread use of file sharing software and BitTorrent sites, DVD-quality screeners of almost all of the major Oscar contenders are now available to pretty much anyone with a computer and an internet connection. From Frost/Nixon to The Wrestler, Slumdog Millionaire to Milk, Revolutionary Road to Che, all of these movies are now out there somewhere in cyberspace. Is this a good thing? Well, obviously since it is illegal and the studios make no money from these downloads, it’s not a good situation from a business standpoint. However, it does mean that a lot more people are getting to see some great films, and from what I’m sensing across the blogosphere, there’s a lot of hunger out there for good cinema. I’m not endorsing piracy, but I do hope that someone is taking notice. Heck, who knows… maybe these movies are being leaked on purpose. After all, weren’t studios supposed to be adding watermarks and sending out screeners on Blu-ray to prevent this from happening? What do you think, will this increased access to Oscar contenders inspire any sort of change? Is it good or bad for the industry?
Comments (20)
There was an article in the NY TImes (I think) a couple of days ago about how these limited releases are getting even more limited lately, because I don’t remember having that much difficulty seeing most of the Best Picture contenders by the time the Oscars rolled around when I was in high school (so, ten years ago). Granted, the Oscars were in March then and they’ve been bumped to February now, but all I had access to at that time was the big suburban multiplex which still, eventually, got most of the nominees prior to Oscar day. There’s a hunger for good film in the blogosphere, but I’m not sure that this is a sentiment necessarily shared by average Joe Q. Public, which might explain the new trend towards severely limited releases that don’t end up going wide until weeks and weeks later.
Posted by Liz on January 5th, 2009Yeah, you’re probably right about Joe Q. Public but sometimes I wonder if the casual moviegoer really prefers the stuff that’s out in wide release or if they just aren’t given any other choices.
The per screen average for some of these limited films is pretty high, and when you look at the list of major releases for December it was pretty dismal. You can’t tell me something like Gran Torino wouldn’t have made money in wide release (although I think it does actually get a wide release this upcoming weekend).
Posted by Sean on January 5th, 2009No, this is not a bad thing. The only people downloading these award movies (like the ones you mention) are movie geeks (like myself) who, first of all, even KNOW about them, and second, take the time to actually try and get them… I really doubt it affects the box office… Percentage-wise, I don’t really think we matter that much.. haha
At least not for these niche films. Maybe for something with a larger mass audience, illegal downloading can hurt (a tiny bit) but not for these.
Mostly because the people downloading are people who wouldn’t have access to them otherwise… and also, I’m pretty sure all of us WOULD rather watch them on the big screen, but that’s just not possible when a movie opens in ONLY TWO CITIES…
Posted by ivan on January 5th, 2009“weren’t studios supposed to be adding watermarks”
They do add text that says “This screener is used for viewing purposes only blah blah blah” but it only pops up every twenty minutes or so for about 30 seconds. It barely detracts from the experience (I know because the one person friend I have in the Academy gave me a copy of Babel…also my sister downloads rips that have it on there). I’m too much of a videophile to download.
“sending out screeners on Blu-ray”
They don’t do that yet!? I’d assume everybody in the academy owns a player by now (and nobody can afford a BD burner yet so for right now it’s a great idea).
Posted by Ryan M. on January 5th, 2009Yeah, I don’t think the average movie-goer knows how to get these torrent screeners. And if they did, I’m sure they wouldn’t want to watch them on their laptop.
I have a friend who has downloaded most of these screeners. Then he routes them into his TIVO to watch on his big screen. Thats a lot of work.
I would bet that the people who do download them these because A) they can (and most will never watch them) and B) impress their girlfriends. Seriously.
Posted by Lance on January 5th, 2009It’s true, chicks do love pirates. Just ask Johnny Depp.
Posted by Sean on January 5th, 2009Well, most of the award-type films already have release dates in the coming months here, but The Wrestler has no release date. How the fuck am I supposed to get to see it otherwise? I have downloaded and watched it, but I am holding out on the others, I want to see them in the theatre, and I wish I had seen The Wrestler in the theatre (although I refuse to rewatch it, because I hope to conserve something IF it reaches theatres here).
Posted by Henrik on January 5th, 2009“I wonder if the casual moviegoer really prefers the stuff that’s out in wide release or if they just aren’t given any other choices.”
I’m going with the former on this one. I think there are definitely people in underserviced markets who want access to these movies and don’t have the option of seeing them without driving to a theatre four hours away, but like Ivan mentioned the percentage of people who actually would download this stuff because they have an access barrier is probably quite small.
I was surprised how limited the Gran Torino release was, to be honest, because I definitely agree it had mass appeal; I think when it opened it was only playing at one theatre in Toronto. It’s interesting that the theatre was the Scotiabank (a.k.a. the suburban-style multiplex conveniently located downtown), whereas usually limited release stuff ends up at the Varsity, the Cumberland, or the Carlton. Actually, it’s funny because I haven’t seen Gran Torino yet specifically because it’s playing at the Scotiabank rather than at the Varsity.
Posted by Liz on January 5th, 2009I know I’m probably being overly optimistic, but when half of the theatre walks out during The Spirit you have wonder if something’s wrong. Slumdog Millionaire is easily a more accessible movie, and it actually made more money this past weekend! I suppose The Spirit has recognizable names, but online buzz and critical acclaim counts for more than people think.
Posted by Sean on January 5th, 2009Wow, that many walked out? Crazy.
Posted by Liz on January 5th, 2009Yes it is strange that these are out on the net so soon, especially since the Academy has been trying so hard to keep them off there. I thought that they were going to use those 24 hours discs that basically self destruct after you play them. A Blu Ray copy would be a little safer, fewer people have the equipment to rip them but I’m guessing the price of pressing those screeners for a relatively small number of people is quite high.
The only thing I usually download are TV shows not available over here but with the failing economy….
Posted by swarez on January 5th, 2009if the studios would actually release these things in places where movie fans who don’t live in a big city would see them, they might not have such a problem. i have no problem paying full price to see oscar buzz flicks on the big screen when they’re released, but guess what? i usually can’t because i don’t live in one of 4 or 5 major metropolitan areas in the country! so until that starts changing, fuck ‘em.
Posted by Joel on January 6th, 2009All I can say is that this Academy member, that happily leaks these movies every award season, is the man. Hands down. The thing is, people in other parts of the world that do love movies, are the winners in this contest. Because, you know, they don’t have to wonder when they’ll decide to release these movies in their countries. Also, even if you don’t know s*** about p2p sharing and all that, our good friends in Chinatown got you covered.
Posted by Tag on January 6th, 2009Ever since discovering the screener wave around christmas (must be five or six years ago) I´m a happy camper. Living in country where movies like “The Wrestler” or “Slumdog Millionaire” will start at the end of february or in the midst of march, there´s no other way to see the best of the year prior to the oscars any other way.
And if a movie really is as great as the buzz (as both of the above are surely) I´m also willing to re-watch them on the screen or even buy the DVD later on. So in my opinion there´s no loss for anyone – as long as the quality is there.
Posted by theDia on January 6th, 2009Too bad Punisher War Zone wasn’t considered Oscar material. I want to see that flick soooo bad.
Posted by swarez on January 6th, 2009Is it okay for me to be watching these films on my laptop? I really wanted to catch up on the best pictures, and since the oscars is 2 days away, and i’m out of blank DVD’s, I plan to watch them all on my laptop this weekend(except for Benjamin Button). Is this okay?
Posted by Drew on February 21st, 2009The real question is, will you be able to live with yourself after having watched this year’s Oscar nominees on your laptop? Only you know the answer, Drew.
Posted by Sean on February 21st, 2009What do you mean by that? I’m going to watch them when they come out on DVD, but I want to be able to engage in some real debate about the subject, and not feel like a hypocrite when I actually watch the oscars. I’m okay with pirating, and I know you do it yourself Sean. But what I’m asking is, do YOU guys think i’m losing anything by watching them on my laptop, and not burning them onto a DVD.
Posted by Drew on February 22nd, 2009When I get the chance to be able to watch the oscar nominee’s on the big screen like there intended to be seen, believe me, i will. But at 15, it’s not like i’m going to be able to convince my friends or parents to go out with me and see Frost/Nixon.
Posted by Drew on February 22nd, 2009I was just messing with you Drew. You should do what you want. Obviously any movie is better on the big screen, but sometimes you gotta work with what you’ve got.
Posted by Sean on February 22nd, 2009Leave a Reply