As we all know several large parts of the web went "Black" the other day in protest of the SOPA law that's floating around in Congress.

If this law does pass does anyone know what it could mean for screenplay writers? Right now I'm writing a spec based on a story that has copyright (I think). What about Adaptations?  Re-imaginings, ect. Any ideas?

HGW

How closely based on the original styory is your script?  What story is it?  We'd have to know this stuff before determining if you're screwed or not.


Phil

Its pretty close but I'm giving my own spin on it of course.

I'm going left field on this one and doing a script based on the unproduced script/treatment written by L Ron Hubbard titled "Revolt in The Stars".

Quoted from Hugh Hoyland I'm going left field on this one and doing a script based on the unproduced script/treatment written by L Ron Hubbard titled "Revolt in The Stars".

Watch out for the Thetan Thumpers, they can f*ck you from a distance!

My advice, keep blending with original bits until no one can see the difference.
It's like taking months to make a batch of homemade mac n' cheese.
My biceps are killing me after all that sitrring.
And it tastes so good, no one cares what you went through to make it.

Regards,
E.D.

Speaking of SOPA, does anyone here really believe that SOPA would do anything to curb piracy, or, moreover, that piracy really has any dramatic effect on box office revenue?  I know the studio assumption is that every illegally downloaded movie equates to a ticket sold, but do you think that's really true?  How many people would have gone to see that stinker Wolverine?  It still did well, despite the eaked copy.

Further, is the studio system blind to the struggles of the record industry ten years ago?  Isn't that the new media model?  

Quoted from Electric Dreamer Watch out for the Thetan Thumpers, they can f*ck you from a distance! My advice, keep blending with original bits until no one can see the difference. It's like taking months to make a batch of homemade mac n' cheese. My biceps are killing me after all that sitrring. And it tastes so good, no one cares what you went through to make it. Regards, E.D.

LOL  

Interesting analogy. So in other words new names, new places, new situations mixed in with the original story?

Quoted from BoinTN Speaking of SOPA, does anyone here really believe that SOPA would do anything to curb piracy, or, moreover, that piracy really has any dramatic effect on box office revenue?

It's hard to say specifically how piracy numbers impact box office revenue, but total ticket sales have dropped 10% over the past two years, revenue has dropped 4%, and ticket prices have increased about 7%, according to Box Office Mojo.  The numbers showed the greatest increase when Avatar was released and the subsequent slight decline since, so we can thank the 3D for all of that.  Looking at the ticket sales over time, there's really no dramatic figures that jump out.  Some years sell more than others.  Of course it also says that the average ticket price is $7.96, but I'd love to see where you can see a movie for under 8 bucks these days.  I think out here it's about $9 for a matinee at all theaters.  

Quoted from greg total ticket sales have dropped 10% over the past two years, revenue has dropped 4%, and ticket prices have increased about 7%, according to Box Office Mojo.

In that same time, VOD and streaming video services, whether that's Netflix or Vudu, or whatever, have seen dramatic rises.  Isn;t this a sea change in the manner in which we consume entertainment, not a matter of piracy?  

I always believe if you give people what they expect - easy and cheap - they'll do the right thing.  That means, though, that the studios are going to have to think in very different ways about revenue streams from movies.  Very good piece on Deadline today regarding Redford addressing the same thing.

Quoted from BoinTN In that same time, VOD and streaming video services, whether that's Netflix or Vudu, or whatever, have seen dramatic rises.  Isn;t this a sea change in the manner in which we consume entertainment, not a matter of piracy?

I'd certainly think new media is a contributor.  These days a movie can appear for legal download somewhere only a few weeks after it hits theaters for a fraction of the price.  I'm waiting for the day when you can legally obtain a movie the same day it hits theaters, cause that's not too far off.  I'd be interested to see the specific numbers of all the legal services of obtaining movies in digital format, but I'm about to head out so...some other time.

I think that's where it's headed.  There is no way to stop piracy,  It's whack-a-mole.  I shut down this website, you start another.  Or go to IRC or whatever.  So, if you can't beat them, why not join them.  I think you're idea of watching something streaming or downloaded from the distributor on the same day as theater has to happen at some point.

Quoted from BoinTN Isn;t this a sea change in the manner in which we consume entertainment, not a matter of piracy?

I agree with this completely. I believe that people - in general - will pay for both music and movies as long as it's available easily and pronto.

Look at the music industry. Apple pretty much single handedly saved them from ruin with the iTunes store. Now it seems that everyone offers some form of music store, whether it's direct download or streaming. Why? Because we can. Technology has improved so much over the last few years that why should we be bothered to go down to a music store and buy something as relic as a CD? Or even worse, order it by mail and then having to wait a week for it to show up. Fuck that.

The same thing goes with movies. As BoinTN and Greg rightfully point out, Netflix and similar services have skyrocketed while box office numbers have gone down (I'm sure the downright atrocious quality of movies released in the last few years have played a part as well - but that's another can of worms). The Studios - as usual - are playing catch up. Technology is laughing at their dinosoar asses. They think they own their shit. Wrong. We own their shit. And we will watch it whenever the fuck we feel like it. Until they decide to get with the program, to step off the prehistoric train and release movies world wide via stream or download, piracy will prosper. Period. If they can't keep up - fuck 'em. I have no sympathy for them.

And while we're on the subject, do we really need theaters anymore? How many of you actually watched more than 5 movies in the theaters this year. Of the 20-30 movies I watched in 2011, I think I saw 2 in a cinema. Why? Because I have a big fucking TV at home, my sound system is as good - or better - than your average theater. Plus, I can pause the movie whenever I have to take a piss and I don't have to sit next to some schmuck who can't keep his trap shut..oh wait, my wife and I usually watch movies together at home...okay, strike the one about the schmuck. You get the picture.

I average about two movies a week at the theatre, usually Friday night and a cheap one on Tuesday (we have $2 and $8 shows on Tuesdays around Vancouver, amazingly enough).  Seeing a new release every week pretty much breaks the bank for me, but I love it and I'll do it to the bitter end.  Seeing a good movie with a full audience in a theatre is, to me, the absolute core of the art form and one of the great experiences in life.  For now, there are still people making films (Carnage, The Tree of Life, A Dangerous Method, Melancholia) that I think are completely different (and vastly elevated) experiences in a theatre.

I agree that theatres for mass consumption are on their way out, but I think that's incredibly sad.

Quoted from Heretic I agree that theatres for mass consumption are on their way out, but I think that's incredibly sad.

I agree.  However, seems to be the way of things.  I think the studios have a couple of avenues to explore, one being using the theaters for event movies, like those godawful Michael Bay movies, or they could simply scale back production costs to above the line talent and produce more films for less money.

Quoted from Heretic I agree that theatres for mass consumption are on their way out, but I think that's incredibly sad.

Different folks, different strokes. Whether sad or not is obviously an individual thing. Personally I see nothing sad about it. It's just part of the evolution. That being said, I doubt we will ever see world with no movie theaters.

Yes, the 59" 3D plasma does alleviate some of the sting.