Topic 3. Digital media put the tools of production into the hands of the everyday computer user making it incredibly easy to produce content. These creative skills used to be something that people worked to develop. Now it appears that amateurs can produce content of a fair standard within a relatively short period of time. Where does this leave 'professionals' and highly-skilled artists? Choose one area of creativity and discuss some of the challenges facing practitioners vs amateurs in producing digital content.
It has been debated whether creative works require practice, but in truth nothing is achievable on talent alone. There are skills that must be developed to achieve a true professional level and without these, a creator will remain an amateur. However, recent technology has placed the necessary tools into the hands of the un-trained, the beginner, and they are foregoing the traditional learning process in favour of simply “getting out there and giving it a go”. Now things like artwork, animated cartoons and even films are being produced by the general public.
This essay will focus on films, both animated and live-action.
Video cameras have been available to the public almost since their creation, however they were often very expensive, clumsy and difficult to use on a regular basis. With video recording equipment getting smaller and cheaper to use, more people can film almost anything they wish. Editing the footage without access to proper film processing equipment is a newer ability with the introduction of digital recording, requiring only a computer, the appropriate software and cables to connect the camera and computer.
The majority of amateur films created are poor in quality, style and proper filming structure, but cheap programs also put the tools in the hands of the naturally creative quicker. This natural talent is a definite plus, and if those with a proficiency towards film-making can practice using digital media tools, they will learn faster and both they and the industry will be better for it.
The availability of digital media tools can also help those learning to become professionals hone their skills before having to enter the industry, therefore giving them an advantage and helping the industry produce higher quality content without having to train new members. A YouTube user by the name killert00thbrush has in his videos a short film called Jonathan Day that he created for a film class.
While the film is not of the highest quality, it is knowledge gained that would not be as readily accessible prior to the introduction of digital media. It is far better budding film-makers be producing films at lower levels for their own benefit before they become engaged in the industry proper.
Integration of various media into the Internet has created a space for the amateur to exhibit their work with little effort. Websites such as YouTube.com or FanFilms.net hold a wide array of “home made” films available for viewing and give film-makers the opportunity to see the work of others and comment on it as well as gain feedback on their own work.
The problem arising in the industry is these less-learned film-makers are also gaining avenues where they exhibit their low-budget films in competitions and public screenings, often to large audiences. While the quality of the film can often be in question, it is the vision and adaptability of these independent, or “indie” film-makers and the raw honesty of their scripts that attract people to them, as well as the far cheaper price tag compared to the big blockbusters screening in mainstream cinemas. Some of the bigger indie film festivals such as Tropfest and the Sundance Film Festival, which put on annual screenings of films entered into competition, rival a mainstream premier and can often push a small film through to mainstream circulation, securing dvd productions and a worldwide audience.
Films such as Garden State by first-time director and lead actor Zach Braff, which earned an official selection into the Sundance Film Festival as well as other competitions, are at the higher end of the indie scale, and while it featured some better known actors, it was its popularity at these festivals that pushed it through to a mainstream release. The power of the Indie Film has steadily grown over the years and some small films that perform well are sometimes picked up by the major production companies and made into feature films released in the mainstream market.
This creates a major setback for the “professional” film-makers who spend years learning the craft, how to frame shots, light scenes and write scripts; as while they are being educated, the amateur is surpassing them with his small, chopped together film that wows audiences with its bravery and originality. However there is an advantage in digital media to those learning the traditional ways, as there are often many Indie competitions open to them as well, meaning they can be learning how to make a film by physically doing it, then gain exposure through those first attempts so that when they finish their education, they already have a portfolio built up and possibly one or two competition wins under their belt.
It can also be said that the professional need not fear competition from amateurs as indie films often appeal to a vastly different audience and the majority never make it to the mainstream cinema market. The indie film has gained a niche for itself, but this is still only a small part of the wider cinema community.
The days of the professional film-maker are certainly not numbered, as there will always be a place for high-quality, big budget films. They only need to learn to share some of this limelight with the smaller, indie amateurs.
Additional Resources:
http://www.internetvideomag.com/Articles-2006/112706_historyofcamcorders.htm
