After overcoming the gigantic hurdles brought upon by the COVID-19 pandemic, the film industry told us one thing: it’s here to stay and thrive.
It will never be the same, though; we can’t underestimate the struggles that the industry went through to get to this point today. 23% of movie theaters in the United States remained closed throughout the first year of the pandemic, so just imagine how many other small theaters worldwide were suddenly stripped of their business.
While it’s true that the cinema space is slowly getting back on its feet, there’s a sense that it’s steadily moving in a different direction. Innovation may be at the heart of the film industry, leading to these seven trends that we could see in the near future.
1. Partnership between theaters and streaming services
With movie theaters crippled by the pandemic, it was a good thing that on-demand streaming platforms were there to save the day. As soon as theaters closed, the demand for streaming services increased. Netflix immediately hit the 200-million subscriber threshold, and Disney+, which was not yet available in many regions back then, saw its subscriber count reach 100 million.
But now that theaters are steadily gaining ground again, how can they co-exist with streaming services? Can Netflix work with movies that have already been shown in theaters weeks or a month ago? The partnership between these two viewing channels is important to keep track of in the next few years.
2. Return of short films
We’ve seen short-form video content platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels dominate the social media space. That trend may be trickling into the movie scene, especially with big-name studios such as Pixar (Pixar SparkShorts) and Dreamworks (Dreamworks Shorts) joining the fray.
Short films will see rare chances (if at all) for appearances in theaters, but there could be a market in streaming platforms. YouTube is the first name that comes to mind, but other platforms like Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and Amazon Prime are already great sources for short films.
3. Focus on sustainability and environmental awareness
Sustainability has become a big talk in film production, and the movie industry is taking this to heart. BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) counts 13 tonnes of CO₂ every time a one-hour TV content is produced.
With this in mind, film production companies are relying more on virtual production technologies to reduce or even remove carbon emissions from their sets.
4. AI’s massive potential
If you view AI (Artificial Intelligence) as a tool and not as a competitor, the possibilities are endless. AI and machine learning can help in the scriptwriting process, and they could also lend a hand in quickly creating props and visuals.
With all the technological advancements and potential innovations, AI is a powerful tool that movie studios can utilize both in pre-production and post-production.
5. Innovations in marketing
The advent of social media has given movie studios, especially independent filmmakers, another platform to promote their work. This has been particularly true in independent film marketing strategies, where focusing on creative branding could bring enormous returns in terms of engagement and reach on social media.
6. Advancements in the production process
Technology is quickly making its way to the movie production scene, and nobody is complaining. Technological innovations such as 3D printing and previsualization, Volume Technology, and Real-Time Rendering are helping speed up the whole production process.
There’s reason to believe that technology will only advance in the foreseeable future, and this could change the whole movie production process for the better.
7. Any new technology on cameras
Gone are the days when film sets are captured through gigantic cameras and video equipment. Now, you have movies like Unsane, High Flying Bird, and 9 Rides shot through a handheld device such as an iPhone. With the presence of advanced editing software technologies and virtual production, handheld camera devices could be the next necessity in a movie set.
