Film vs digital

If you have watched the Italian film Cinema Paradiso, you know what it is like to fall in love with films, literally. The projection of a film is a magical experience. As the projector unspools each reel of film, 24 frames flash by in a second and a moving image is created on the screen. The eye (or rather the brain) is deceived into thinking that the 24 stills are a moving picture, because it happens so fast. That is in fact why films are called ‘movies’.

But film as a medium is dying. I have not seen a still film camera in ages and the world’s last film cinema camera was sold in 2012. Movies will continue to be made on film, especially the large-screen IMAX format, but film will die completely some day, may be 20 years from now.

Worldwide, most cinemas (around 80,000) have been converted for digital projection of movies. There is no physical film stock in this process. Distribution is fast and easy because there is no need to print hundreds of film reels. It is commendable that Sri Lankan authorities have actively encouraged this process of conversion - all cinema halls in the country would be digitalised by March 31, 2015, according to Mass Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella. Two cinema hall chains have already converted their theatres to digital.

In its heyday, the local cinema industry had nearly 600 film halls. Today, this figure is much lower though at least one new cinema is coming up every month. The arrival of television in 1978, the burning down of cinema halls in the 1983 Black July and dwindling crowds due to the low quality of some films led to a major crisis in the local cinema industry. However, the tide is definitely turning now with better quality films and world class theatres showing the latest local and international blockbusters. This has resulted in more people patronising the theatres, even though ticket prices have increased over the years.

Digital

The Ministry of Mass Media and Information has formulated regulations and methods needed for the conversion of cinema theatres and other relevant aspects into the digital format. The use of Digital Cinema Package (DCP) 2D or 3D digital projection in place of or as an alternative to 35 mm celluloid films would be the norm. This had been done with the objective of developing the Sri Lankan film industry in line with the sophisticated technological trends of the global cinema.

This is a step in the right direction as digital projection does not have any of the inherent problems of film stock. Digital Cinema technology eliminates colour fading, jump and weave, scratches and dirt accumulation which are common problems that plague film. It does not matter whether you play the film for the first time or the 1,000th time, the picture and sound will be perfect. In fact, DCP also allows sound technologies such as Dolby Atmos, which has as many as 64 surround sound speakers (some in the ceiling) to immerse the viewers in the action unfolding on the silver screen.

For movie-makers, their movies are seen exactly the way they are intended to be seen, with light, shade and texture captured with digital accuracy. For movie distributors, it provides a better quality viewing experience of their movies and allows tremendous cost savings in film print reproduction and distribution.

For movie exhibitors, they offer a consistently better visual experience to the customer while having greater flexibility in theatre usage - a theatre can even show four different movies throughout the day, because there is no physical film stock to unload and replace.

It is also easier to convert the film to home video formats such as DVD and Blu-Ray, because the process is entirely digital.

There is no telecine machine involved. With 4K (Ultra High Definition) Blu-Rays and players coming next year, it will be possible to almost re-create the cinema experience at home (4K UHD projectors and TVs already exist). Dolby Atmos encoded Blu-Rays are already on sale, though one cannot have 64 speakers in a home theatre version. At home or in the theatre, digital cinema assures the viewer of a fascinating, rewarding experience.

There are of course, diehard supporters of films who point out that 70 mm and IMAX film still do have a higher resolution than digital formats. They do have a point. In fact, Christopher Nolan, Director of the space drama Interstellar has insisted on using 70 mm and IMAX film projectors for his latest epic. There are many other directors who have a deep affinity for films.

Resolution

But the gap is narrowing every day and very soon, digital will match or exceed film in terms of resolution. Moreover, the digital storage of films is still around 11 times more expensive than archiving film reels. In any case, under the right climate controlled conditions, film will last thousands of years.

This is why some filmmakers who shoot their films digitally still want to convert their creations to film for archival storage.

Finally, there is an argument about the ‘magic’ of film being lost with the transition to digital distribution and projection. Unlike a digital hard disk, one can still touch and admire a film reel.

It is a tangible, physical thing that enters another dimension when sent through a projector. Images literally come alive. Digital does not certainly enjoy that advantage. It lacks soul, if you can use that word.

In the end, the medium (physical or digital) does not really matter as long as the director tells a good story. One does not go into a theatre just because a film is shown digitally.

The main purpose of going to a theatre is to while away two or three hours enjoying a good movie in the company of your friends and family. The audience does not care how it is projected at all- they only want a quality movie that satisfies them. The fact that the digital format ensures better picture and sound quality is only a bonus.