The iPod & Shrinkage

[truepictures]

Now with the iPod and cellular phones showing short films, music videos, and other short forms of media, only one thing comes to my mind. The reduction of the already miniscule attention span of the American public.

In a decade, kids will not have the patience for anything longer than a 20 second commercial to entertain them. Short films will be all that matters because people will be busy calling each other on their cell phones planning on meeting each other at the Internet cafe where they will IM each other and send each other winks. Maybe they'll do a video conference when they reach home and put their cell phones/iPods onto the webcam and show them their favorite new short film.

Maybe what will happen in the future is that people, other than those directly involved with filmmaking will become little idiots who will swallow everything sent their way and will not be able to create anything worthwhile. Maybe I'm wrong, but what if I'm right. My God . . . what if I'm right.

[Mark Bell]

...people, other than those directly involved with filmmaking will become little idiots who will swallow everything sent their way and will not be able to create anything worthwhile.
And that would be different from now in what way?

Sorry, I like the idea of filmmakers ruling the world. We're close, and folks sure ingest anything we create. Maybe short form IS the way to world domination.

[truepictures]

IRONY WARNING

I don't doubt it that it's the way to world domination . . . I mean come on, pshh, that's a given. But dude, we can't have fucking idiots running around afraid of contact and driven to conversate with hundreds of strangers through electronic forums without ever seeing each others faces . . . that's just ridonkulous.

[AmaiStina]

And that would be different from now in what way?

Sorry, I like the idea of filmmakers ruling the world. We're close, and folks sure ingest anything we create. Maybe short form IS the way to world domination.


would filmmakers really rule the world or would companies that stand to make a buck or a few million be ruling even more of the world?

[Mark Bell]

would filmmakers really rule the world or would companies that stand to make a buck or a few million be ruling even more of the world?
It's a tricky thought, because they both rely on each other. Right now, Apple is going to need content for their video iPods. Hollywood and the TV industry don't want to jump right in until they can figure out a proper residual breakdown out of any profits gained via download, so there's this vacuum of content. A few free-thinking and pioneering independent filmmmakers could really jump at this opportunity to load the popular mass-market iTunes with their content, thus establishing themselves as popular mass-market too. They'd rule via the existence of overwhelming content, and Apple would make more money.

The tech industry seems to be beating on Jobs right now for releasing a product no one was clamoring for, with capabilities no one is ready to harness. His defense was that when the content catches up, his product will be waiting. This is a "throw it in the river and see if it floats" idea, and it's brilliant in the sense that he was going to release a new iPod anyway, and since they're essentially hard drives with a jukebox operating system, previously aimed at music and photos, why not add video capability? Whether you use it or not, whether content exists or not, it doesn't do them any harm to have it as a standard aspect of their iPods. My Treo phone does everything the new iPod does, save allowing me to subscribe to feeds (and no doubt that patch is out there, I haven't looked), and though there is no content readily built for such capabilities save ringtones, I've added mp3's, photos and even feature films (Dig! has seemingly found a permanent residence on my phone) myself. Now, if content was easy to get at, like through iTunes, I might be even more into it. As would others.

My point is, then, that this moment, right now, is the perfect time for indie filmmakers to come in through the gaping door the industry is currently holding open while they decide the best profit strategy. By the time the studios come to co-opt, you should be encamped in the structure. Plus, right now things are free. Creating an iTunes feed, hosting your video on Archive.org... eventually folks will find a way to make you pay. But if you get in before that happens, it won't matter.

I'm throwing the gauntlet down, indie filmmakers. Pioneer something amazing and take this system for the ride it deserves. Everyone else is debating and practicing the finest form of non-action. You can take it all over NOW.

[bronsonseven]

I'm throwing the gauntlet down, indie filmmakers. Pioneer something amazing and take this system for the ride it deserves. Everyone else is debating and practicing the finest form of non-action. You can take it all over NOW.

Yeah, then move into Hollywood and make some Rated R horror movies so I can stop watching crap like The Fog.

[brad laidman]

I would comment but I got bored a third of the way through the original post

sorry got to go something is currently on mtv