Movie Research! (Weeee! :-/)

[Lice]

Hey everyone.

I have a project for a class to do some research on movie viewing trends of the population. So i thought where better to go than the cheap ass kings! So basically im curious to see what you all do when you want to watch a new movie that is just released. Im more curious about the pirating side of the movie issue and what is the rational used to validate the act. If you don’t feel comfortable about posting that up please PM it to me and I will keep it private and anonymous.


If you Could give me a little insight to why you make the choice you make as well as maybe some way to get people back into the theaters and or slow down the downloading.

Some Ideas are
- The theater and dvd release date is on the same day.
- Tougher dvd encryption
- Bindable Discs to players
- A new technological solution to bring people back in (i.e. Dreamworks project to fully immerse in 3d, unable to do at home.)

And if you could throw down your age and gender (yeah i know this is a sausage fest in here) as well it would be appreciated.

If you guys could give me a hand it would be very helpful.. thanks!

[Thongsy]

I generally wait for it on dvd and either than rent through Greencine or buy it. If it's a movie I really want to see, I'll go to the theatre and watch, like the Simpsons movie which I do plan on going to see, and Sunshine if it gets released here. It isn't just movies for me though, I'm one of the few who still do buy CDs.

Age 23, and male.

I do have a friend who does buy bootleg and download movies though. Always pissed me off because I wouldn't and I would pay full price for it. Everytime I asked him he would say the industry was making enough money and reason that theatre prices were too high and why pay at all when he could get it for free or on the cheap.

[Noodle Pirate!]

The only way you will get me back in a theater is if you ban all the rude people who talk and eat during a movie. Nothing is more annoying then hearing someone eat popcorn next to you for 90 minutes straight or slurp their drink while your trying to watch a flik.
Another factor is why pay 10 buck for a ticket, when you can buy the whole dvd for a few bucks more in a couple months. That's not to mention the ability to watch it in your own time, on your own couch, and fast fowarding through whatever you want.

I can't comment on the bootleg thing though. I dont do it cause i dont want to waste 90 minutes watching some fuzzy blurry badly sinced copy.

[crystalklear64]

Noodle Pirate knows whats up. Theaters suck because of the other people in them. Also, the floors are sticky and thats no fun for anyone. Between the groups of friends talking the whole damn time and the useless front seats that give you a neck injury by the time the movie is over, going to a theater is a good way to ruin a movie. It also limits you on what you can do. Sometimes its fun to sit down with a group of friends and talk the whole time during a movie, but a theater is not the place to do it. I'd rather watch movies in the comfort of my own home, during my own time, and in my own way for less than 20$. To top it off I can watch the movie as many times as I want.

So thats the theater ruled out. Now to the DvD vs. download. I generally buy the movies that I want to watch, as long as I can find them, and with the internet, thats 99% of the time. However, there are occasions where I have read about a certain movie thats either extremely rare, or has been banned, and I resort to other means of acquiring it. I do not delude myself into thinking this makes it better, but I weigh my options and decide that the minor risk is worth it.

Male, 21.

[sblymnlcrymnl]

Theater or DVD. Just depends how much I want to see it, and whether or not my friends want to see it.

[Photomotoz]

Of movies I want to see I usually see about a quarter in theaters and the rest I download. Movies I am not too excited about I watch on DVD. I see movies in theaters that deserve to be seen in theatres. I am not about to watch some dumb comedy, I go for something I can't get at home. I would watch the LOTR films, and other such "epic" films for at the movies for sure.

For me to watch more movies in theatres there would first have to be more movies of a higher caliber. Over half the stuff is just trash I don't care about. The cost of going to see a movie is also an issue for me, I would not pay $9 to see something. $7 is the average around here and that is still a bit much for me. I think $5 is a nice number. Also, quality of theatres should improve, even though I rarely bring in food I still hate that they ban it just to make more money. I also hate consession stand prices.


- The theater and dvd release date is on the same day.
This is a pretty bad idea and messes up both. You want people to do both, not one or the other.


- Tougher dvd encryption
Encryption only hurts the end user. Most movies are downloadable as of a few days of theatrical release from people with cameras. And trust me, the quality is getting a lot better. Pirates can always break encryption, you just end up hurting the average person who is trying to get something to work.

- Bindable Discs to players
Terrible solution, recall the peoples reaction to the rumors that the PS3 would bind games to the console? How would Blockbuster function?

- A new technological solution to bring people back in (i.e. Dreamworks project to fully immerse in 3d, unable to do at home.)
This is great idea, give people an experience that is unattainable at home. Use of new technologies and new features would work for sure. 3D is not something I really care about though.

[darthbudge]

If it is still in theatres I will usually go see it in them. But if it has already been released on DVD I will usually Download it or Rent it through Netflix. Most of the movies I download are movies that no one else in my family would want to see or movies my family wouldn't let me watch(R rated movies).

Really I see nothing wrong in downloading movies, I am not gonna buy the DVD so they have lost no profits, also there are many movies I download and watch on a whim, something I wouldn't have done if I had to go see it in theatres or Buy it on a DVD or Rent it through Netflix. Then if I watch one of those movies and like it I am likely to go watch the sequel or another film buy the same director in theatres.

Also as for stronger encyrption on DVDs that does nothing but hurt the people who want to use it Legally, the pirates will still crack it because they know about computers. But the regular computer then won't be able to use it to the fullest.

14, Male

[browneyedgal68]

I'm 39, female. I rarely see movies in the theater, unless they're kid flicks, as I have two small kids. The disposable income is less, so movies become a family outing rather than just something to do, as when I was younger w/o kids.

I go even further than waiting for dvd. I wait for it to be on the subscription movie channels on cable. I just forget when things come out and what I wanted to see. So when I see something I like, I dvr it, and I have it for whenever.

Bootlegs? No, because it's wrong morally to me. Trying to teach little kids values here. Aside from that, even if there were a way, the quality sucks, so why not wait?

[Lice]

Thank you all for the amazing input so far... Its really appreciated...

Anyone else who would want to chime in is most appreciated... I have 2 weeks to get as much data as possible...

[Ikohn4ever]

i do a little of everything, mostly though its theaters or downloading. I have been going to the movies less cause the price seems to be going up and quality keeps going down or i do not see an increase in my quality for the increase in price. When i download a movie, if i end up liking it, there is a good chance I will purchase the dvd.

[cdeener]

I normally wait for the DVD unless it is something that I really want to see or my girlfriend wants to see in the theater. I like to see the extra features that are included on DVDs that is my main attraction to them.

Male, 25

[erehwon]

I don't have a lot of money, so I don't tend to go to the movies alot. Even when I did, I usually didn't go to the movies. I just don't think there are that many movies that I want to go out to the theater for. I see myself spending alot of my money on other forms of enteratinment. I tend to wait for the cheaper options to become available.

1. Wait for movie to come out at cheap theater ($0.50 on Wed.)
2. DVD release
3. Rent DVD from library (Our libraries have a pretty good selection)
4. Wait for it to come out on TV

As far as piracy goes, it's not something I do. If it's not good enough or my desire to see it isn't high enough, I can just wait. I'm also a collector, so I don't really like bootlegs. I like the real thing.

male, 22

[masked lemon]

I'm 28, male, and a cheap bastard.

I download, unless it is something I want to see in the theatre, which is rare. I saw Transformers in the theatre, only time I've gone this year.

[zzl365]

I'm male and 24... I rarely see movies in the theater because it is expensive and time consuming. I would much rather watch a movie in the comfort of my own home, where I can pause it, and watch it in segments depending on my schedule. I also am not a fan of paying $9 for a hot dog and soda. I don't download movies because I believe that if I'm not willing to spend the money to see the movie, I really don't have that strong of a desire to see the movie to begin with.

That being said, I have to REALLY REALLY REALLY want to see the movie to see it in theaters, or even rent the dvd... typically I will DVR movies that I'm interested in once they are on HBO/Showtime/etc. There are enough older movies that I still want to see and haven't seen yet, that I don't need to rush to the theater and spend $20 for my wife and I to see a movie that *may* end up being good.

[soonersfan60]

Other: wait until it comes to the cheap theaters. ($1 most times, 50 cents Mondays)

[mykevermin]

The only way you will get me back in a theater is if you ban all the rude people who talk and eat during a movie. Nothing is more annoying then hearing someone eat popcorn next to you for 90 minutes straight or slurp their drink while your trying to watch a flik.
Another factor is why pay 10 buck for a ticket, when you can buy the whole dvd for a few bucks more in a couple months. That's not to mention the ability to watch it in your own time, on your own couch, and fast fowarding through whatever you want.

I can't comment on the bootleg thing though. I dont do it cause i dont want to waste 90 minutes watching some fuzzy blurry badly sinced copy.

This is me as well. Of the last 5 movies I've seen in theaters, two have been Harry Potter films seen during their opening weeks.

I don't download, and I think asking people what their rationales are will only get you so far at understanding the issue. Basically, in asking downloader/pirates why they do what they do, you're imposing on them the very need for a rationale. So, while people may download to their heart's content, they don't understand "why" until you ask them about it.

"Why" do you buy movies on DVD? Because it's a socially acceptable means of acquiring a movie. Likewise, piracy is not something that has a social stigma attached to it the way, say, drunk driving or dealing heroin do.

People download because people download. It's kind of a crummy tautology, but isn't that the same tautology we make when we talk about adhering to social norms? We drive on the right side of the street because we're taught to drive on the right side of the street. We say hello as a greeting and goodbye as a closing for the same reason. We don't spit on the floor in people's houses. And so on. The social environment that shapes who we are is that very tautology (IOW chicken/egg argument). People download because that's the way people do things these days. Asking them to give "damn the man" or "it's convenient" justifications, while it may provide some insight, can also lead to the false notion that pirates are thinking these things actively as they click on their download links.

In reality, they hit up ISO Hunt, click their torrent links, and download it no different than if they're shopping online. There's no stigma for piracy, and minimal perception that getting caught is going to happen. It's a very amoral, uncomplicated affair, really. That's why it is so difficult to stop.

[Photomotoz]

People download because people download. It's kind of a crummy tautology, but isn't that the same tautology we make when we talk about adhering to social norms? We drive on the right side of the street because we're taught to drive on the right side of the street. We say hello as a greeting and goodbye as a closing for the same reason. We don't spit on the floor in people's houses. And so on. The social environment that shapes who we are is that very tautology (IOW chicken/egg argument). People download because that's the way people do things these days. Asking them to give "damn the man" or "it's convenient" justifications, while it may provide some insight, can also lead to the false notion that pirates are thinking these things actively as they click on their download links.

In reality, they hit up ISO Hunt, click their torrent links, and download it no different than if they're shopping online. There's no stigma for piracy, and minimal perception that getting caught is going to happen. It's a very amoral, uncomplicated affair, really. That's why it is so difficult to stop.
You really hit it on the nail. A very good observation.

This is just a comment on the piracy topic in general but when something is bootlegged or downloaded nobody loses money. They just do nto make that money. You can't LOSE money money when someone pirates your things, you just do not make it. Also there is a difference between downloading and bootlegging. With one the consumer acutally pays for a product, a prodcut that is usually subar and cheaper. With downloading most people have no intention of paying anyone and if given the choice would rather just not see the movie at all. I do not like bootlegging at all, it messes everyone up, but downloading movies is completely different.

Let's say I want to see a movie and for some reason I can't find it online. What do I do? I would not go and rent it, that is a waste of money. I go down to a library and borrow it there. Downloading just saves time. You would not compare a library to bootlegging, so comparing downloading to bootlegging is also inaccurate.

Now, I buy good movies(or I will when I get some HD format). I have downloaded many movies and I have intentions of buying them. I never saw V for Vendetta in theatres but I got a copy online. I saw it and loved it. And when I get an HD setup I have every intention of buying it.

Edit: OP, I do not think that people who visit an online forum are the best people to be asking for an unbias opinion on downloading movies. For a good report you should find people from all over. You are subjecting your self to proportionally inaccurate information this way.

[camoor]

I like how your scientific poll is puntuated with a Weeee and a smileeee

[dtcarson]

Generally wait for DVD.
* Cheaper (most new release dvds are ~15 bucks, and many can be resold for 4-12$). Base ticket price at a minimum for my family to go is 11.00, 16.50 if my boy goes. We always buy popcorn/drink, that's part of the experience, that adds ten bucks. If I have to pay a babysitter, that's another 20 bucks or so, although usually he can stay with family members.
* Interest--there's very few new release movies that interest me enough to go through the hassle of seeing it.
I have dl'ed movies in the past, but to me it's no longer worth the hassle, and I'd rather watch a movie in a resellable (or rented) format on my 60" TV than on my 15" monitor. And I'll fully admit downloading movies (you haven't paid for) is "wrong" even if you want to argue the "legality" of it.
I think the theatre experience can still be an experience, and seeing it 'big screen' does add something to the whole experience, but for theatres to become more competitive, they do need to offer something the home theater can't/doesn't, whether it be 3D/Imax type things, or a stricter behavior policy, or Smellovision, or something.
I don't really have any complaints about other theater attendees, but maybe I've been lucky.
Downloading a movie is not the same as checking it out from the library. The library copy has been paid for by the library, and you (assuming you pay taxes) do "own" the movie, you're just taking turns with watching it. You're not making unauthorized copies of it. It's very similar to if I buy the dvd, watch it, give it to my brother, who gives it to his friend, etc (as long as no copies are made of it.) We have an expectation of transferability with most products, that libraries and giving them away falls under.
- The theater and dvd release date is on the same day. - I don't think this will help theatre sales. One example I've heard sells the dvd at the theatre, with a discount if you saw the movie in the theater. I think that could drive "impulse" dvd sales, and would definitely work better for "big" movies that do benefit from a big screen.
- Tougher dvd encryption - It'll be cracked, and saying "Buy our stuff, but we don't trust you, scumbag customers" is the wrong way to do it. The music industry already has its work cut out for it, in part because of the "guilty till proven innocent" tack they've taken (why not pirate mp3s? They already think I'm a crook.), this would be bad for the movie industry.
- Bindable Discs to players - I don't think this is a good idea either. Divx was a massive failure, and the Disney (I think) self destructing disks didn't get far. People are used to dvds being priced for purchase, and they're used to being able to sell/trade them. Yes, some people buy, copy, sell, or rent, copy, return, but I don't think that's happening as much as they want us to think. The real dangers are the HK "professional" pirates, who sell to unsuspecting customers on ebay or something (although again, I'll admit there are people who will buy the complete set for 10.00, even though they know it's pirated, and not think twice about it, just another sign of our current self-centered egocentric moral relativity /oldmanrant).
- A new technological solution to bring people back in (i.e. Dreamworks project to fully immerse in 3d, unable to do at home.) I don't know what this solution would be (that's why I don't work from Dreamworks), but something like this would pique my interest.

I'd also add new, original, quality content--most movies out now are sequels or spinoffs. However, based on the millions of dollars they're each pulling in, that doesn't seem to matter much. And I'll admit I do like a good sequel of a movie I liked originally.

34, male, married with child.

[Fragonard]

If I really want to see the movie, I will go to the theater with some friends. Then I buy the dvd when it comes out. If I'm not really sure what I will think of the movie, I download it when it becomes avaliable. If I liked it, I usually go buy it. The reason I download movies is because I don't want to waste my money on a shitty movie.

Male, 21.

[mykevermin]

And I'll fully admit downloading movies (you haven't paid for) is "wrong" even if you want to argue the "legality" of it.

I see people claiming that it's legally questionable for television shows - what is the difference b/w downloading a free tv show, for example, and taping it on a VCR/DVD recorder?

Movies are a different matter (though mildly ambiguous - something constantly on the syndicated tv cycle, such as "Mr. Mom," may be one thing, while the new Transformers movie is much clearer). Few people argue the legal nature of downloading movies in theaters right now, for example. But, like you pointed out about people knowingly buying HK bootlegs on eBay, it may be illegal, but so is driving over the speed limit. Neither activity has the social stigma of other crimes, and many, many people do it (with great frequency, I might add).

[DJSteel]

If I want to see it bad i.e. Transformers, 300, Die Hard, i'll go to the theater..if it looks just okay, Number 23..i'll wait for the dvd..if it looks bad, i might see it when it gets to dvd..I only download movies to put on my ipod..

30, Male, Married.

[dtcarson]

I see people claiming that it's legally questionable for television shows - what is the difference b/w downloading a free tv show, for example, and taping it on a VCR/DVD recorder?


There's already been "fair use" and "personal copy" debates in the VCR/DVDr/DVR realm It's considered acceptable and I think "legal" to "copy" something being legally broadcast for personal use.
For me to download a movie or show (excluding legit things like downloading from ABC.com) means someone else has to upload it, and in most cases that first copy was illegally made; someone is now distributing content he has no right to distribute.
The downloading could be argued--I'm only watching it once then deleting it, I missed it, my DVR screwed up, I pay for that channel and forgot it was one etc.--except that at least for commercial TV, the cost of that program is being subsidized by the commercials. And even if you don't watch the commercials (which they are definitely trying to counter) if you FF them on a dvr, in most cases you're still seeing images of the products/programs advertised. On much legitimate downloadable content, they are adding commercials there--which you can't fast forward through.


Movies are a different matter (though mildly ambiguous - something constantly on the syndicated tv cycle, such as "Mr. Mom," may be one thing, while the new Transformers movie is much clearer). Few people argue the legal nature of downloading movies in theaters right now, for example. But, like you pointed out about people knowingly buying HK bootlegs on eBay, it may be illegal, but so is driving over the speed limit. Neither activity has the social stigma of other crimes, and many, many people do it (with great frequency, I might add).

True. But as I tell my four year old, just because *someone else* does it, doesn't make it right. Many illegal or immoral/unethical activities don't have the social stigma they used to (adultery for example), but some people still think they're wrong. In some cases I think the 'new' interpretation is correct (it wasn't long ago that serving people of nonwhite race in a restaurant was "morally wrong", and I think virtually everyone agrees that was the wrong thing), in some cases I think the new interpretation is wrong (the aforementioned adultery, divorce as a first option, etc.)
You can't say "for every movie downloaded, the industry/producer loses X.XX", but there is some impact. That impact is drastically lessened for syndicated and catalog titles like Mr. Mom, one download of that film might result in 2 people not buying it, or 3, whatever it takes; so the impact is so small it's virtually negligible. Sort of like prosecuting a kid who shoplifts a three cent piece of bubble gum, versus the guy price tag switching thousand dollar TVs.
All that said, I'll also admit I'm not a holy man, and I do speed. When deciding what to do or not to do, "is it legal" is only one factor, and not necessarily the most important factor; "is it right" and "what is the negative impact" are two other factors that must be weighed.

[Photomotoz]

Downloading a movie is not the same as checking it out from the library. The library copy has been paid for by the library, and you (assuming you pay taxes) do "own" the movie, you're just taking turns with watching it. You're not making unauthorized copies of it. It's very similar to if I buy the dvd, watch it, give it to my brother, who gives it to his friend, etc (as long as no copies are made of it.) We have an expectation of transferability with most products, that libraries and giving them away falls under.
Well since I pay my taxes I can borrow the movie right? Why not just get it from the internet instead of driving to the library. And the pirates would have had to buy the movie as well, the distripution is just larger. The principles remain the same. It is just ease of access. It is not as if I download a movie, burn it to a disc and keep it around forever. If I wanted that I would buy it, and I do.

Also, the library buys the copies either way. Where I get the movie has no effect. So if I get movies from the library they will not buy more copies, and if I get the online they do not buy less.


All that said, I'll also admit I'm not a holy man, and I do speed. When deciding what to do or not to do, "is it legal" is only one factor, and not necessarily the most important factor; "is it right" and "what is the negative impact" are two other factors that must be weighed.

The underlying factor of everything is really, "Who does this hurt?" When I download a movie it does not hurt anyone nor does it impede anything. People who download movies and keep them around with no intent of buying, that is an issue but I do not belive that the majority of people do that. I think most people just want to see it and do not download for the sake of owning it. I am not about go and buy something if I can't download it becuase that is not the point of downloading something in the first place, buying it and watching it are seperate.

[mykevermin]

True. But as I tell my four year old, just because *someone else* does it, doesn't make it right.

I'm not arguing rightness or wrongness, but I proposed the "it lacks social stigma and is widespread" argument to help understand why people do it. I put no stock in the "I hate big corporations so I'm going to steal a copy of 300" argument.

Once the movie industry can discover ways of circumventing a mass pattern in society, then we'll have an answer to stopping piracy. Punishing a micron of offenders won't stop pirates, any more than seeing someone pulled over will get you to stop speeding (once you're 400 yards from the police car).

I saw the impact of piracy the other week, as my wife and I stopped in to a record store I'd been going to since I waited the morning of Metallica's s/t album release. They had just fired half their staff and were having the worst day in history. Piracy killed them; they're still open (somewhat), and they pointed to another small store as where people go to for hipster/punk rock albums. The fault in that is, years ago, at this store's peak, there were 3 or so other record stores just like it in the area, and they had 3 storefronts of their own; all were making money hand over fist. At any rate, I'm blathering, and probably going way off topic; I just wanted to say I'm not here to make a moral argument in one direction or another, but, rather, point out that piracy is normative behavior in this day and age (not that it's a recent phenomenon, since it's been an issue for almost 30 years). Normative behavior is a hard thing to change.

[phreak5k]

Male 22

It always depends on the movie and the mood I'm in. For exampleI paid to go See Transformers on a spur of the moment and had no really plan to see it in theatres. Ratatouille, I definitely wanted to see but ended up waiting a couple of weeks to go see it. Same with Harry Potter. I'm planning on seeing the Simpsons movie when it comes out as well. Other movies I try to catch in theatres but it usually amounts to budget and time. When I was younger I pirated a good bit, but this was when I had no income or regular means to get to a theatre. I also buy a lot of dvds. This seems like the best way to show my support for production houses instead of the superplex that wants to charge you the same price as a ticket for snacks that cost them less than a dollar (popcorn and soda are really cheap). That said I usually try to go to the independent theatres (the Landmark chain is my favorite)more.

[lordwow]

I think your results are going to be extremely biased considering you're using a site where people are intentionally cheap.

It's expensive to go to the theater. I go if it's a movie I really want to see, but I almost always wait 3+ weeks to avoid the ridiculous crowds, and never go on weekends.

I also have a huge DVD collection, because I think there are a lot more great movies from the past I haven't seen then the crap that's coming on in theaters right now.

Male, 21

[onikage]

Other (Please Specify)

I stopped seeing new releases several years ago, though I still go to movies on a regular basis. There is a $1.50 theater fairly close to where I live which gets films roughly 6-8 weeks after their initial release. My girlfriend and I can go see 3 movies there for the price of a single ticket at most other places.

[camoor]

I don't download movies because I think the rental price is fair (esp with my 2 for 1 rental coupons) and the MPAA haven't begun acting like total aholes yet.

However I haven't bought a CD in over three and a half years because the RIAA are completely out-of-control and big labels are crushing the vibrant music scene with heavy-handed tactics designed to bring back the hopelessly bygone days when top 40 dominated the airwaves. I just listen to internet radio (which the RIAA is now desparately trying to mainstream and ruin with DRM)

[Lice]

About the poll being slanted, I’m very aware of the biased that comes installed with the type of user at cheapassgamer. Though I do believe the majority represent typical income of the population.

I have also put the poll up on many other websites that cater to different interests and age groups. I’m mainly looking for what tends to be the overall reasons etc for watching habits. I do appreciate you guys giving me the heads up and making sure I know what sort of info is being brought in.

Very interesting so far and thanks to all of you who have put your feedback in one way or another.

[RAMSTORIA]

the movie has to be something i am looking forward to a great deal to get me to go to the movies. i used to go a lot more when i was younger, but nowadays ill just buy the dvd if i think its something ill like (hey 20 bucks for a dvd, it costs at least that much for me and my gf to go out) or just get it on netflix. ive stopped downloading movies almost altogether now that i have netflix.

[Lice]

A little bump for the people who surf during the week!

[Full_Throttle]

You ought to have allowed multiple choices, even if it may have skewed your data. I normally watch it in the theaters, but I sometimes stream it online if it's late at night and I can't sleep or if I'm not in a right physiciological set for a theater: I have the shits, I'm half asleep, etc. Then I can just resume from where I paused.

[Autumn Star]

I see people claiming that it's legally questionable for television shows - what is the difference b/w downloading a free tv show, for example, and taping it on a VCR/DVD recorder?
There's a difference in downloading a TV show then recording it with your own VCR/DVD recorder. One very noticable difference is that in the VCR/DVD recording, there are television ads in; albeit you can usually fastfoward through them, they're still there. While in most TV shows that you download online, they're gone. Perhaps this may seem like a stupid reason to you and I, but it's definitely an issue.