Date: Mon, 18 Apr 2005 11:38:56 -0500
From: thaughey <thaughey at acnet.net>
To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: Enterprise - the end is nigh!
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>

Oh that I had broadband so I could!  I see your point, but we've still
got a way to go on the distribution side.  "Cheap" and "talent" are also
words that don't usually fit together well or that don't last long when
they do. --Tom Haughey

Mike B. wrote:

>At 10:47 AM 4/18/05 -0500, thaughey wrote:
>
>>of the big budget SciFi series.  If it dies, who's likely to want to
>>shell out two million per episode in the future for a really
>>well-scripted show chocked full of expensive special effects?  --Tom Haughey
>>
>
>I think we are rapidly approaching the point where such things won't be
>necessary...and neither will networks.
>
>The advancing capabilities of home computers and animation software,
>combined with things like motion capture systems and the ready availability
>of people who like to act and are good at it, and the net for
>sale/distribution, will make it possible to put out shows like Enterprise
>at a fraction of the cost of today's shows, and those with the interest
>will be able to do them at home, or nearly so.
>
>When a camera cost $100,000 and you had to build sets, pay for pyrotechnics
>and other special effects, hire stuntmen, and get the final product into
>limited slots on the few outlet channels that existed, big powerful
>networks were inevitable.
>
>Now that a good camera costs under $5000 (or even a fraction of that), and
>you can do sets and pyrotechnics and stunts in the computer (which costs
>about as much as an engine overhaul in a typical car, even with the
>software), and you've got much expanded numbers of distribution channels on
>cable and satellite, not to mention the 'net, big powerful networks are
>rapidly approaching obsolescence.
>
>_Sky Captain_ showed how much you can do in the computer, and "405 The
>Movie" showed what you can do in your spare time at home (anyone who hasn't
>seen it, go watch it...it's flat out amazing what they managed with what
>they had...i.e. no budget, spare time and home computer and video
>equipment).  I think these are just the beginning.  It's the beginning of
>the end for big studios IMHO.
>
>I'm thinking that the next incarnation of the "fanzine" is going to be the
>"fanshow" or even "fanseries"...though probably not with those names... ;-)
>
>405 The Movie is at:  http://www.405themovie.com/  Watch the movie (about 3
>minutes long) *before* you check out the rest of the site (which explains
>how they made it).  There's more going on in the movie than you are likely
>to notice without being told about it...
>
>-- Mike B.
>