Evolution of the film industry over the last decade

By Josh Murphy

**“I'm a storyteller; that's what exploration really is all about. Going to places where others haven't been and returning to tell a story they haven't heard before.” Film Director, James Cameron**

The film and entertainment industry is constantly changing and evolving. Over the last decade and a half, there has been a massive shift in not only how films are made but also how they are viewed. Whether it be technology, streaming services or the current most popular genres, all these changes have proven to have an everlasting effect on the industry.

The past few years have seen films continually try to push the limits of visual effects in an effort to create more believable and realistic effects that can stand up next to real actors without the audience being able to tell the difference. The level of what is on screen improves as technology and the tools used to create these fantastical characters do. More movies are now being filmed primarily on green screen sets, leaving the rest of the movie to VFX specialists. This has caused VFX artists to become just as an important part of these films as the Hollywood actors that star in them. Iron Man star Robert Downey, Jr even said that visual effects artists are the "unsung heroes" behind all these huge blockbuster movies.

“I had a fascination with 3D that goes back to the View-Master. I’d always dreamed of making a film in 3D. It’s like a combination of theatre and film. There’s something 3D gives to a movie that takes you to another land.” Martin Scorses

Some of the most Influential newly developed technologies are Virtual studios and the use of game engines for film production. These two recent technological advancements have seen widespread use. The big advantage of game engines is that they work dynamically and in real-time and are very versatile when it comes to recreating environments. This allows for more genuine reactions from the performers when seeing the breathtaking virtual environments in real-time instead of just looking at a green screen.

Deep dive on how James Cameron changed the world of VFX forever

The film industry has seen a lot of changes in the way films are distributed and consumed. The rise of streaming services such as Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime has changed the landscape for consumers, who now have access to thousands upon thousands of movies at their fingertips. This has led to a decline in people attending traditional movie theatres as people opt to watch films at home instead.

This decline is shown by the total annual ticket sales in the US dropping from 1.32 billion in 2010 to 860 million in 2023.

Stuart Muirhead, Teacher of Media and English, said: “There is an awful lot more content being produced, and I think as a result of that, there are more options for independent filmmakers to get their movies out there on popular streaming sites. It has also created a new studio system with Netflix and Amazon coming to the forefront and Disney and Paramount being already established studios that have had to adapt and create their own streaming services.”

“Like any new technology, it's easy to think back to the past and think it was better then. But it is what it is now. You can't put that back in the box. If you think about what happened with the music industry maybe 20 years ago with MP3s and then, you know, all the streaming sites, I think it's kind of similar.

You know, imagine what it was like in the 1980s at the height of the blockbuster movement, imagine what it was like say pre-talky film, these massive changes have made the industry completely change in the past and that's always happening. the revolution from a motion picture to motion picture with sound to a picture with sound, then the blockbuster to CGI to 3D, Film is always revolutionizing itself and we've got to accept it.”

***“How do people relate to movies now, when they're on portable devices or streaming them? It's not as much about going to the movies. That experience has changed.” Keanu Reeves***

Over the last decade and a half, there has been a major shift in what genres are popular. The two genres that have gone through the largest changes are Superhero movies and horror movies. These genres have started to gain a lot more respect when it comes to creating well-made, intelligent movies that push an important message instead of the way they are more generically perceived, like being all about the action or the blood and gore. The movie “Get Out” by Jordan Peele is one of the best examples of the way the horror genre can be used to effectively tell a story. Although the film, on the surface, is a body-snatching, gore-filled horror, deep down, it tackles hard racial issues like white supremacy and slavery.

“Part of what horror is, is taking risks and going somewhere that people think you're not supposed to be able to go, in the name of expressing real-life fears.” Jordan Peele

Stuart Muirhead said: “I think the horror genre is going through different changes; it's not the slasher kind of thing anymore. I think they are being taken more seriously, especially a film like ‘Get Out’ that has a lot more depth to it; it’s trying to say something else. I’ve heard people use the term elevated horror to try and push the point that we are using the medium of horror to say something different.

The film industry has evolved in many ways over the past decade. One of the most obvious shifts is that it's become more inclusive, both in terms of who makes films and who watches them. For example, in 2010, there were no major releases starring people of colour; by 2016, this number had increased to 7%. And while some may argue this is not enough progress, we've seen a lot more diverse casts recently than ever before. Films like Black Panther, Shang-Chi and Crazy Rich Asians show us what can happen when directors take risks with casting choices and let their imaginations run wild instead of sticking with traditional roles or stories told before.

Stuart Muirhead said: “I think it’s especially important to the industry right now, there will be a point where I won’t be unusual and that is hopefully what we’re getting towards. It’s important that everyone is getting to put themselves out there and that everyone feels represented, this idea of stories not being heard, being heard and people not being seen, being seen.”

The film industry has responded to these changes by creating new business models and production methods. For example, Netflix has made a name for itself as a streaming service that offers original content such as “House of Cards” and “Orange is the New Black”. This allows them to bypass traditional distribution channels like theatres or television networks and reach audiences directly through their website or app.

In addition, there is also an increase in short films being produced because they are cheaper than feature-length movies and easier to produce on small budgets with limited resources.

It's clear that the film industry has evolved dramatically over the past decade. From 2010 to the present day, we've seen an increase in the number of films being produced and released each year; however, this growth has not come without its challenges. The rise of streaming services like Netflix and Disney+ has caused some studios to rethink their business models. Films will continue to grow and change as long as it exists. The magic has been there since the beginning of motion pictures, and I have no doubt that this industry will continue to have a significant impact on people all around the world as it has done for the last 120 years.