On Ethical Piracy
In late December, indie filmmaker Ti West was bracing for the release of his new film “The Innkeepers.” Like his last picture, “House of the Devil,” it’s a low budget horror film that’s low in cheap scares but high in atmosphere. He directed and wrote both of them himself.
Before the release, West took to the internet to make his case for the legal purchase of his movie (it’s getting a very limited theatrical run, coupled with VOD distribution) instead of downloading it. He said that he wouldn’t end up profiting off to it either way, and still hadn’t seen anything from “Devil,” which was released in 2009.
But he argued that people need to pay for these types of films because, if they didn’t, no one would step up to bankroll these small, idiosyncratic pictures and opt instead to produce an endless line of droll sequels, remakes and films where Taylor Lautner is stoically looking into cameras. Anyone who pirated the film would be sending a message to the people with money that these types of ventures were not financially viable.
I had been looking forward to this film for a long time. Quite a few people had, in fact. But the people that were looking forward to it all had a common thread: they were people that pay attention to the indie film market- specifically the horror one. It’s a very particular group of people. And general audiences still have no idea this movie exists, despite its on demand presence. This audience, myself included, were going to see this film no matter what. And I pulled the download trigger.
This is a great film, delicately balancing some very funny material with the richly dark. There are great, understated performances for a film of its budget, and everyone looks like they had a good time. It’s no masterpiece. There have been better horror entries coming out of Europe recently. But it is one of the best American genre pictures I’ve seen in some time. It deserves to be seen.
I plan to purchase the film once it gets a proper DVD release (it’s put out by Magnolia Pictures, and they always do a good job with home video). I also plan on making the drive to see it when it comes to Madison on the 17th of February. I plan on recommending it to friends who are into such things. But until then, it is not playing on demand with my cable company. So I watched it.
Meanwhile, I’ve already seen “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” twice in theaters, paying $18 total- not counting the hour drive to and fro the theater playing it in my area. Knowing myself, it’s a safe bet that I’ll purchase that film as well. But perhaps I want to see it again, in that purgatory between its VOD release and DVD one. Should I pay another $9 to see it in theaters, bringing my total to $27 and added gas expenses? Or should I download it, watch it at leisure, and then pay the requisite $20 for the DVD or Blu Ray once it’s available?
This is a distinctly 21st Century dilemma. One for which ethical piracy can provide an answer. It’s an alternative that has arisen after hands were forced by ridiculous prices. Louis C.K.’s recent independent release of his comedy show for $5 demonstrated very efficiently the demand for affordable, malleable media.
The more access one has to good media, the easier it is to spread the word about it. Because as of late, I have no way to show my friends (the people who would appreciate it) Mr. West’s last effort without a go-between.
Furthermore, the video-on-demand market is a dumping ground for cinematic toenail clippings. You have to wade through it for gems, and even then aren’t sure whether you want to pull the trigger. Most people look for things they already know and love, or films they recognize have had a wide release (something people mistakenly view as a sign of quality). So in practice, films like “The Innkeepers” get skimmed over anyway- because no one has provided money to advertise them and people balk at spending $7 for a film they know nothing about.
Miss Tori Amos, whom I would never blaspheme, recently went on record about the attention she gave to her CD packaging, saying that online downloads lose some of the “essence” of the album. Strike, true, Tor. I have downloaded her last 3 albums before they were released. I also scurried out and bought the deluxe editions on their day of release (the care in the packaging and presentation really does show). The simple fact is, I am far too impatient when it comes to getting either a nicotine or Tori fix; and they’re equally powerful.
Saying we need to end internet piracy is just as much a platitude as an attempt to end terrorism. The answer here is the reformation of business models. Five dollar downloads are a good start. I have no problem with keeping a folder full of cheap MPEG-4s, and then buying those same films on hard formats. Whatever form the answer comes in, it is not in the scattershot approach of filing suit against consumers or legislating away tormenting sites.
Something has to give.
