Digital Film Technology

• The difference between digital film making and traditional film making is the medium upon which the images are captured, the distribution process and the projection of the final work. The actual process of writing a script, funding it, assembling the actors and crew and managing the logistics of the shoot are the same. Digital film is not really film at all. Digital productions are captured on hard drives just like those in a computer, but can also be caught on tape or flash memory.
  
  

Production Advantages

• Why digital? There are many advantages that are appealing to producer and production crew. Digital films are cheaper to make. The process of traditional film making requires the development of the film before footage can be seen, the need for it to be transferred to a digital medium in order to edit it and then be transferred back into a format that can be distributed and projected and then the cost of making a copy for each distribution outlet The cost of transferring the film into digital and back is no longer necessary with digital footage. The digital process is also much faster, saving the producer more time and money. The digital camera records footage that can be reviewed immediately. Mistakes in lighting or blocking are caught right away instead of the next day. The camera itself is lighter, easier to use. Traditional film can be lost, scratched or damaged easily.
  
  

Distributing Digital Movies

• In the past, distribution has been costly. Making copies and shipping are expensive when you are using reels of film. Digital films are less expensive to duplicate and ship which opens wide the distribution possibilities. Netflix is a great example of digital distribution. Digital film transferred by file over the Internet or sending a copy via regular mail, which simply involves managing the online files or duplicating the films onto DVD. There are no shipping costs for those viewed on line and minimal costs for shipping DVD's.
  
  

Digital Movie Projection

• Projection quality holds up with digital film. Traditional film can get dirty as the weeks of projection go by. It can be damaged and have to be replaced (costly) and it requires a knowledgeable projectionist to manage it. Digital film retains the same quality with every viewing and doesn't get damaged. The disadvantage for digital movies is the means of projection. Theaters must be outfitted properly in order to show movies delivered in digital formats and this can be costly, upwards of $150,000 or more for each screen.