The Digital Revolution

Post by BUILTIN BUILTIN
http://www.dv.com


This data is in regard to the films released theatrically in the United States in 2007 and how many of them were originated digitally, as opposed to on film. Ten years ago, this was unheard of. Today, it is becoming more and more commonplace — but just how commonplace is it? What are the trends and how firmly has the digital revolution taken hold?
There is no doubt that digital technology has firmly taken hold of the postproduction world – and there's no going back. Post, for the majority of films made today, is nearly 100% digital. There are a few die-hard hangers-on, but they are as rare as a spotted owl in the middle of Times Square.
If you believe the PR hype from camera manufacturers and newbie know-it-alls, everything is shot digitally now-a-days... But, alas, that is not the case. For the last 100 years, 35mm film has been the primary origination medium in the motion picture industry (and it still reigns king in the theatrical world) but there are exceptions, and digital origination is taking a strong foothold in the business — not just with independent filmmakers.
In 2007, there were 628 films theatrically released in the United States. Utilizing a combination of the official qualification list from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, full release list from Boxofficemojo.com and the Internet Movie Database as the principal sources of information, I have complete technical data for 404 of those films (224 films have no technical data listed).
Of the 404 films (and please note I use the term "films" to represent any motion picture whether digital or film) 363 of them were live-action fictional narrative films. I exclude animated films (nearly 100% digital these days) and documentary films (have long been shot on "amateur" — or inexpensive — formats such as 16mm and video) from the statistical data.