Audiences won’t sour on 3D movies any time soon. At least not according to Sony Pictures chairman and CEO Michael Lynton, who sat for the keynote conversation at USC Law School’s annual Institute on Entertainment Law and Business on Saturday.
During an interesting lunchtime chat with Institute chairBruce Ramer, Lynton was asked whether Hollywood’s 3D obsession is just a passing fad.
“Is it a fad?” Lynton answered. “I think the history of cinema and imagery is a history of the human eye. 3D has come along at a moment where we as a culture can understand the images. That means it’s not a fad.”
Lynton, in a broad discussion that touched on everything from corporate synergy to online marketing to the future of Sony’s specialty division, acknowledged that 3D isn’t for every movie, but he argued that as the novelty wears off, moviegoers will still be drawn to the enhanced experience.
“It may temper down, and we as an industry may adjust to it, but some things that were frustrating about the experience will level out,” Lynton said. He cited improved 3D glasses for children as the kind of innovation that will continue to justify 3D surcharges.
Ramer also asked how the broadband revolution will impact piracy. Lynton cited what happened in South Korea when broadband penetration reached 80 percent: the DVD business disappeared and each studio shut its home entertainment division there. “We know what the future looks like if we don’t have those protections in place,” Lynton warned.
Ramer also asked how much Sony was committed to the independent film business. Lynton took the opportunity to express support for Sony Pictures Classics, one of the few remaining specialty divisions left buying indie films. “[Co-presidents] Michael Barker and Tom Bernard are in my opinion the best in the business,” he said.”I think they’ll be here long after I’m gone.”
The Lynton keynote was a highlight of the daylong gathering of entertainment lawyers. We saw tons of familiar faces and, as always, learned a lot. Special thanks to the experts on the social media panel we moderated: MySpace general counsel Lin Cherry; Jordan McCallum, vp and counsel at Disney Interactive Media Group; and Twitter legal counselTony Wang.
original post: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/blogs/thr-esq/usc-institute-sonys-michael-lynton-32276