Importance of the Internet in Film

One of the things that I have noticed in the past few years is an increase in the amount of films that are either funded by online help, or heavily influenced by the internet and the access to the public that it provides. Though they vary in success, the following films hold a similarity in the fact that they all were heavily influenced by the internet.

Inside (2011)

Directed by D. J. Caruso, this movie is a social thriller that was divided into several short episodes, thus allowing influence from the viewers in between the release of each episode. The film was sponsored by Intel and Toshiba, and gained interest in its unique approach to the plot; people online were asked to give feedback on each episode, and the viewers were able to audition online for a part in the film, this gaining a great deal of interest. While this film was not an extreme success, it did gain a lot of interest based entirely on its association with the internet, creating a plot that centred around social networking and how it can influence ones life, as well as creating an experience to be enjoyed online, as opposed to a film that must be purchased or seen in a cinema. 

The Devil's Carnival (2012)

Directed by Darren Lynn Bousman, this film was an independent venture that would not have received much attention had it not been for his previous film, Repo! the Genetic Opera, which gained the cast and crew a cult following. Due to this following, they were able to advertise The Devil's Carnival via the internet, reaching not only those that followed them already but also a wider audience that came across their videos. This project comes across as a far more personal one than the other two examples as it is the crew that make videos directly aimed towards the audience, either discussing the production of the film or how they are able to access the film. Considering the fact that the premise of this film would lead to a very select viewership, the only way in which this film could have been made was independently, without the help of a studio. Without the use of the internet and the advertisement it can bring, this film would not have gained the funding it required nor would it have been seen by the public as it did not have the distribution that mainstream films gain.

The Muppets (2011)

Long before the release of The Muppets, a channel on YouTube was created with videos unrelated to the film being released. These videos inspired more interest in the franchise, particularly in a generation who was now used to the internet, but had perhaps not had a chance to watch previous films and television related to The Muppets. Without this coverage, there would have perhaps not been as much anticipation in the lead up to the film considering far less people would have been introduced to the franchise. Considering the level of approval that was given to this film, and the intake it had at the box office, one could see how the influence that these YouTube videos had on younger audiences.