Finns share model for Star Trek spoof success Tue May 9, 2006 1:02 PM ET
By Tarmo Virki Reuters http://today.reuters.com/misc/PrinterFriendlyPopup.aspx?type=internetNews&storyID=2006-05-09T170202Z_01_L09621720_RTRUKOC_0_US-MEDIA-INTERNET-MOVIES.xml HELSINKI (Reuters) - The young makers of an Internet spoof of the science-fiction classic "Star Trek", seen by 3.5 million people in less than two months, are planning to create a film-making community on the Internet. Relying on free distribution over the Web, "Star Wreck: In the Pirkinning" became Finland's most viewed movie ever at the end of last year. The Star Wreck team is now working on a Web site that would enable anyone to provide ideas and offer know-how to film-makers, who would be able to sort through and decide which information they want to use. "The potential of the Net is enormous. If you're a Bulgarian film student, it might be an architect in Japan who could help you," director Timo Vuorensola told Reuters in an interview. "When Hollywood dominates 90 percent of the whole movie industry, it is hard to break into the international scene from smaller countries," he added. "Internet communities are by default international, and with the potential of the Internet, if you do a good movie, it will fly." Homemade film remixes have become increasingly popular due to the introduction of inexpensive computer software that can replicate expensive recording studios and film sets and to low-cost distribution on the Internet using peer-to-peer technologies such as BitTorrent. "Blockbusters have their own space. We are aiming to offer a good alternative and a channel for smaller players, who might have a very different style. We hope to bring the culture back to the film culture," Vuorensola said. BARE-BONES "Star Wreck: In the Pirkinning" is a full-length feature in Finnish with English subtitles. It was made by a group of students and other amateur film-makers with a bare-bones budget and a few personal computers to create elaborate special effects. The film has made some revenue from sales of DVDs through the group's Web site (http://www.starwreck.com/). "I think it gave (Star Trek studio) Paramount a heart attack," said Ted Cohen, a senior executive for music company EMI at a mobile media conference in Helsinki on Monday. "How do you monetise that?" The success of Star Wreck comes as the film industry grapples with the threats and opportunities of the Internet. Movie studios are fearful of the rampant piracy that has ravaged their counterparts in the music industry, but they are also hoping to use the Internet to cut distribution costs and open up new markets. The team announced on Tuesday they had started to work on the next movie, a science fiction comedy entitled "Iron Sky" (http://www.ironsky.net/). "We are interested in science fiction, and since Finland is a technology country, there is demand," Vuorensola said. In Finland, which is home for top mobile phone maker Nokia, Star Wreck has been shown in theatres only on special occasions For the new movie, the team may charge for Internet downloads and plans to seek theater distribution. "The Internet will be one channel, because payment methods will have definitely developed a lot by the time it's out. But it is still an open question whether it will be distributed also for free. We would very much like it, but it will depend a lot on the financiers," Vuorensola said. ================================ George Antunes, Political Science Dept University of Houston; Houston, TX 77204 Voice: 713-743-3923 Fax: 713-743-3927 antunes at uh dot edu Reply with a "Thank you" if you liked this post. _____________________________ MEDIANEWS mailing list medianews@twiar.org To unsubscribe send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
