And So It Begins: 20th Century Fox to End Film Distribution (http://news.doddleme.com/news-room/and-so-it-begins-20th-century-fox-to-end-film-distribution/)

heath

It was only a matter of time before one of the major studios dumped film prints. Many of the local movie theaters out here are more digital than film. I thought this would've happened a decade ago, but I'm happy it's here. No more scratched prints, out of frame shots, etc. And I saw this as a former film projectionist that did everything to ensure the picture and sound were accurate, while frustrated when it wasn't with other theaters.

heath

One of my closest friends has been working for a small family owned movie theater chain for well over a decade working his way up from concessions to managing the projection booths of a couple theaters.

When his theaters went all 4k digital he said to me "If anyone is going to be pissed about this, it would be me, because I'm loosing my current job (he preferred working in the booth & was getting transfered to a different position), but this is a good move."

I hope film never completely disappears because there is a special magic working with film ( for one thing I think anyone majoring in "digital film" / video should have to take a B&W photography & spend hours in a dark room getting their hands on the exposures), but digital is simply progress.

Excellent move. I hate watching film in a theater. Nothing worse than having the framing off - it drives me crazy!
I now do all I can to make sure I see the films projected in a digital format.

I've known for a long time that film was up against the ropes. But I never realized it's sudden collapse was so imminent. I was very wrong.