When it becomes more common, the distribution of films on the Internet will have the same revolutionary impact on the film industry as did the introduction of video in the 1970s. In fact, Internet distribution will require a complete rethinking of the film business-the streets will be lined with dead bodies and lottery winners.
Already, films that are shot on celluloid can be subsequently transferred to a digital file that is stored onto a computer server located anywhere in the world. In time, films will be shot digitally in the first instance, which will make this process easier. It will also expedite the digital transmission of films to theaters. A server can hold many films, and anyone with a personal computer will be able to access the server and download the film-for a reasonable fee, of course. There are several barriers to making this a reality, but these barriers are rapidly falling.
