Free Movie Websites - Ethics?

Alright, I've been getting free movies off the web for... years.  But just recently I've been questioned by a friend about the ethics of it.  And honestly, I've never really felt like it was that big a deal before...

As an impoverished university student I can't really afford to pay $11 for a movie, and then $7 for popcorn... so if I didn't do this I'd see far less movies. 

But of course, my friend brought up the valid point of... what if everyone did this?  Am I inhibiting art?

I kind of feel like if everyone did this movies would just rake in far less money... people would still go to the theatre, because it would be on the big screen, and it's kind of like a social event (I mean, I still do go, just to be out with the bf, etc), - they'd just go less.  And maybe the Angelina Jolies of the world wouldn't make $16-20 million every movie...

What do you guys think?  How many other people download free movies/music off the internet?

if everybody does it, they'll just start making a lot fewer movies.

it's not the angelinas of the world that i worry about; it's the extras, the crew members, the craft service people, the writers, etc.  we'll see more and more animated/CGI movies that can be made in labs and don't require nearly as many human beings (who need to be paid).  indy films will be virtually non-existant, because nobody will be willing to fund them.

nope, i don't do it.  i figure if a product has value, it's worth paying for; and if it doesn't have value, why would i steal it?

Original Post by pgeorgian:

 

it's not the angelinas of the world that i worry about; it's the extras, the crew members, the craft service people, the writers, etc. 

 Sums it up pretty well, though I admit I am guilty of downloading quiet a few things.  I do still go to the theatre 2-3 times a month.  :P

The 'downloaded' or 'pirated' movies that I watch are movies I wouldn't otherwise see. I do go to the movies about once a month, and rent movies maybe twice per month. I buy a few per year. I watch whatever movies play on tv. The movies I watch online are movies I wouldn't have paid to see in theatres or rented. So the way I see it, they aren't losing money from me.

However, if I replaced the movies I see in theatres, rent, or buy with pirated stuff, then it wouldn't really be right would it?

That's the way I see it anyways.

What bothers me most is people that agree its wrong, and then do it anyway... honestly, if you feel like it's wrong then why don't you stop?

Pretty much everyone I know downloads free music, and movies.  And yet 60% of the people you ask about it are like, 'yeah, I guess it's wrong... we're robbing the artists'.  Well, then why don't you stop?!?!

If you don't think it's wrong/are morally ignorant of the consequences of your actions, then it's one thing.  But if you know, and then do it anyway, then its another.

PEOPLE THAT DOWNLOAD FREE MUSIC/MOVIES ARE STEALING!!!!!!  (It doesn't matter if you wouldn't buy it anyway... then don't watch it if the time and effort that these people put into the product isn't worth your money)

I think it's fine to get free movies off the internet.  Infact, a friend of mine recommended doing it after she found out how much money I spent on renting movies at Blockbuster.  The only problem is that the quality isn't as good as the DVD itself or on the bigscreen, so if I really like the movie, then I would rather rent it.  In my opinion, downloading movies isn't "inhibiting art" because most of the crap being churned out on the bigscreen isn't worth the $11 cover charge or even paying $4.50 at Blockbuster for a rental, so I wouldn't worry about it too much. 

it's not worth $4.50, but it's worth two hours of your time?

people really can rationalize anything.

lol, hey anything free is worth my time.  I don't download movies very often though--the last one I saw (and promise not to laugh) was... Paul Blart: Mall Cop. 

see, that's not even worth the bandwidth.

Surprisingly enough I actually liked that movie.

huh.  too bad you didn't pay for it.

I once stole a candy from a baby.  :O

lol

I rent.  Can't afford to go to the theater.  Rarely do we download anything. 

I buy good movies.

Original Post by pgeorgian:

if everybody does it, they'll just start making a lot fewer movies.

You think?  I just thought that they'd start putting a lot more advertising on the internet/regulate the sites, so that the profit goes to the movie makers... there's a lot of profit to be made on the internet, and tv is free, right? Yet they still make tv shows...

Also, people will still want to go see the movie in theatres... get the total movie experience, especially if it's a good movie.

Original Post by greenink:

Original Post by pgeorgian:

if everybody does it, they'll just start making a lot fewer movies.

You think? 

yes, i think.

the movie industry is already suffering.  when people complain about the quality of movies coming out of hollywood, that can be chalked up to lower theatre and rental revenues, due in good part to illegal downloading and counterfeiting.

instead of interesting, well-written, character-driven films, we're getting more and more formulaic garbage that requires less and less talent to produce.

why do you think the writers went on strike?

the next time you watch a movie, watch the credits.  pay attention to the hundreds and hundreds of people who worked on that film, most of whom earned a very modest hourly wage, and see how good you feel about stealing that product.

and then ask yourself how you would feel if someone said you had to go to work tomorrow, but your wages were going to go into someone else's pocket.

Original Post by pgeorgian:

instead of interesting, well-written, character-driven films, we're getting more and more formulaic garbage that requires less and less talent to produce.

why do you think the writers went on strike?

I don't think that interesting well-written films are in decline at all... in fact, I think there are way more being produced now then 10, 20, 30, years ago.   

Also, the fact that formulaic garbage is being produced is because people pay money to watch 'formulaic garbage' -- a formulaic action fic with Vin Deisal, and a lot of fancy explosion scenes costs way more to make then a unique, well written think piece about two gay cowboys, or the first female serial killer.  The people that wrote the action flick, and the people that wrote the unique script got payed roughly the same.

As to why the writers went on strike... the reason was sited as "greatly diminishing the monetary compensation the writers got in comparison with the large studios." In otherwords, the studios were making tons of money, and writers weren't getting a fair percentage.  It had nothing to do with illegal pirating, etc.

This thread is very ironic to me since I showed my co-worker how to use bit torrents and their clients earlier today.  x_x;;

Original Post by frokusblakah:

This thread is very ironic to me since I showed my co-worker how to use bit torrents and their clients earlier today.  x_x;;

You criminal

Original Post by greenink:

Original Post by frokusblakah:

This thread is very ironic to me since I showed my co-worker how to use bit torrents and their clients earlier today.  x_x;;

You criminal

 ;o

Original Post by greenink:

I don't think that interesting well-written films are in decline at all... in fact, I think there are way more being produced now then 10, 20, 30, years ago.   

Also, the fact that formulaic garbage is being produced is because people pay money to watch 'formulaic garbage' -- a formulaic action fic with Vin Deisal, and a lot of fancy explosion scenes costs way more to make then a unique, well written think piece about two gay cowboys, or the first female serial killer.  The people that wrote the action flick, and the people that wrote the unique script got payed roughly the same.

As to why the writers went on strike... the reason was sited as "greatly diminishing the monetary compensation the writers got in comparison with the large studios." In otherwords, the studios were making tons of money, and writers weren't getting a fair percentage.  It had nothing to do with illegal pirating, etc.

pirating means lost income for everyone in the business.  i don't see how you can deny that.

you're contradicting yourself here.

you're forgetting about royalties.  yes, your typical blockbuster costs more initially, but once it's made, the costs are minimal and profits are easy.  you can bet the writer(s) responsible for the vin diesel gets paid a lot less initially, because they probably didn't have to come up with any original ideas - just some dialogue and maybe a concept.  they didn't have to create and sell anything.  the royalties, thanks to the idiocy of the movie-going public, are where the real money comes in. 

a writer developing an original screenplay, or an adaptation, can work for years with no income before ever seeing a dime (if they ever do).  but like i said, it's not just about the writers.

and i hardly consider Brokeback Mountain and Monster to be on the fringe.  don't suppose you've seen The Children's Hour.  that (studio) film tackled repressed homosexuality in 1961.