5 Question Texted Interview: Alan Smithee








this installment of the texted interview was with our friend Alan Smithee. He spent 7 years of his life on the other side of the video store counter from you and movies are his thing even when he's not working (think Jack Bauer meets Blockbuster Video)

WSU:Alan, as the internet becomes more pervasive, what do you see for the future of film/video/cable distribution?

AS: I see only limited bandwidth in the US keeping us from already having streaming ‘everything’ in most houses. The concept of TV will change to a more fluid concept.

WSU: Are we ever going to stop ‘going to the movies’?

AS: Not any time soon. Hollywood will continue to find ways to make the ‘movies’ an experience. Until we can replicate that at home—we will go to the movies.

WSU: Fair enough. If I want to see a movie after it has left theaters, at this point I can make a trip to a ‘video store’ or go with one of the newest options including ordering on demand from my TV, have a movie mailed to me, or just find a redbox @ the supermarket. In light of these new options, how much longer will the video store option be around?

AS: The last video store will close on February 19^th, 2014 at 6:17pm.

WSU: Wow, that is a precise prediction—I think a lot of other people feel video stores are in trouble as well. How does a behemoth like Blockbuster adapt and how will they make money in March 2014 and beyond?

AS: They will not. Blockbuster is like the Titanic—too large and slow to turn with technology now. Big Blue will not be the last door to close.

WSU: What comes in to fill the void? That is a lot of movie renting that will happen elsewhere if they go away. Who will pick up the slack?

AS: I think we’re seeing a lot from Netflix and redbox, but the rebellion will likely be led by the cable providers and networks themselves (hulu.com).

Only time will tell what the future holds for Blockbuster..I tend to agree that everything will be online, but I am pretty sure Sony is not going to go down without a fight..an epic fight best viewed on your home theater on....blu-ray...