Digital Impacting Film Distribution - Ashleigh + Abbie

Shot in digital, David Fincher’s ‘Gone Girl’ (2014) follows the story of Nick and Amy Dunn. Nick finds the spotlight turned on him by an intense media circus after he’s suspected of being not so innocent after his wife’s disappearance. An intense thriller, this Oscar nominated film had an estimated budget of $61,000,000, grossing $167,767,767 in American cinemas. This film being the fourth collaboration between David Fincher (Director) and Jeff Cronenweth (Cinematographer); it’s also known as the first feature film announced to be shot with the Red Dragon, sensor. As with Cronenweths previous collaborations with Fincher, it made history as the first feature film to have a 6K workflow.

Praised by both Fincher and Cronenweth, digital film allowed Fincher to film in the highest definition possible; shooting in 6K pulling rich colours and details from the highlights and shadows being filmed. Cronenweth being quoted saying; "you've given up a little magic, and you've given up a little texture" (filming in digital) "but you can work on that. There's ways of making a lot of that come back if you have enough time." As well as; "There's not many surprises with digital, but there's more risks you can take." A majority of digital film being easier to edit during the process so the final product it more clear through production encase changes want to be made, this enables takes to be more efficient as you can just watch what to alter on playback unlike with film where what's shot needs to be processed.

Although the negatives to using digital filming in the film-making process mostly centre production companies typically being a step behind the technological advancement and losing the 'experience' of traditional film, the positives of converting to digital are much more rewarding and worth the alteration; films are cheaper to produce and distribute, 3D and IMAX now enhance the viewing experience, allows simultaneous global release, digital data being capable of being downloaded by satellite reduces the risk of film reels going 'astray', etc...