The “new Internet economy” keeps making promises to short film that it can’t seem to keep. I shudder a bit when they call it “Web 2.0,” but I guess something’s easier to sell if it has a name. While it’s too early to call it a complete farce, it appears that 2.0 is just a new version of 1.0’s(?) speculation. The speculation over the first boom was seen in stock values and venture capital, while 2.0’s is seen in corporate acquisitions (of content delivery and, increasingly, social network sites). Will Harris has written a nice explanation of 2.0 HERE, and then eventually rips it apart.
There are a million short films on line, but it still remains hard finding consistently good work. 2.0 promised to be a boon to short content –makers—remember the sale of iFilm?—but not much has changed. Other than these websites being loaded down with new ads.
There are certainly new digital avenues opening up—I watch Google Video and YouTube as much as the next person—but (1) these have yet to deliver anything resembling art, and (2) the new acquisitions in this web market are simply ridiculous. Though enjoyable, really; I can’t wait to see how Rupert recoups his half billion he spent on Myspace.
As you probably knew already, it remains for us to find good film in theaters and on DVD.
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