Fred588 wrote:....And this opens up a real danger, I think. While the costs have been reduced, they have not been reduced to zero. The major producers of video, for example, still spend upwards of five figures a year (and the first digit is not a one). The danger is that too many people will come to feel that they need not lift a finger to get what they want; that somehow everything should be delivered without charge, and probably without asking. That of course, will lead to the opposite effect, as there won't be any new material produced.
Fred,
I couldn't agree with you more. No one should consider himself or herself entitled to any of these materials without paying for them. I don't buy much because of my limited income. However, I'm not going to whine about things costing too much, either. I'm also not going to try to finagle some underhanded way of getting it. As I see it, that's the same as stealing it.
You are an artist, but you are also a businessman, and you are entitled to a fair return on your investment. Without that fair return, you wouldn't make the movies. They cost too much to be done as a hobby. That is, unless you're one of those filthy rich people I described as the ones who had car phones in the old days.
I don't know that much about production costs. However, from what I've seen, I can tell it takes a lot of money and time to produce one of these films. In many respects, it's remarkable the prices are as low as they are. I believe you and the other producers are to be commended for your efforts at keeping the prices at a reasonable level. I know none of you are going to become the next Bill Gates by doing this.
If I have the money, I'll be glad to give some of it to you if you have a product that I want. That's what free enterprise is all about. I wish I had more money to give you for your products, but that's life. I'm just glad there are people like you, Dave, Kaol and all the others who do what you do.
Big Bad John