The two reasons I pirate films are thus: either I cannot get instant access to the movie any other way (Netflix, Hulu, iTunes) OR I cannot obtain the film any other way (purchasing a US region DVD…example, The Gate II was never released on DVD in the US, and my DVD players are region locked, so Bittorrent it is). I would much rather pay the people that made the film so I can own it, that way I can make my digital copy for streaming around my house, iPad on the go, etc, but the unfortunate fact of the matter is that some of the best films just dont get US distribution. Saw this on Netflix last night, loved it like I have not loved a film in a decade.

The cinema business model is in as rapid flux as production technology, which is exploding. Frankly, as an artist, I have always been offended by how much of the proceeds from our efforts ends up in the pockets of middle men.

I have hopes that the business model that finally emerges from this transformation will be one where the artist and their audience are in an authentic community, where artists will get the bulk of the money that their audience is willing to pay, and that the audiences will fundamentally determine the type of material and the artists who are successful.

If the anti piracy arguments were really valid, then publicly-funded libraries would have made authors obsolete. Brewster Kahle has pointed out that anything that can be copied will be copied, and rightly so. He says the only thing we will be able to monetize will be those things that cannot be copied, like relationships and access.

I love the idea that all knowledge and all art will be available to everyone all the time, I think this can precipitate a quantum leap in spiritual and intellectual evolution of our ziet geist. But I want my colleagues and students to continue to be able to support themselves making art, and I want to see an increased quantity, variety and quality of art in the world.

I'm not all together sure how this will come to be, but I have some faith that an evolutionary process that draws on the amazingly powerful cultural appeal artists seem to have, the good will of audiences, and enlightened legislation will lead to this world of more and better art and artists.

The movie left a huge impression on me. Thank you all.

I'm a musician and offer all my work for free to DL as the market is so swamped there seems no way to monetize what I do, instead I've built a moderate following of "fans" that really appreciate what I do and give. I understand you can't do that in the film industry due to the costs and time involved in making a feature length production. I know piracy is wrong but I feel it a shame that larger distributors don't (more like wont) recognize that for the small guys it provides and proves there is an audience, in your case a very large one, that would be willing to pay if the film could get the backing it deserves.

Any way enough of my ramblings.
I my view you have created a modern classic and easily one of my favourite films ever made.
(also the music is incredible and I can't stop listening to it!)