The film industry pays when you don’t. Pirating, or watching illegal copies of films without the copyright holder’s consent, is practiced amongst individuals looking to bypass entertainment fines. But the framework of creators putting life into this art is crumbling at the hands of this very practice.
Hundreds of thousands of jobs are lost to the financial debt that piracy inflicts upon the industry. This not only affects the artists and their families but also viewers of films, as the quality of entertainment decreases as well. If a person has enough downtime to sit down and watch a film, it’s likely they can spare a few dollars to support the art they enjoy and the team of people who worked hard to create it. Especially for those of us living in Los Angeles, it’s worth remembering that billions of dollars are being drained from our very own entertainment-driven economy because of illegal film distribution.
In regards to the practice, script teacher Mr. Sweren-Becker says, “I find it offensive to the artists, and I think that the fans of this material should be excited to contribute to the industry and help others get paid instead of stealing it.” Artists, like any other profession, deserve to be paid for their work, so the next time you cringe at the price of a movie, try to keep in mind the team whose careers are depending on that revenue to support their ability to create more of your favorite entertainment.
Classical Arts Controversy