As we were growing up, a documentary would be something that casually popped up on TV screens on a Sunday evening or after a TV show that you genuinely wanted to watch. Without the internet, we had to rely solely on sporadic screenings used to fill up time or rent DVD and  videos from shops and libraries. However, now with Netflix and illegal online sites, our homes are being flooded with an influx of information and material through high quality docufilms. The rise in popularity of these was reflected in last year’s Cannes Film Festival with documentaries comprising 16% of the films shown, the highest it’s ever been.

But why choose to watch a documentary? What made titles such as Making a Murderer, Iris and others so successful? The reality is that docufilms serve to convey information or a storyline in an incredibly concise manner. The people making the film have done their research and found the best way of conveying the story to you. Watching documentaries is possibly the easiest way of educating yourself on a subject and reduces the amount of time you need to become otherwise informed.

So what made the once niche films that had to be sought out so popular? The answer lies in the fact that the prevalence of documentaries on Netflix is due to their entertaining and accessibly manner. Rather than choosing what to watch all you have to do is log on and scroll through a list of suggestions and Google the name to see if it’s worth watching. This rise has not just been isolated to Netflix as other providers such as Amazon Prime and TV channels such as Sky also offer an extensive library of choices. Regardless of these new services, content can always be found through streaming websites as well as YouTube.

 

What’s interesting about the documentaries on YouTube in particular is that they tend to be of an older and lower quality than those on Netflix, mostly as they care more about informing the public than profits. Netflix and other providers have an edge in that they present documentaries in a polished and accurate way, something which is hard to find elsewhere on the internet.

However, it’s obvious that with this ease of viewing and access that Netflix has become a double-edged sword. Why would anybody bother going to the cinema and spending hard earned money when for the same price they could watch any films they wanted for an entire month? The film industry not only has had to redirect  itself in terms of marketing and sales but also through the actual production of the film itself. A notable film in recent times which was only ear marked for success on the small screen was Loving. Surprisingly,, it resulted in Ruth Negga receiving an Oscar nomination and was seen more frequently than expected in cinemas. The close-up shots which would have boded well on a television or laptop screen and which conveyed the closeness of the protagonists’ relationship was far too out of proportion and overwhelming in the setting of a cinema.

 

Whereas Netflix is producing a new line of films tailor made to fit the laptop and television screen, there is a probability that these films will fail at festival level and therefore their only acclaim will be through that of their viewers. This problematizes the film industry for those who have become accustomed to trying to get films to festival level and to be screened by companies. With this change the film industry is undoubtedly evolving and filmmakers have no choice but to react.

The obvious change which can be noted in Netflix’s production increase and use is the availability of films and TV shows on demand. There is a build up to the release but we are no longer restricted to the typical cinema release and subsequent DVD sales which used to make up our film consumption.

Netflix, in a way, has liberated the viewer, enabling them to enjoy the content in any space which they chose. Paying a tenner a month for Netflix and getting to pick whatever you want and wherever you want is far cheaper than spending a tenner on each cinema visit, and you are also not limited to a certain schedule. This creates a conundrum for the viewer. Do we continue to support films when they come to our cinema and buy the subsequent DVD? Or do we do what’s easiest and sign up to Netflix knowing we’ll save money. It’s a Difficult position for both the consumer and the producer as both parties will have to start looking at where to invest, viewers looking at what is best for them and filmmakers having to look into which is the most fruitful way to secure funding for their films in the future. It’s concerning for the film industry but the reality is this moment in cinematic history has been coming for quite some time, only time can tell what will happen.