Films were produced by big companies in the past, but today people are able to make a film. Do you think this trend is positive or negative?

Sample 1:

Filmmaking is no longer exclusive to large companies because individuals and smaller companies can make films too. In my opinion, this trend is reshaping the film industry in both positive and negative ways.

The first benefit is that filmmaking becoming increasingly more accessible has brought opportunities to ones who pursue filmmaking careers. The access to the knowledge needed to make films on the Internet and cheaper and easier to use technologies for shooting and distributing films has helped to discover talented people. For example, many young and amateur filmmakers are able to make films which are well-received by the general public, using simple handheld devices and posting them on free video-sharing websites such as Youtube.

Another advantage is that films made by smaller producers promote the development of cinematography. Large film studios which are often out to make money first and art second have a tendency to focus on some dominant genres and familiar topics such as superheroes, comedy or romantic; also, their products might be censored too heavily. Therefore, the artistic freedom was inhibited while independent filmmakers can transcend such barriers to create art-driven products and add variety to the film industry.

On the other hand, as the censorship on their product might not be as strict as that from large companies, there would be negative aspects of the widespread popularity of amateur films. Firstly, some films might infringe the copyright when their small-budget creators reproduce the idea from others or from box office hits. Second, some might criticise religion or contain violent and offensive content which have a detrimental effect on viewers, especially children as these films are easily accessed via the Internet.

In conclusion, the popularity of films made by individuals should be welcomed because of their advantages. However, the negative effects of this trend should not be ignored.

Sample 2:

Films in the past used to be made almost exclusively by major film productions. However, filmmaking now can be pursued by the general public. I strongly believe that such a phenomenon is advantageous as it offers varieties to the audience, creates more jobs and promotes the film industry itself.

That filmmaking is increasingly accessible to people outside of major companies means more screenplays can be brought to the audience. As it is getting more feasible for people to make films, a lengthy process commonly seen in big film productions, from submitting the script to getting approval from the producers and the sponsors, could be avoided. As a result, more movie plots, even those that have been previously rejected by major film productions, can be made into production and featured to the general public. Such growth in independent films can offer diversity and originality in movie choices to film-watchers. Of course, limited funds and resources may discourage people from making films but with the immense advances in camera technologies, filmmakers do not necessarily need a high budget and a big crew to produce a film; sometimes, a phone could even be enough to shoot a film.

Another positive aspect of filmmaking being more approachable by common people is the improved employment opportunities. When it does not require a major film production to make a film, more people, especially film students, could find a job or make a career in this area more easily, possibly providing them with a stable income making films. By making it easier to break into the film industry, this trend could also encourage and motivate people to take interest in filmmaking, which renders film-producing a more attainable and appealing career path, attracting more people to work in the field. Therefore, the film industry could flourish with the influx of workers.

In conclusion, the film industry, audience and filmmakers could all benefit from this trend as it enables a more varied movie choice for the audience and improves job opportunities which provide more exposure to the film industry.