Within minutes, a snowboard film can be downloaded and watched. Instead of the anticipation of waiting weeks for your local shop to get the much requested video; you can now bypass them and get every video that’s released that year without thinking twice.
But you should think twice. Think about the film crew that worked hard all winter with their equipment to get the shot, think about the riders who are working their asses off to get a memorable banger section (and probably don’t have health insurance) and think about everyone involved from those editing long hours into the night to the people marketing and constantly getting the word out on the film. If you wouldn’t steal a snowboard or jacket, why on earth would you think it’s acceptable to steal a snowboard film?
This year snowboard films were released for a couple bucks on iTunes if you were willing to sacrifice having a dvd in your hands. There were plenty of premieres this fall with more and more tours making the rounds around resorts. Plus the local snowboard shop made sure to stock the shelves with snowboard films, sure it was full price to buy the film but you had a copy in hand and someone that you could hold onto for years.
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I’m by no means a rich person but I 100% support the films I want to see in the future. If it means I can’t watch every film that comes out each year, so be it. It means I go by peer reviews, consistently good films and what’s available. This year I pre-ordered Defenders of Awesome from the C3-shop, I received Art of Flight (thanks to Klout & Red Bull), I bought Absinthe from Wave Rave Snowboard Shop, I bought Ransack Rebellion and Defenders of Awesome from iTunes and I’m probably going to buy the Rome movie off iTunes. I’ll be able to see the Standard, Burton and People movies at the premieres next month and that’ll be it.
So when you want to check out the latest snowboard film, think twice about the work it took to get it in your hands and give back to snowboarding. Buy snowboard films, support them and keep it so they are part of the future of snowboarding.
What do you think about downloading snowboard films? Do you walk the line between downloading and purchasing or do you stay on one side?
martin beran
October 12, 2011 at 3:01 pmHaha I think this is the 3rd year running that this topic has crept up on your site!
I still firmly believe that downloading a pirated copy of a film DOES NOT equate to stealing a dvd’s worth of money from the makers of the film. Most people who download a film would not purchase it if they had the money. So the argument that they are hurting the producers of these video’s is invalid in my opinion. Sure they are not really helping them but they are not hurting them.
As I’ve gotten more involved (some say obsessed) with snowboarding I’ve come to realize the effort that is put into these films by the riders, filmers and producers. It’s an immense amount of work backed my a lot of $$$$. I’ve bought a few choice films not so much because I want to watch them again and again but because I want to support the people who made them…. Primarily so they can do it again next year and I can nerd out on the awesomeness they contain. Selfish I know 😉
So I would say that you should walk the fence on this issue. Purchase and support when you can. Download and enjoy when you can’t. And always go to premiers if you can, free loot is usually plentiful if you sit near the front! Just went to see “YES It’s a Movie” last night. It was awesome. I literally was hit by a couple of shirts that were thrown out. and omfg THE POWDER!!! So ready for snow!!
burritosandsnow
October 12, 2011 at 7:00 pmMartin … youre an idiot.
Snow Witch Elemental
October 12, 2011 at 7:41 pmMartin,
I agree with burritosandsnow, and I am going to see the Art of Flight in the theatre in Toronto, Canada tomorrow!
Martin Beran
October 12, 2011 at 8:30 pm“Most people who download a film would not purchase it if they had the money”
^^^^ supposed to say “would not purchase because they don’t have the money”. kinda messed that up hah
Sure burritosandsnow… everyone is entitled an opinion
Peterborough
October 13, 2011 at 4:45 amLet’s not forget how many snowboarders don’t live in a town, or perhaps a country where videos are available. Distribution is a challenge. If more of the videos I wanted were available digitally (legal copies) this year, I would have been happier (though it’s way better than last year). I also prefer not to contribute to the material and shipping costs when I buy a video, hence, legal downloading makes more sense to me.
Here’s a little for instance, I want a copy of “One” by Givin (partly due to Burrito’s review – even though I disagree with his review of Martin). Givin has no links on their website for purchase or download, and so far my only option is a US distributor. By the time I get the video, I will have paid about $45 (US dollars) – no thanks. I understand the video is distributed by a West Coast Canadian company, but to the best of my knowledge, they don’t have a retail connection in my town, and I am certain they will not sell direct to me. I can’t be the only one in this situation.
Who among us in their 30’s didn’t pass around VHS copies of videos like mix tapes as kids? Were we destroying the industry? What about music downloads, is it somehow different to download pirated music? Just a thought.
Don’t draw any snowboard logos on your binders and backpacks all you kids out there – you’re stealing sticker and patch sales from companies!
Seriously, this is a complicated topic, and movie makers deserve some $ for their hard work, good of you to mention it Shay.
burritosandsnow
October 13, 2011 at 5:58 pmPeterborough send me your shipping info …. I know getting U.S. stuff in Europe can be hard hopefully next season Kidsnow will have a better foothold in Europe and youll find vids easier to get …
Nes.
October 18, 2011 at 12:31 pmPeterborough
arizonabay
December 12, 2011 at 1:42 pmI’m personally of the opinion that people illegally downloading and consuming any kind of digital material is actually advantageous to all involved in the production of it. In this case, snowboard companies produce snowboard films to promote and sell the boards, clothing and other merchandise they also make. This is their core business, and they (generally) make plenty of money doing it, otherwise they wouldn’t do it..
Someone who pays money to see a film is clearly helping out a little more, but one could also argue that its silly to pay to watch the advertising that snowboard films essentially are.
Additionally, by illegally downloading any media, the perpetrator (assuming they would have otherwise paid) is denying one of the few large conglomerates that control the distribution of media, a few dollars. Which I see as fantastic, due to the fact that we now have a very fast, virtually free, infinitely replicable mode of distribution in the form of the internet, and don’t need these ‘middlemen’ companies controlling, censoring and manipulating the media we consume.