Technology 'killing cinema', says Scott

Updated 11.01 Mon Sep 03 2007

Keywords: Venice Film Festival, Ridley Scott

Director Ridley Scott has claimed cinema is being killed by technology that encourages people to watch films outside of the big screen.

Speaking at the Venice Film Festival, he said: "People sit there watching a movie on a tiny screen. You can't beat it, you've got to join it and deal with it and also get competitive with it.

"People sit there watching a movie on a tiny screen. You can't beat it, you've got to join it and deal with it" - Ridley Scott

"We try to do films which are in support of cinema, in a large room with good sound and a big picture.

"I'm sure we're on a losing wicket but we're fighting technology. Whilst it is wonderful in many aspects, it also has some big negative downsides."

The director is currently promoting his remastered version of his classic Blade Runner. He is also a producer of the Brad Pitt flick The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.

Comparing the Pitt film to other Hollywood offerings, he said: "I think movies are getting dumber, actually. Where it used to be 50/50, now it's 3 per cent good, 97 per cent stupid."

He continued: "This is one of those rarities that does get made, thank God, and has serious characterisation and serious things to say.

"Altogether it's a wonderful, dramatic and historic piece. But it's becoming more and more difficult to get films like this made."