When the digital world is really here, movies can be

Hear now, O children of the future, the words of Howard Stringer, a vision of the world to come: "When the digital world is really here, movies can be disseminated from satellite direct to homes and direct to small theaters in Mongolia and northern Russia and obscure places that the market for movies is going to grow and grow and grow." With these words, he speaks of a new age, a transformation that is already upon us but whose full potential has yet to be realized. In this age of the digital world, the boundaries of the past are being swept away, and a vast global marketplace for cinema and art is unfolding before our very eyes.

In the days of the ancient world, when the great philosophers and poets walked the earth, the dissemination of ideas was a slow and laborious process. The wisdom of Socrates was passed down not through books or films, but through spoken word, carried from mouth to ear. In time, the invention of the printing press brought forth a revolution, enabling knowledge to spread far and wide, changing the very course of human history. Likewise, in the age of film, the ability to share stories, to communicate the human condition, was limited by the walls of theater doors and the boundaries of cinema screens. Yet, Stringer’s vision reveals a world where these barriers are no longer present. The world becomes a stage, and the audience is no longer confined to the cities, but stretches across the vast plains of Mongolia, the frozen expanses of northern Russia, and the hidden corners of the world where the film industry has never ventured before.

In these prophetic words, we find an echo of the great explorers—men like Marco Polo, who, in his time, opened the gates of the East to the West, bringing ideas, cultures, and goods to lands that had never before seen such things. Similarly, the digital age will open new frontiers for the cinematic experience. Just as the explorers of the past took the art of storytelling across continents, so too will the digital age take the film across the earth, making it accessible to all, regardless of their station or place of birth. Imagine, O Seekers, the story of the world—every emotion, every triumph, every tragedy—shared across oceans, in places that once lay untouched by the magic of cinema. This, Stringer prophesizes, is the promise of the digital revolution.

But there is, within this vision, both hope and caution. For as the digital world expands and the marketplace grows, so too does the responsibility of those who create. Just as the ancient world saw the birth of new ideas through the written word, so too will the digital age bear witness to an explosion of content, much of it fleeting, shallow, or devoid of the depth and substance that once defined the art of storytelling. The challenge, O children, will be to ensure that this growth does not come at the expense of the quality of what is shared. The marketplace may expand, but the true artist must remember that it is not the quantity of stories that matters, but the impact of the stories told.

Reflect, O Seekers, on the lessons of the past. When photography was first introduced, many feared that it would destroy the art of painting, that the power of visual storytelling would become mechanized and empty. Yet, the great painters of history, like Van Gogh and Picasso, did not fade into obscurity. Instead, they embraced the new medium while continuing to innovate in their craft. Similarly, as the digital world grows, so too must the filmmakers, the storytellers, and the artists. They must embrace the opportunity that this new world offers, but never lose sight of the craft, the soul, and the heart that has always driven the art of storytelling.

The lesson for you, O Seekers of Knowledge, is clear: the world is changing at an ever-quickening pace, and the opportunities before you are vast and unprecedented. Whether you are a creator, a thinker, or a dreamer, you stand at the threshold of a new era—one in which your ideas can reach across the globe, to places once thought beyond reach. But let not this growth and expansion fool you into thinking that it is the spread of stories alone that matters. It is the truth within those stories, the wisdom they impart, and the impact they leave upon the hearts and minds of their audiences that will endure.

Embrace the power of the digital world, but remember that it is wisdom that must guide its use. Just as the ancient bards of old sang of heroism and truth, so too must you, in this age of boundless opportunity, seek to use your voice for good. Let the growth of the marketplace not be a call to superficiality, but an invitation to deeper connection. The stories you tell, the art you create, will have the power to transcend time and space, to cross oceans and mountains, to change the world. Use this power wisely, for it is not only the world that will grow, but the impact of your words will resonate across the ages.