Assessing the effects of DVD piracy on the Lebanese film productions

Abstract

The main factor is pinning down the income of the Lebanese movie is piracy. Investors are not willing to spend their money in a high risk project if piracy is going to continue affecting negatively the revenues of films.the growth of the Lebanese cinema is facing many obstacles. The major one is the difficulty to finance a film because financiers do not consider the Lebanese cinema as an industry with potencial success. For them, investing in a movie is not a thriving business that makes fast profit or even any profit. A lot of Lebanese movies didn't make it "financially". The producers are still looking for ways to achieve a breakeven in order to produce another film if they are still willing to do it again.In Lebanon, there is a modest infrastructure for the cinema industry ; some entrepreneurs are producing and directing films that, despite low budget, can compete technicallyand artistically in the regional and even the European market. As a result, there is a lack of cinematic productions; only two to three films are produced every year which is considered relatively low if compared to the high professional Lebanese assets in the artistic and technical arenas. Cases of Lebanese films are discussed with professionals from artistic, business logistics and legal backgrounds. The study examines the negative effects of piracy on the Lebanese cinema productions and the ways it can be limited in order to enhance its prospects.