Martin Scorsese abandons film for digital

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We’re at it at last. The final death throws of the physical medium known as film. With every passing day another nail is hammered into celluloid’s coffin as the steady whir of a theater projector in the back of the theater fades from our auditory memory. Today’s nail comes from film proponent and one of the greatest directors ever, Martin Scorsese.

Thelma Schoomaker, Scorsese’s long-time editor let the bomb drop to Empire after confirming that the director’s next film, The Wolf of Wall Street, would be digital at the Edinburgh Film Festival. “It would appear that we’ve lost the battle … I think Marty just feels it’s unfortunately over, and there’s been no bigger champion of film than him.”

Scorsese has always been an advocate of film history and the physical film itself, but it’s hard to argue with results after his all digital Hugo netted him an Oscar and simply blew away pretty much everyone with its visual style. Maybe next time you’re in an old theater you’ll wander to the back and see Scorsese sitting there listening to the projector spin, a single tear rolling down his cheek.

[via Empire]

Matthew Razak
Matthew Razak is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Flixist. He has worked as a critic for more than a decade, reviewing and talking about movies, TV shows, and videogames. He will talk your ear off about James Bond movies, Doctor Who, Zelda, and Star Trek.