Theater owners warned of quick DVD release

ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 28 (UPI) -- One of Hollywood's top filmmakers warned faster turnarounds from the big screen to home video could wipe out many U.S. movie theaters.

M. Night Shyamalan told the ShowEast convention in Orlando, Fla., a big part of the Hollywood film culture is the collective movie going experience, the Los Angeles Times reported Friday.

"Art is the ability to convey that we are not alone," Shyamalan told more than 800 theater operators and suppliers Thursday night. "When I sit down next to you in a movie theater, we get to share each other's point of view. We become part of a collective soul. That's the magic in the movies."

The director and writer of such blockbusters as "The Sixth Sense" and "Signs" warned the push to eliminate the months-long delay between a movie's theatrical release its debut on DVD can put theater owners out of business.

"If this thing happens, you know the majority of your theaters are closing," he said. "It's going to crush you guys."