Watching films anywhere is destroying the overall experience?

One of the biggest ways a filmmaker can make the audience interact with a film is by making that film have a genre.

Now what do I mean?

All films have a genre, right? And you would be correct in saying so, but how does the genre make the audience interact with the film… well it happens in a number of ways, firstly is the genre expectations that an audience member holds, if you’re going into an action film what are you expecting to happen in the film, there is going to be at least one explosion or a gun battle, well in thinking that you are already subsensory interacting with the film you’re sitting there processing these thoughts about the film and you’re waiting fr that explosion to take place.

Another way we all interact subconsciously (and this may only happen in a few films) is when the filmmaker is able to provoke an emotional response form you as an audience member, if we cry or laugh or cheer it shoes they have been able to use audio and visual signals that we connect with on a much deeper emotional level this is why we do those things like cry and cheer or screaming in our head ‘He’s got a gun turn around!’ we have using the information purposely given to us by the filmmaker to help us interact with what is going on in the scene in front of us.

This leads to my personal preference of the movie theatre, it’s a space where all our control is taken away and our emotions and thoughts are in the hands of the filmmaker, for the 120 - ish minutes we are in the theatre we are at the mercy of the filmmakers and the reason why I prefer a cinema over my room or watching a movie on the Trian is that our senses are focused on what’s on screen rather than the rumble of the train, the smell of the person next to you or your mother screaming at you for not packing something up, in the cinema its designed for the best possible viewing experience, whereas mobile technology has driven us to consume media on the go which doesn’t lead to the most comfortable or desirable viewing experience.

Let me know what you think in the comments below, also check out my posts while you’re at it.

Andrew Petropoulos.

Resources used:

Parlay Studios (2017) 'How film makers interact with their audience.' Parlay Studios.

http://parlaystudios.com/blog/film-makers-interact-audience/

Lafrance, A. (2016) 'Why Modern Human Interactions Are So Hard to Film.' The Atlantic. United States

https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2016/09/116-years-of-text-on-film/498890/

Haltiwanger, J. (2015) 'People Who Cry During Movies Aren't Weak, They're Emotionally Strong.' Elite Daily. United States.

https://www.elitedaily.com/life/cry-during-movies-emotionally-strong-people/1176578

Gladstone, D. (2018) 'Subtitled cinema screenings, and their highs and lows.' Den of geeks. United States.

http://www.denofgeek.com/uk/movies/cinema/54855/subtitled-cinema-screenings-and-their-highs-and-lows

Arvind (2017) 'Top 5 Best Apps To Watch Movies Online.' Xiaomit Day. United States.

https://www.xiaomitoday.com/best-apps-to-watch-movies/