At the movies
26/04/21 02:23
I’ve never been a big fan of movies. I’m not sure why, because I enjoy reading books and I read a lot of fiction. Movies as an art form are another way of telling stories and sometimes do a wonderful job of recording history, exploring human imagination, and providing a different perspective on culture. I enjoy a movie when I do get around to watching one. It just seems that in the pressures of time with so many other ways to invest my energy, movies somehow ends up on the low priority end of the scale. My friends tease me about being culturally deprived because I never know the most popular movies. Like many other teases, I can see the truth in their jibes.
As I scan the news headlines this morning, I’m not spending much time on the news of the Oscars. I didn’t have a pick for best movie, actor or director. I haven’t been following the fashion trends of the red carpet. I didn’t watch the oscars on the computer last night. I’ll leave that to others.
I was interested, however, in a brief segment from one of the late night talk shows, viewed on YouTube, in which an on the street reporter interviewed random people about the Oscars before the awards ceremony, pretending that they had already occurred and asking false questions. Of course they only played clips of people who were pretending they had watched a program that they had not. It was entertaining because even I, who doesn’t pay much attention, knew that the Oscars had not yet been awarded. Had they interviewed me, I wouldn’t have made for any interesting television. I wouldn’t have known anything about the Oscars and I wouldn’t have pretended that I did.
Those who have read my journal for a while know that this isn’t the place to get the latest news about the movies or gossip about actors and their lives.
Movies, however, do provide a reflection of our culture. Like other parts of our society, there is a lot of power and wealth behind the scenes in the business. Like other parts of our culture, the business is struggling with how to be more inclusive of the wide diversity of people who make up audiences. All of the talk about the gender and racial identity of nominees and winners has a lot to do with the need of the industry to take seriously its audiences. Past failures of the academy to recognize persons of color and women have had a negative effect on revenues. The changes probably aren’t inspired as much by a social conscience as by a desire for more income. At least that is my cynical take on some of the conversation that is surrounding the awards.
And, not being a fan of the movies, I don’t have much more to say on the topic of the awards, so I’ll share a bit more about movies in general.
I think that part of what makes movies so appealing is that they are immersive. Movie goers are subject to a huge screen and a powerful sound system that seems to transport one to another time and place. They stir our imaginations in ways that allow us to forget the present moment. I’ve never been very good at doing that. I notice the sticky floor where someone spilled a soda. I feel the crunch of spilled popcorn underfoot. I wonder how clean the seat I’m occupying is. I think about how they control the lights in the theatre and I notice the other moviegoers.
When I am seeking a creative outlet, I’m not much for making videos. Our children send us entertaining short videos all the time. I like to watch anything with my grandchildren, and I enjoy the clips they send. But I rarely take a movie with my phone or my camera, even though I have a camera capable of taking high quality video. A single still photo seems complex enough to occupy my attention. Thinking about sound and following action seems like more than my attention will allow.
There is so much automatic technology that home movies are more available and better than ever before. It can be as simple as aiming you cell phone and pushing the right button. The technology takes care of all of the rest. Since I watch a bit of YouTube, however, I also know how often “home” video is poorly done. People record more wind noise than a soundtrack. Even with image stabilization, handheld cameras shake and vibrate and the action isn’t always centered in the frame. Few people who are using phones as cameras give much thought to depth of field or range of focus. If you think of all of those things, it is simpler to go after a single image than trying to capture action with a movie.
A really good photograph can be as useful in remembering what you’ve seen as a movie. Sometimes it is better. Just as a well-told story leaves out some detail and engages the imagination of the listener or reader, a well-done photograph invites the viewer to use their imagination to provide details not captured. A photo of a sunrise on the lake reminds me of the silence of the moment. A stop-action shot of waves coming to shore reminds me to the rhythm of the surf. A still photo allows me to ponder the twinkle in my grandson’s eyes or the mischief that is about to occur in a way that is completely engaging.
Perhaps with my attraction to books and photographs, I am a relic of the past. It is likely that my children and grandchildren are well aware of my age and don’t look to me for conversation about the unfolding future. I don’t mind. My imagination is active and there is much for me to think about as I go through my days.
I do know, however, in case anyone is interested, that the Pulitzer Prize winners announcements are being postponed this year. Instead of learning about the winners in April, we have to wait until June. I can wait.
As I scan the news headlines this morning, I’m not spending much time on the news of the Oscars. I didn’t have a pick for best movie, actor or director. I haven’t been following the fashion trends of the red carpet. I didn’t watch the oscars on the computer last night. I’ll leave that to others.
I was interested, however, in a brief segment from one of the late night talk shows, viewed on YouTube, in which an on the street reporter interviewed random people about the Oscars before the awards ceremony, pretending that they had already occurred and asking false questions. Of course they only played clips of people who were pretending they had watched a program that they had not. It was entertaining because even I, who doesn’t pay much attention, knew that the Oscars had not yet been awarded. Had they interviewed me, I wouldn’t have made for any interesting television. I wouldn’t have known anything about the Oscars and I wouldn’t have pretended that I did.
Those who have read my journal for a while know that this isn’t the place to get the latest news about the movies or gossip about actors and their lives.
Movies, however, do provide a reflection of our culture. Like other parts of our society, there is a lot of power and wealth behind the scenes in the business. Like other parts of our culture, the business is struggling with how to be more inclusive of the wide diversity of people who make up audiences. All of the talk about the gender and racial identity of nominees and winners has a lot to do with the need of the industry to take seriously its audiences. Past failures of the academy to recognize persons of color and women have had a negative effect on revenues. The changes probably aren’t inspired as much by a social conscience as by a desire for more income. At least that is my cynical take on some of the conversation that is surrounding the awards.
And, not being a fan of the movies, I don’t have much more to say on the topic of the awards, so I’ll share a bit more about movies in general.
I think that part of what makes movies so appealing is that they are immersive. Movie goers are subject to a huge screen and a powerful sound system that seems to transport one to another time and place. They stir our imaginations in ways that allow us to forget the present moment. I’ve never been very good at doing that. I notice the sticky floor where someone spilled a soda. I feel the crunch of spilled popcorn underfoot. I wonder how clean the seat I’m occupying is. I think about how they control the lights in the theatre and I notice the other moviegoers.
When I am seeking a creative outlet, I’m not much for making videos. Our children send us entertaining short videos all the time. I like to watch anything with my grandchildren, and I enjoy the clips they send. But I rarely take a movie with my phone or my camera, even though I have a camera capable of taking high quality video. A single still photo seems complex enough to occupy my attention. Thinking about sound and following action seems like more than my attention will allow.
There is so much automatic technology that home movies are more available and better than ever before. It can be as simple as aiming you cell phone and pushing the right button. The technology takes care of all of the rest. Since I watch a bit of YouTube, however, I also know how often “home” video is poorly done. People record more wind noise than a soundtrack. Even with image stabilization, handheld cameras shake and vibrate and the action isn’t always centered in the frame. Few people who are using phones as cameras give much thought to depth of field or range of focus. If you think of all of those things, it is simpler to go after a single image than trying to capture action with a movie.
A really good photograph can be as useful in remembering what you’ve seen as a movie. Sometimes it is better. Just as a well-told story leaves out some detail and engages the imagination of the listener or reader, a well-done photograph invites the viewer to use their imagination to provide details not captured. A photo of a sunrise on the lake reminds me of the silence of the moment. A stop-action shot of waves coming to shore reminds me to the rhythm of the surf. A still photo allows me to ponder the twinkle in my grandson’s eyes or the mischief that is about to occur in a way that is completely engaging.
Perhaps with my attraction to books and photographs, I am a relic of the past. It is likely that my children and grandchildren are well aware of my age and don’t look to me for conversation about the unfolding future. I don’t mind. My imagination is active and there is much for me to think about as I go through my days.
I do know, however, in case anyone is interested, that the Pulitzer Prize winners announcements are being postponed this year. Instead of learning about the winners in April, we have to wait until June. I can wait.
