I think this quote brings up an interesting point that we have touched on in class. People liked to be entertained. That fact changes people's opinions on many documentaries. I am sure there are many documentaries that are disliked because they are not entertaining. How many times have we said in class that we did not like a movie because we were just bored. I think it was Adam who said it, but we liked Dear Zachary because it was just like a traditional story line, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution. It is this pattern that people are drawn to which is why it is a literary technique used throughout the ages. It has to be difficult for documentary filmmakers to present whatever they are trying to and keep interest. Documentaries have to compete with action films and dirty television for viewers. It is true, they have to make a film that people will want to see and I think that definitely has to have an impact on the final product. It is one thing when you see a film for free and don't pay attention because it is boring, but he brings up a great point, people are going to be paying their hard earned money to see this film potentially. They definitely have to make something worthwhile and with the way our minds work, something entertaining.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Entertainment
Fast, Cheap, and Out of Control ‘took literally years to edit and, at one point I gave up on it, completely, because I just could not edit it!… the presumption with every single film that I’ve made is that it’s going to be in theaters. And, given that fact, it’s essential that it works for people who are actually paying money to see it, actually going to see it in a theater.’ (65, 68)
I think this quote brings up an interesting point that we have touched on in class. People liked to be entertained. That fact changes people's opinions on many documentaries. I am sure there are many documentaries that are disliked because they are not entertaining. How many times have we said in class that we did not like a movie because we were just bored. I think it was Adam who said it, but we liked Dear Zachary because it was just like a traditional story line, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution. It is this pattern that people are drawn to which is why it is a literary technique used throughout the ages. It has to be difficult for documentary filmmakers to present whatever they are trying to and keep interest. Documentaries have to compete with action films and dirty television for viewers. It is true, they have to make a film that people will want to see and I think that definitely has to have an impact on the final product. It is one thing when you see a film for free and don't pay attention because it is boring, but he brings up a great point, people are going to be paying their hard earned money to see this film potentially. They definitely have to make something worthwhile and with the way our minds work, something entertaining.
I think this quote brings up an interesting point that we have touched on in class. People liked to be entertained. That fact changes people's opinions on many documentaries. I am sure there are many documentaries that are disliked because they are not entertaining. How many times have we said in class that we did not like a movie because we were just bored. I think it was Adam who said it, but we liked Dear Zachary because it was just like a traditional story line, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution. It is this pattern that people are drawn to which is why it is a literary technique used throughout the ages. It has to be difficult for documentary filmmakers to present whatever they are trying to and keep interest. Documentaries have to compete with action films and dirty television for viewers. It is true, they have to make a film that people will want to see and I think that definitely has to have an impact on the final product. It is one thing when you see a film for free and don't pay attention because it is boring, but he brings up a great point, people are going to be paying their hard earned money to see this film potentially. They definitely have to make something worthwhile and with the way our minds work, something entertaining.
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You mention some compelling reasons to think that we enjoy traditional narratives, Shannon, and pursue them as viewers because we find them entertaining (and, I would add, safe). But can you (we) think of any films (or works of literature) that don't subscribe to this narrative structure that you did enjoy? I ask because it's hard to determine which is the chicken and which the egg here: it is much rarer for us to get the opportunity to choose less traditional forms or forms of engagement that don't rely on us being shallowly 'entertained'.
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