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In Reply to: Re: Thanks- It's all that coffee! posted by Victor Khomenko on December 16, 2002 at 17:28:04:
VK,'If you stop almost any 25 year old in Santa Monica and ask about their favourite cinematography, they are likely to answer with something fairly considered like "Touch of Evil" and then talk the next hour about the screenplay they are writing after work.'
It's a trick comment, because the 25 year old would have to know what "cinematography" means. If they did, there would be opinions.
I agree the big American cities are atypical- there are just better opportunities. Here there is the added daily contact with people in the Biz. The death of Fellini was front page news in L.A.
The trend does seem to be going in a certain direction. As the studios believe audiences expect more elaborate movies with known $20-$30 million above the title headliners, 600 special effects shots**, 2 full-page colour newspaper campaigns, 1,600 prints, making the price ever higher. (** "Spiderman" was in post-production for 13 months.) The returns have to be ever higher in box office.
Independent film is doing better, but those films still have to have critical success at Sundance & Co. to be picked up for distribution.
And the perception is that it is mostly 11 to 15 year olds with the time and money to see something in theatrical release four times and then the DVD. The financial end affects content ("damn market economy" again).
Cheers,
Follow Ups:
I think cable can have a role in keeping one's options open of what to view. Although I am long past the "25 year old" stage, I live in Oklahoma City - a small market (even smaller than the population would imply) and yet, when checking what movies were listed for the week, to see if there were a few to record, I filled my quota before leaving the "B's" (Anastasia, Being There, and The Bicyle Thief to name but three). And we don't even get HBO, Showtime, etc.When I was younger, and no cable, we were limited to what the networks offered. Which was predominantly poor. So now the movies are out there, and accessible for young people. It's up to the parents and teachers to point the way.
(P.S. - I've already tried to talk my 4 1/2 year old into watching "Solaris" with me. And I would have, too if my wife hadn't interfered!) :^)
I gave at the office!
mvine,I agree -cable offers a great distribution to places where there is less choices in theatre releases.
With TCM, yes AMC, IFC, Sundance, network, Bravo, HBO, Showtime, Encore, etc. I have been introduced to dozens of great films- for me, anything made before 1967- that I would never have known through the big screen alone. I certainly never saw "The Bicycle Thief" larger than 27" in the diagonal.
And I appreciate being able to see movies that I wouldn't trouble over or pay the $9.00 it costs here in Los Angeles (actually, movie and parking at the Cinerama Dome is $14.00) for first run and almost as much for revival. Plus there's traffic, parking, lines, poor seating, $6 more for refreshments, and neighbour wrapper crunchers.
The experience on TV is not the full one in terms of intensity of experience, but it does provide range.
Cheers,
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