Films/DVD Asylum

Hey, you want better quality movies? Then

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get off your (mostly, I'd bet) middle-aged butts and get to a theatre and support the indies, foreign, or occasional, Hollywood films you like.
Vegging at home and renting films means the "better" films are losing their best chance at a decent gross.
YOU are the problem. Either get up from your couch, get out to a movie house---or quit whining.
Old movies, old music, old farts....enough already!
It's a Brave New World!

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Here's a cool article to read - mishmashmusic 10:39:07 10/29/04 (1)
sort of on this subject. Sort of.
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/12.10/tail.html
- Re: As a movie - rico 13:09:16 10/29/04 (0)
  "Touching the Void" is far better than "Into Thin Air".
I agree with your sentiments, but disagree ... - TA 18:24:23 10/28/04 (0)
> Vegging at home and renting films means the "better" films are losing their best chance at a decent gross.
I agree with your sentiments, but I'm not convinced this is the way to go.
First, we're not going to put the films we like into any competitive league with the big boy films on the weekend gross tables. That a film opens at number 1 or number 2 means more than that a film opens at number 150 or 151.
Second, you are wrong to assume that movies get no "credit" for a rental versus a theater ticket. Renting a film encourages your rental source to stock more copies. I would even suggest that in the long run, a film gets more milage out of an extra copy on the rental shelf forever than an extra boost in its theatrical run. Keep it on the shelf, and more people will see it, then more people will support the filmmaker's next projects.
Third, you are wrong to think that gross revenues is the key to encouraging more like films to be made. Move up the chain, and you'll find investors who are looking to make a profit. Going to the theater supports *theaters*, renting a film supports *rental stores* ... but isn't it the people making the art that we really want to support after all?
Fourth is a tricky argument. As indies become more successful, have you noticed how they look more and more like Hollywood movies than the sort of films that we thought of as "indie" films? The kind of films guys on this board like ... well, we like 'em just they way they are. Financed by people who are interested in putting a vision on the screen (and not losing their shirt), not guys charmed by gross figures. Start making indies into a real money machine, and as indie investors turn to financing hitmakers instead of the artists, you're just going to ruin the field.
Fifth, you're thinking of the movie business like it's 1975 -- no VCRs, no cable, no airline showing. The market for films after their theatrical run (licensing to cable, dvd sales, rental, etc.) makes up a huge part of the business. I'm talking like over half of what a film takes in. That's considered in the overall picture for financing a film. Whether you support a film in the theater or after ... as long as you're not pirating the film, you're gonna do good for the bottom line of the film.
(There's a funny line in Four Rooms when Quentin Tarrentino complains that back when they made Jaws, no one ever said, "We'll make it back on video")
Finally, of all the art in the world to throw my money at, why films? Classical music and jazz need more support than indie films. I'd be more upset if my local jazz club shut down than if Woody Allen couldn't make his next film. I applaud people like Victor for sitting on his ass at home and putting money into his local orchestra (check out the BAT website) instead of his local AMC Theater.
Sittin' on my ass and damn proud of it!!! (patriotic hymn playing in background)

"HO, HO, HO!" - Santa Claus
Re: Hey, you want better quality movies? Then - Jack G 08:00:41 10/28/04 (0)
> > > Vegging at home and renting films means the "better" films are losing their best chance at a decent gross. < < <
Maybe, maybe not. Buying the disc encourages them just as well-possibly more so. Its not always possible to see films that have limited showings. Its *always* possible to buy the discs.
> > > YOU are the problem. < < <
I am not. The vast majority of my movie collection is way out of the norm.
> > > Either get up from your couch, get out to a movie house---or quit whining. < < <
It seems like you are the one whining.
> > > Old movies, old music, old farts.... < < <
My farts are young and fresh thank you.:-)
Jack
I am supporting what I like alright - Victor Khomenko 07:31:20 10/28/04 (2)
The only movie theater I have gone to in many years is the Ritz in Phily, the one that shows the foreign films.
For years I have refused to send my money to Hollywood, and I don't see any reason to change that position.
Sorry, Leonardo and Geroge (Clooney)... you will have to do on $10 less this year!
- So if a movie is made in Hollywood you won't even give it a chance? NT - grantv 09:25:36 10/28/04 (1)
  - There haven't been reason to change my rule in several years. - Victor Khomenko 09:51:20 10/28/04 (0)
    Some of their junk I later catch on free cable channels.
Re: You are dead wrong. - patrickU 05:57:37 10/28/04 (0)
In the meantime movie studio count that way : movie house+ video = $
Of course I do find to go to the movie house to have some charm...

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