Many people in my business are getting notes like “It needs to be simpler” or “Can you explain it again here?” to compensate for the fact that people are watching while also on their phones - ThreadSky

edsolomon.bsky.social • 42 days ago

Many people in my business are getting notes like “It needs to be simpler” or “Can you explain it again here?” to compensate for the fact that people are watching while also on their phones

Reposted from BeijingPalmer

I have an extremely loose theory that part of the success of SQUID GAME and SHOGUN is that by using subtitles they actually demanded that the audience pay attention in an age of distraction and TV shows made for people half-watching

Comments

avishaiw.bsky.social•42 days ago

“You’re gonna need a bigger boat. Because did you see that shark that just leapt up at me? It was enormous! I think it might be that Jaws shark we’ve been hunting.”

jezzariddell.bsky.social•42 days ago

Ugh. I do sometimes watch something while I'm on my phone, but with the understanding that if I miss something A) that's on me and B) I might have to rewatch it to get context. TV and movies are visual mediums. "Radio plays" exist if you want something narrated to you.

br2.bsky.social•42 days ago

I totally get it! And it’s one of the things that me and my husband are trying to work on. I really think it might be why a lot of us love reality shows so much? Because all you have to do is listen to the drama. But when you’re putting on something that is art, you need to pay attention.

originalstuey.bsky.social•42 days ago

I admit I’ve been guilty of phone watching while a movie is on but I’ve banned that practice… I just want to indulge in movies without distraction - going ‘old school’ again. Best thing I ever re-did

victoriadecapua.bsky.social•42 days ago

Along with “your character needs to be more likeable” it seems like travelling the map backwards is the actual destination. Asking for audience focus and investment is the real metric. I never half-pay attention unless I’m on like my 3rd watch. Which is supposedly what Netflix wants of me.

snarkylicious.bsky.social•42 days ago

I hope beg & pray y'all smile, say thank you and act like it never happened.

briancutter.bsky.social•42 days ago

Hey you!

snarkylicious.bsky.social•42 days ago

Hey, Cutter!

briancutter.bsky.social•42 days ago

How's it going?

snarkylicious.bsky.social•42 days ago

It's been quite the year. I now have a lot more time to pursue my dreams.

briancutter.bsky.social•41 days ago

Yeah we've been going through it a bit.

reidparker.bsky.social•42 days ago

This is gross, man

rangerdonald.bsky.social•42 days ago

Read.

theotherspeakman.bsky.social•42 days ago

I've been hearing about this!

Second Screen focus for Netflix shit. The people who enabled a few of my favorite shows to see the light of day (and get cut down and cancelled to save money).

https://youtu.be/Xl-edCJVFfA

hughhart.bsky.social•41 days ago

struggling with that very issue in my screenplay-in-progress. On the one hand (the much bigger hand), I do not want the story to feel repetitious. On the other hand, I'm like "Maybe I need to remind the reader/audience about this plot point 40 pages later."

doghog42.bsky.social•42 days ago

Thanks for explaining, I hate it.

br2.bsky.social•42 days ago

This is a HUGE part of the reason I make my husband put his phone in the “basket” (which is what he calls the little decorative bowl I have where next to where the key hook is) when he comes home from work. We are not going to be scrolling or playing vidya games while we consume art.

briancutter.bsky.social•42 days ago

Pfft. Y'all just need to learn to multitask better.

Last night I watched Twilight of the American Gods of Kaos.

At least I think that's what they were called.

leewest82.bsky.social•42 days ago

I just wish the subtitles were bigger when they were used. I'm as blind as a bat and really struggled with Shogun.

Bought a bigger TV so I could watch Day Of The Jackal.

michigrim.bsky.social•42 days ago

At least with Netflix you can adjust the subtitle size.

leewest82.bsky.social•42 days ago

Only if they're not hardcoded in

michigrim.bsky.social•42 days ago

Netflix rarely hard codes. Most of the time they do subtitles off a naked copy of the film or show. It’s why their version of John Wick didn’t have the stylized subtitles.

prex4.bsky.social•42 days ago

Apparently, there’s a new sub-genre of “distracted entertainment;” things you can watch while scrolling social media, gaming, exercising, and light chores, without losing the thread.

I’m wondering who’s willing to write it.

matthewkane.bsky.social•42 days ago

It rhymes with, “Hey! Bye!”

maximoa113.bsky.social•42 days ago

Nowadays, Laziness reached a high level that is frightening.

jezzariddell.bsky.social•42 days ago

I think it's a response to "grind mindset". Like, you can't just commit to to entertainment, you must ALSO be productive while you are being entertained. Even if "being productive" is "I'm trying to pay attention to two forms of entertainment at once, thus maximizing my downtime."

savvyspark.bsky.social•41 days ago

No, I think you’re overthinking it. People are just addicted to their phones.

djaii.bsky.social•41 days ago

That is insanely dystopian and you're right.

robingphillips.bsky.social•42 days ago

at some point society really needs to recon with screen addiction

bakoon.bsky.social•42 days ago

oh man thats bleak

ericstoltz.bsky.social•41 days ago

They want to make sure the “2 screen watchers” are able to point/click/buy - once that feature’s up on Amazon.

“Ooh, I love her shoes, click on them please!”
-and it’ll take you to the purchase page.

Can’t have a plot that’s too engrossing for that to work…

Also, hi Ed. Hope you’re well and safe.

edsolomon.bsky.social•40 days ago

Hi Eric! I’m in London now, watching with terror and sadness. Sending you all my very best. Nice to hear from you. I hope you and your fam are okay, too.

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