Not going to the movies…

CBC Arts: People prefer to see movies at home: poll
Surprise 73% of people don’t want to go out to the movies any more. I’m one of them.

Here are some of the reasons why:

– Stress. I’m tired of having to run for the best seat in the house (FYI It’s at the back of the theatre where no assholes can kick your chair) when I can just chill in my favourite chair at home and the dog’s the only one I have to fight for a seat with (I always win).

– Inconvenience. I’m sick of having to hold on to my ticket to be able to get back in to the theatre after I have a pee during which time I’ve missed a few crucial moments of the film as I can’t ‘pause’ it.

– Privacy. At the theatre I can’t hear the movie because some jackass’s cell phone not only rang, but he answered and is having a heated discussion with someone on the other end. There’s also the constant yacking among the twits. Hey! Keep your comments for a chat over pie in a coffee shop afterward shithead!

– Time. I have to watch films at the times the theatre is showing them. At home, even though I have to wait a month or two for the DVD, I can turn it on and pause at my leisure. If Carol falls asleep (as she has been known to do) we can finish the film later.

– Distance. Bus or drive to a theatre or wheel my chair over to the living room? hmmmm…

– Cost. The movie itself and food after that can run upwards of $50 for Carol and I. If I want to wait and buy the DVD, yes own the movie to watch over and over, it costs no more than $30 bucks on average. If it’s a rental, even new releases are only 6 bucks tops.

There has to be other reasons, but those are the main ones. I’ll be staying in wishing Star Wars and Batman would come to DVD sooner.

Shooting on 35mm is expensive, and although film looks prettier than HD, the technology is changing rapidly enough that soon enough you won’t be able to tell the difference. I guess I’ll be making movies that go straight to DVD to please myself and that other 73% of folks. I love cutting out the middle man. There’s no reason for the theatres to be making a penny.

However, looking at the box office numbers week after week sure does make theatre movies an attractive business. Not that I’m George Lucas, or even Uwe Boll for that matter, but it looks like tehre’s a ton of money to be made there.

Ugh. I feel like such a dirty ‘ho, but… well you know.