Social Getting to Know You EP 3- Ask a Question / Answer a Question.

Sometimes, if it's a movie l liked in the theater. Many times there are lines that the actors don't deliver clearly and I can't understand them, so watching at home I like to rewind those lines with subtitles so I can figure out what they said.

Have you noticed that actors mumble more than they used to? Or is it just me?

 

I haven't noticed the mumbling, but what kind of irks me is when actors frequently lick their lips before they're about to say something. I see that more often in recent streaming-only films; mostly by younger actors. I know it's not so much of a big deal, but it just seems so unnatural to me; might as well show the script that they're reading off of.

Do you ever feel like you could do a better job of acting in a film or show than the actors that you're watching?

 

Rarely. I acted in my church's Easter Passion Play a few times, so I've learned that acting isn't as easy as it looks.

Do you ever feel like you could do a better job of writing for a film or show than the writers who wrote what you're watching?

 

Frequently, but then I try to keep those thoughts to myself. At any level, for any project, writing can be quite a personal experience. Sure, I can sit there and judge the final product, but I'm neither prepared nor qualified to pass judgement on said product's development process, conditions, external constraints, or the headspace of its writer(s). I certainly know from experience that there are always "better" ideas out there. It's just a question of being able to find them.

Which specific plot twist or development have you personally found the most frustrating over the years? Remember to use spoiler tags if necessary!

 

Yes, there are a number of films that are like that for me...for example: Cinema Paradiso (1988). I have seen it probably at least 15-20 times over the years (partially because I use it in a class I teach semi-regularly) and it never fails to charm and move me.

(btw @Sarge, on the topic of dialogue seeming less clear--I saw an interesting CBS Sunday Morning segment last year about all the various reasons why more and more of us feel that we either like or need to watch films/TV with subtitles/captions on. I'll spoiler tag it below in case you're interested)

Spoiler: The Popularity of Turning Captions On, March 2024 <7 minutes

When watching a film in a theater, have you ever disliked it so much that you actually got up and left before it was finished?

 

Nope, I just don't go a second time (I've never walked out on a movie, whether I thought it was good or bad)

Do you follow politics?