Attention Span

A study by Cornell University found that an average shot length in Hollywood movies has gradually decreased over time. In fact, editors have been trying to find the perfect sequence by emulating a strict mathematical formula that parallels the brain’s attention span. If such practices continue, they will mark the death knell of creativity and innovation. Robert Wise, the editor of Citizen Kane, did not splice together the “greatest film of all time” so it conforms to a method developed by psychologists in a marketing department. One day, studio executives may start believing that “the key thing is having shots of similar length that recur in a regular pattern throughout a film.” As filmmakers around the world are sure to agree, a calculator should not...

Posted by on Mar 26, 2010 in Commentary | 0 comments

Movie Magic

Once the suspension of disbelief dissolves, the allure of cinema reverts to what “motion pictures” really are: twenty-four frames per second. In the process of dismantling the medium and systematically breaking it down, a childlike awe subsides forever. Movies engage the audience and may even bring alternate universes to life, but by studying their original formulas and strict rulebooks, something special disappears. An experience, a means of escape, becomes layers and layers of easily identifiable technical caveats. Games are written, designed, developed and released. Songs are written, tracked, mixed and downloaded. Movies are written, produced, edited and distributed. Each industry has a fundamental core grounded in pre-conceived modus operandi usually...

Posted by on Feb 19, 2010 in Commentary | 0 comments