[Weekly Update] The Internet Marquee

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CHANNEL UPDATE

The rest of the year is now plotted out. Here are all the upcoming video ideas:

Our next video will be a bit different from our usual fare. We'll talk about how Hollywood movies are losing the silent contemplative moments. The script should be up tomorrow. I'm aware that Thomas Flight has just realized a video on this topic. But my topic on the driving force behind this change is vastly different. Instead of the changing media landscape, I want to focus on why the decay of movie theaters is only a Hollywood thing. I hope it'll be an interesting watch for you.

And then we have a funny video on Japanese made movies about China: either they are set in China or are about Chinese history/culture. Despite past grudge, Japan maintains this strange fascination with China, especially Ancient China. And I want to explore that.

I have secured both the 2017 uncut release of Sailor Moon R, and the 90s VHS release. I have yet to watch both, but it'll be interesting to explore how the US release took out the gayness.

Work on part 2 of our journey through China has begun. I originally wanted to cover Guangxi, Shanghai, and perhaps Inner Mongolia. But there are so many movies set in Shanghai, I might just do a whole video covering the recent history fo the city.

I have also secured a copy of Ashiap Man, and found subtitles for it (sorry Indonesia). And I have found a copy of The Legend (2022) and Indian 2 (2024), though the former has no subtitle. Either way, expect 2 more episodes of the bad movie world tour.

Other ideas I'm working on include the history of kick chicks, and examining the font choices of a Chinese movie titles.

Finally, as tradition, we'll end the year with a Chinese movie recommendation video... If China would release a few more good movies because so far, I've only seen 2. RIP my sanity.

MEDIA TALK

Something I didn't realized until it was pointed out to me recently was that we used to go to the movies without having a movie in mind. 10 years ago, my friends and I would just pop into a movie theater, and decide on the spot what to watch. We don't do that anymore. And the reason for that will be explored in our next video. For now, let's explore the Internet aspect of this shift.

Instead of checking the marquee, the schedule, and the posters, and then checking reviews online to be sure we aren't wasting money on the live action Last Airbender, nowadays, we know the movies coming out months ahead of times, and know the reception a week before release. I thought it was me becoming a film student that changed me, but turns out, it was the pervasiveness of social media.

In other words, the Internet is the marquee, and movies are battling for much longer, all because now, we go to the movies with intention of seeing only a specific film.

In this model of film publicity, the films that best capitalize our attention are films that we can speculate on, movies that get us talking on social media. But for us to have something to talk about, we have to at least know something about the film in the first place. This can be speculation on autheur directors or anticipated actors. But more than likely, nerds are talking about sequels, reboots, and adaptations of well know works.

Obviously, the superhero genre benefits a lot from the online discourse. But horror movies likely benefit a surprising amount as well. This may be the reason why the Purge series, despite mediocre film qualities, got so popular. The blunt and simple setting gets people thinking, speculating, fantasizing, and criticising. It gets reactions. On Twitter, that means publicity.

I would say this shift in attitude made people less willing to seeid budget movies, leading to their disappearance. But I don't have data to back that up. So I'm just saying that without an ounce of responsibility.

If my experience with Companion is any indication, however, is that there are still plenty of people who goes to the cinema on a whim. Somehow, I was in a half full theater room on a Tuesday noon for that movie, and people gasps at the reveal of the movie's premise 30 minutes in. They, evidently, came to see that movie without reading even the logline. Gives me hope, honestly.

Anyway, that is the update this week. I hope you are having a good summer! Our next video should be out next week. I'll see you soon!