Comments on: How Movies Set Us Up To Want http://www.thiswriterswallet.com/2008/06/03/how-movies-set-us-up-to-want/ the story of an Chicago 20-something as she tries to make, save and spend money Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:25:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Frugal Babe http://www.thiswriterswallet.com/2008/06/03/how-movies-set-us-up-to-want/#comment-925 Frugal Babe Sat, 07 Jun 2008 07:07:40 +0000 http://www.thiswriterswallet.com/?p=360#comment-925 What about "Friends"? I never could figure out how that crew was able to afford to eat, let along have sweet apartments. What about “Friends”? I never could figure out how that crew was able to afford to eat, let along have sweet apartments.

]]> By: GG @ This Writer's Wallet http://www.thiswriterswallet.com/2008/06/03/how-movies-set-us-up-to-want/#comment-917 GG @ This Writer's Wallet Fri, 06 Jun 2008 00:26:58 +0000 http://www.thiswriterswallet.com/?p=360#comment-917 <strong>Escape Brooklyn</strong>: No, don't give up on LOST!! Then again, even if you do, you'll have until January to come around. I hate the long waits! Escape Brooklyn: No, don’t give up on LOST!! Then again, even if you do, you’ll have until January to come around. I hate the long waits!

]]> By: Escape Brooklyn http://www.thiswriterswallet.com/2008/06/03/how-movies-set-us-up-to-want/#comment-915 Escape Brooklyn Thu, 05 Jun 2008 20:09:23 +0000 http://www.thiswriterswallet.com/?p=360#comment-915 Thanks for the link! I've got 27 Dresses in my Netflix queue and can't wait to see it, but I suspect it's going to tick me off. Ah, the NYC fantasy life... And Lost just makes me so MAD lately! I hated that finale so much I don't even think I'm going to watch it anymore! Thanks for the link! I’ve got 27 Dresses in my Netflix queue and can’t wait to see it, but I suspect it’s going to tick me off. Ah, the NYC fantasy life…

And Lost just makes me so MAD lately! I hated that finale so much I don’t even think I’m going to watch it anymore!

]]> By: GG @ This Writer's Wallet http://www.thiswriterswallet.com/2008/06/03/how-movies-set-us-up-to-want/#comment-877 GG @ This Writer's Wallet Wed, 04 Jun 2008 00:15:47 +0000 http://www.thiswriterswallet.com/?p=360#comment-877 Great comment, Randy. I think it's interesting that, although movies are obviously for entertainment like 99% of the time, we watchers want to make it reality. Do you know what I mean? I'll accept that Ben on LOST can move the island by turning a freaky wheel in the Arctic because, well, that makes sense in LOST world. But if that happened on The Office or real life, it'd be different. It's a fine line movies walk, not real but close to it. If they get too far-fetched, we'll lose focus and not be drawn in. So they have to be at least based on reality, or maybe on a reality that's better/desirable to us. And I so get what you mean about product placement. Gosh, advertising!!! Great comment, Randy. I think it’s interesting that, although movies are obviously for entertainment like 99% of the time, we watchers want to make it reality. Do you know what I mean?

I’ll accept that Ben on LOST can move the island by turning a freaky wheel in the Arctic because, well, that makes sense in LOST world. But if that happened on The Office or real life, it’d be different.

It’s a fine line movies walk, not real but close to it. If they get too far-fetched, we’ll lose focus and not be drawn in. So they have to be at least based on reality, or maybe on a reality that’s better/desirable to us.

And I so get what you mean about product placement. Gosh, advertising!!!

]]> By: Randy Peterman http://www.thiswriterswallet.com/2008/06/03/how-movies-set-us-up-to-want/#comment-876 Randy Peterman Tue, 03 Jun 2008 21:17:59 +0000 http://www.thiswriterswallet.com/?p=360#comment-876 One thing I see over and over again is product placement. They do it to show you famous people you associate favor/coolness/status with wearing their stuff. Even on shows like Last Iron Chef Caught Standing [or whatever its called] they show the chefs drinking Evian water, changing the trash with Glad bags that I have never seen at the store, and driving in certain vehicles from one place to another. Another thing to consider is that by having the lifestyle look lavish you get the sense that the tension in the person's life is focused. If the person was living in the projects on an assistant's salary, like might happen in real life, then there would be other potential plot tensions. Thinking isn't what they want you to do, so they just thrust them into an otherwise perfect world so you'll be concerned about the romance or the crime planning :) In a classic moment in cinematic history I was about to watch "Minority Report" when a trailer for some Arnold Schwartzenwhatever movie came on and when it was over a guy behind me said, "I don't like his movies, they're so unrealistic." Hollywood's plan is not for reality, its for entertainment (99% of the time it seems), and so if they can pitch you something and get the budget subsidized by some company, all the more money to be made at the box office. One thing I see over and over again is product placement. They do it to show you famous people you associate favor/coolness/status with wearing their stuff. Even on shows like Last Iron Chef Caught Standing [or whatever its called] they show the chefs drinking Evian water, changing the trash with Glad bags that I have never seen at the store, and driving in certain vehicles from one place to another.

Another thing to consider is that by having the lifestyle look lavish you get the sense that the tension in the person’s life is focused. If the person was living in the projects on an assistant’s salary, like might happen in real life, then there would be other potential plot tensions. Thinking isn’t what they want you to do, so they just thrust them into an otherwise perfect world so you’ll be concerned about the romance or the crime planning :)

In a classic moment in cinematic history I was about to watch “Minority Report” when a trailer for some Arnold Schwartzenwhatever movie came on and when it was over a guy behind me said, “I don’t like his movies, they’re so unrealistic.” Hollywood’s plan is not for reality, its for entertainment (99% of the time it seems), and so if they can pitch you something and get the budget subsidized by some company, all the more money to be made at the box office.

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