Out of Focus--One Hand Clapping

[Crystal]

I really enjoyed Chris' column this week. I've been to a few focus groups (one for that show where monkeys...nevermind, one for Titus, which I liked but thought could have been improved, and one for DisMissed on MTV, kill me, kill me now). I've also been a test audience for movies like 'Beverly Hill Ninja' which I really liked, and 'White Squall' which I thought was okay...and 'The Perfect Murder', which I totally hated... so I have some idea what he was talking about.

One thing I know from experience is that people talk out of their asses at these things, so try not to take it so personally. Everyone wants to be an expert and no one wants to sound like a dumbass, so pretty much everyone ends up sounding like an uneducated ass...it's just how it is.

I used to hate to talk about movies that I liked because other people would tell me they were bad. Now I say [censored] it. If there's a movie that pulls me out of my own head and makes me laugh I'm not going to be embarrassed to say so. 'The Ya-Ya Sisterhood' made me cry hysterically for the last 45 minutes, despite there being no likable characters...it still struck a nerve.

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
I guess the point of all this is, if you're making a movie or writing or painting or singing or any way expressing yourself, do what you want, do what pleases you, because you will NEVER please everyone. People just think too differently.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well said. Some people don't like references to coked-out whores (obviously not the people in the audience though). Me, I'm just looking forward to seeing the movie even more than I already was...

[Ryall]

&gt;Well said. Some people don't like references to coked-out whores (obviously not the people in the audience though). Me, I'm just looking forward to seeing the movie even more than I already was...

Oh, come now...everyone likes references to coked-out whores...

Thanks for the nice words, though--it's just tough that these wacky audiences actually DO have some influence on the way a studio views a movie. Tougher still for the people who made the movie to have to listen to those comments, I'd imagine...

[Omaru]

Of all those films I think I have only seen Beverly Hills Ninja, and I liked it, if its the one with the funny but late, Chris Farley. Then yeah, it was good.

Anyway theres a saying called each to their own, and thus the world is made up of people who like certain things and people who like others, it makes for some sometimes cool discussions with well made points, or more often, some childish slandering without reason.

Anyway its just something I heard in ghost in the shell, forget the actual line but Mitoko Kusangi is going on about something like: We each have our own voice and thoughts and something or others that distinguish us from other people... I forgot the point of me pointing this out but basically, do whateevr it is you do, its your life. Make a mistake its your mistake. The guy who you responded to was pretty much along the right lines.

[Razorback]

We had a similar conversation on the old (first) boards about this.

I have been a test audience "viewer" for years (though I have not seen one in about 6 months now which is strange since I usually see one every few weeks but maybe they got tired of calling me) and I have found that during the times when I have been asked to be part of the "$10 whores" (that is when they pay you for your opinion after everyone else has filled out their survey) that the opinions of the people are usually off-the-wall stupid at best.

My most interesting experience with the "whoring" was after seeing "Gangs of New York". It was clear to everyone that a few famous people were behind us and I was the only one who made any constructive comments. The rest of people were all trying to kiss up to "the man". I got so annoyed I said "This movie will not make more than $80 million!"

I was right by the way. /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

RB

[jjcourtright]

Funny but late Chris Farley? Are you saying that because he is rarely on time it takes away from his funnyness... Oh, wait you mean he's dead. Gotcha.

[Denyse]

Hey Chris...Am I imagining things or has this weeks column been re-edited for content? I told a friend to check it out (once I stopped laughing long enough to catch my breath) and when I went back to mail her the link, a section seemed to be missing!? Or am I hallucinating again? /forums/images/icons/smirk.gif