Blog: Accidental Study of Same Movie, 2,200 Miles Away

Something intriguing I discovered in the course of a weekend...

This is NOT a movie review. 

I saw the movie TED on its opening day at the Arclight in Pasadena. 

Arclight has an employee introduce the movie before the movie starts. 

That elderly man who introduced us TED deserved an award. He was very good. He could have introduced a movie that won the Razzie - an award presented in recognition of the worst in film - and I would have been amped to see it. 

The Arclight in Pasadena, formally known as Pacific Theater in Paseo, Pasadena, was a theater with great sound and great screen. And they also serve liquor. 

Although I didn't drink, 

I saw the movie and I laughed, my friends laughed and people laughed. 

Pretty good movie for such a simple rendition of "Bromance vs Romance."

Next day, I flew back to my job in Alaska, landed in the early hours of Sunday Morning. 

Sunday night my friends and I decided to see a movie and they wanted to see TED. I didn't mind watching it again, to have a good laugh again before going back into the work grind the next day.

We went to the Regal 16 with IMAX. It is the only theater in Fairbanks, Alaska. 

I found it very interesting after watching the same movie in different theater, in a different town, with different people. 

The two group of movie patrons laugh at difference scenes. It seemed like people did not understand some of the jokes that were said in the movie. 

Both theaters were packed. 

I found it oddly strange that I was the only person laughing at a scene, 

when two days prior, I found myself laughing along with the whole crowd. 

(Halfway through the movie, a female almost got into a fight with a male she didn't know, five seats across from me)

I knew what was coming up, and it was even funny to me the second time around. The laughter in the first showing at the Arclight was greater, so audible one might have even heard it from outside the theater in the lobby.
The second showing in Alaska, were more of casual laughs, and people laughing at jokes even the most serious guy would flash a little smile.

Maybe it was the liquor that made the jokes more funny at the Arclight. 

Maybe it was people seeing it on opening day vs. Sunday night. 

Was it the Arclight elderly man who introduced the movie to me who got me in the mood for the movie? 

I started to think about the demographics they made up the two cities. 

I never considered the viewing experience for a film before.

Few years ago, my significant other at the time did not want to go to a certain theater. I didn't understand why, for I had no reason to drive FARTHER to see the same movie. 

I found this very interesting because I want to make movies - maybe after college, maybe when I'm old - but I think I need to think about reaching out to all viewers, for movies can be seen anywhere in the world. I need to make a film that relates to everyone alike. (I guess I can start with a world disaster film, I mean people should all be on the same page when it comes to the world ending right?)

This new light got me to write, and as a warm up, I wrote this little blog. 

NEXT WEEK: Coming back from Afghanistan.