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Has being writer made you jaded towards entertainment?
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No you are not the only person who notices the lack of continuity. You are probably looking for truth, most are looking for a buzz.You might be digging your self into a hole if you think that every single tv program or every single movie suffers from the same problems. You might find yourself thinking that certain kinds of people all have the same problems as well.
If you have the internet then you still have "tv". You should have seen it when there were only a couple of channels on it and the picture wasn't always so clear. If you ever want some information about what the past looked like, look at a pre 1930's movie and take a good look at the backgrounds. You don't need to listen to the dialog. Then look at all the plastic stuff around you.
Everything you say about "hollywood" can also be said about the book publishing industry, something you are probably proud to be a member of it, even if you are not "officially" recognized by it.
Suppose you are at a book reading of a book you really like and some one in the audience doesn't like it, and verbally lets everyone know every time they hear something they don't like, would you allow that person to continue or would you ask them to leave, knowing in advance that no amount of debate will substantially change their mind.
The bottom line is that entertainment is a drug. Not everyone appreciates jiggling the needle.
Has being a writer made me jaded towards entertainment? Hell no!That is to say, I've been jaded towards entertainment ever since movies trashed my favorite book as a kid...Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. I was heart broken when I saw that film back in the '60s.
So I blame them. Writing came later.
Micah wrote: "That is to say, I've been jaded towards entertainment ever since movies trashed my favorite book as a kid...Chitty Chitty Bang Bang..."
I was never a Dick Van Dyke fan—had a great TV show, made very poor movies. Becoming a writer jaded me on TV shows; I think the last dramatic TV show I watched religiously was Colombo, but it was an unusual show for the time, and so well done that I got hooked. But that was back in the '70s. Being a writer has not jaded me on movies. I still love them.
I was never a Dick Van Dyke fan—had a great TV show, made very poor movies. Becoming a writer jaded me on TV shows; I think the last dramatic TV show I watched religiously was Colombo, but it was an unusual show for the time, and so well done that I got hooked. But that was back in the '70s. Being a writer has not jaded me on movies. I still love them.
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Honestly though, no, being a writer has not jaded me. The changing of the tides of what is considered entertainment, such as the reality tv movement and the lack or original story ideas in Hollywood, has turned me away from the mediums, but no, I don't consider myself jaded in the least. When something good comes along, I actually cherish it more now than I would have back in my movie devouring youth.
I'm a bit more onyxed than jaded, but it was more poor quality and Sorrywood pushing bad messages on kids (regarding self-image).
I'm definitely not jaded toward movies but I do watch TV less than I used to. Although that has less to do with writing and more to do with the influx of shows that are one continuous story-line. They tend to stress me out.I'm actually a lot harder on books than I am on movies and TV. I'm pretty easy to please when it comes to visual media but incredibly picky when it comes to books, and I think being a writer only made that pickiness worse (for example, I can't stand stories that take place in strange, brilliant worlds but with characters who are flatter than a piece of paper. It drives me nuts).
you're not alone imowen. I drive my mom and sister batty deconstructing movies. I been gave away my telly almost 5 years ago and hadn't looked back. every now and then I go to the theater and catch a film (usually indie or documentary), but rarely Hollywood which disgusts me to no end.I hate watching black cinema too because it has the same tropes and never truly got out of the blaxplotation mindset. I started watching movies from other places around the world if they have subtitles or work on my Japanese or french lolz when I can. I have become jaded with entertainment because the mainstream formula irks me to no end but the populace expects that and in turn want their books the same way.
so keeping that in mind I started following the ARKOFF formula woody Allen and Jim shooter style of crafting my works. its slowly paying off...
Much of passes for "entertainment" is a large part of what made me want to write. I figured I couldn't do worse. (I was 13 or 14 at the time.)
lolz Owen I feel the same way. I know I have mad writing skillz cos when they had the soap opera writers strike I sent off a script and it got accepted. I was 16 at the time and couldn't afford guild fees. but that made me feel awesome and kept me going.
K.P. wrote: "lolz Owen I feel the same way. I know I have mad writing skillz cos when they had the soap opera writers strike I sent off a script and it got accepted. I was 16 at the time and couldn't afford gui..."I never got close to that far. I managed to collect a stack of rejection slips over half an inch thick (that was much later). But I still know I have no reason to feel embarrassed.
I still watch movies and TV shows (on Netflix only). For as long as I have known my hubby, he always had something to complain about (especially when the armed forces were involved). I used to laugh at him and tell him to forget about it and just be entertained, but now, I do it too. However, in the rare occasions we're not alone, we both keep our mouths shut. ;)
I still watch movies and TV online as well. Doesn't mean I'm not jaded. But documentaries and foreign/indie films have a better success rate for me than anything I could easily see at the movie theaters near me.Youtube, though, has become an equal entertainment venue. I watch a handful of video game youtubers. If the presenters are good these can be far more funny than 99% of the comedies out there. The presenters don't even have to be MLG (Major League Gamer).
And then there's learning what really makes for a satisfying viewing experience:
Satisfaction = Expectation - Experience
So the trick is to Expect crap. Then, when the actual viewing Experience is merely 'meh' your Satisfaction will be positive. The worst thing you can do is buy into the hype and work yourself into a frenzy over some new show...OMG, WALKING DEAD'S NEW SEASON STARTS SOON! No. What you should be thinking is [sarcastically]: "Oh, Walking Dead's new season starts soon. That's gonna be...awesome...NOT."
Lower your expectations. Works for all things in life. How do you think I manage to watch crappy zombie films? I'd never rate most of them above a 2, but they're still fun to watch if you lower your expectations enough [but no The Walking Dead, sorry to say...so hated that show!].
Micah wrote: "That is to say, I've been jaded towards entertainment ever since movies trashed my favorite book as a kid...Chitty Chitty Bang Bang."I actually liked the movie when I saw it first when I was maybe 8 years old, and didn't much like the book when I read that, but I have to admit I read the book three decades later so l may have been too old for it by then. :-)
Has being a writer made me jaded towards movies and TV? No, I don't think so, but it may have changed the way I watch things. I often end up trying to figure out how things are built up, what the subtext is, and so on. :-)
Micah wrote: "Has being a writer made me jaded towards entertainment? Hell no!That is to say, I've been jaded towards entertainment ever since movies trashed my favorite book as a kid...Chitty Chitty Bang Bang..."
Now we almost seem similar. I turned my back on movies and T.V. when started learning the writing craft. Working with editor, picked out flaws in stories and it got worse. Finally I dropped cable, movies and embraced research and other books dealing with science.
Robert wrote: "No you are not the only person who notices the lack of continuity. You are probably looking for truth, most are looking for a buzz.You might be digging your self into a hole if you think that eve..."
Net is not considered television at all, that's just on grounds of opinion and how the individual uses the net. Some use the net as learning tool, find information on goods and many various things. Net cannot be ruled a just t.v. solely.
From what I have watched before I lost interest in eye ball entertainment. I did a research study on this, come to found out majority of entertainment suffer the same thing I mentioned in my post. The specific is copy catting. And you can see that in publishing industry as well. For example when unique show is a hit, watch everyone else copy cat it. Same thing I spotted in the book world too. One of the reasons why I am very picky on what I read these days.
I don't see myself digging hole to be inspired to write. Going outside is inspiration enough to write in my opinion. Ever since I have gotten rid of entertainment out of my life. I find myself writing more, questioning my work and researching more if I am stuck on something. This works for me but it may not work for others.
I haven't had cable in years, and when I did I cancelled it rather quickly because the picture disappeared every time a raindrop or snowflake reached the ground. I can pick up any shows I really want to watch with my simple rooftop antenna, free of charge.
Micah wrote: "I still watch movies and TV online as well. Doesn't mean I'm not jaded. But documentaries and foreign/indie films have a better success rate for me than anything I could easily see at the movie the..."That was hilarious my friend. I watch you tube. The only things I watch is research related, to some boring to me exciting. If I want to be entertained I play skyrim elder scrolls or something.
K.P. wrote: "you're not alone imowen. I drive my mom and sister batty deconstructing movies. I been gave away my telly almost 5 years ago and hadn't looked back. every now and then I go to the theater and catc..."Excellent point!
Wackywood has not gotten off the Black-exploitation crack rock yet. Also Wankstawood fans the flames of steretypes, racism and covert racism on that note. I am glad you mentioned this too. When it comes to books in general, I have noticed how it has bled into the writing industry. I was watching a documentary on why African descent comic book characters don't sale well in the industry. The main reason was tainted black exploitation and the real source European descents writing a African descent character. It was a real eye opener into how mainstream has perverted everything.
Thanks for the awesome reply.
G.G. wrote: "I still watch movies and TV shows (on Netflix only). For as long as I have known my hubby, he always had something to complain about (especially when the armed forces were involved). I used to la..."
When hollywood does movies that involve the military they're always wrong. Good example the transformers movie. U.S. Military would not trust either side because 50ft tall robots would not share their technology with humans...Be real the government would be pissed.
Christina wrote: "Not being able to sit still for longer than a few minutes without getting pains jaded me from movies and television. Honestly though, no, being a writer has not jaded me. The changing of the tide..."
Couldn't have said it better myself.
Ken wrote: "I haven't had cable in years, and when I did I cancelled it rather quickly because the picture disappeared every time a raindrop or snowflake reached the ground. I can pick up any shows I really w..."Kind of the same for us here. Although we did keep Satelite TV for almost 10 years. We were paying hundreds per month and not even watching it. (Don't ask me why it took us so long to cancel it.) Now we have Netflix (Cheap) and an antenna for local channels, because, I admit, I'm a fan of General Hospital. Else, I would ditch the antenna too. :P
Imowen wrote: "G.G. wrote: "I still watch movies and TV shows (on Netflix only). For as long as I have known my hubby, he always had something to complain about (especially when the armed forces were involved) ..."
Yep, that's the kind of stuff the hubby says along with the usual 'hey, he wears the uniform of the Army with the hat of the Air Force. Or those planes don't belong to the (insert a branch: Air Force, Navy, Army) they belong to (insert another).
Often it's the sudden laugh followed by the remark: "That General got demoted, he lost a star from last scene!"
Hákon wrote: "I actually liked the movie when I saw it first when I was maybe 8 years old..."Kill the heretic!
];p
You obviously didn't have your father reading the book to you when you were 8-10.
Imowen wrote: "If I want to be entertained I play skyrim elder scrolls..."I bought that game off Steam but have never downloaded it. Honestly, it's less work and more entertaining for me to watch someone like Sips from Yogscast (on youtube) play it. He's frickken hilarious playing that.
Ken wrote: "I haven't had cable in years..."Last time I had cable was back in 1989 or 1990. I lived with another guy back then. The cable was in my friend's name. When he moved out I was already dating the girl I later married and I wasn't at home much.
So he called the cable company and told them we needed the billing name changed to my name. They told him there would be a $25 hookup fee. Now...I was not making much money back then. And $25 in 1989 was the equivalent of nearly $49 today.
My friend tells them "You don't have to hook anything up, just change the billing name to my roommate."
Cable: "That will be a $25 hookup fee."
Friend: "No, my roommate's been paying half this all along. The bill's in my name but I'm moving out. So it's still the same account, just a different billing name."
Cable: "That will be a $25 hookup fee."
Friend: "Look, here's the thing. My roommate's always over at his girlfriend's house. He's almost never here. If you tell him there's going to be a $25 charge to change the billing name, there's a very good chance that he's just going to cancel the service. Then, not only won't you get your $25 hookup fee, but you won't get anymore monthly payments either."
Cable: "That will be a $25 hookup fee."
...I canceled the subscription and haven't had cable ever since. I never really missed it. In fact, when I'm on vacation and staying at a hotel, I usually turn on their cable and surf the channels once just to reaffirm that it's still 100+ channels of crap. It is
But I think it's pretty funny that a $25 hookup fee cost them the loss of 312 monthly subscription fees.
I later moved in with my wife. Her house had an antenna, no cable. We lived off that until the antenna finally decayed and fell apart. Then we lived off DVDs and old VHS tapes...Until one day the TV went black and there was the sweat smell of "magic" smoke in the air. By then we were already getting most of our entertainment via streaming. So even the TVs aren't missed.
I think the cable companies are probably a lot more flexible now, with so much more competition. Some people were addicted to cable, and the cable companies knew that. I cancelled mine during a light snowfall, the cable was out yet again, and I was fed up. They pretended they never received the call and left the cable hooked up for 3 months. Finally someone showed up at my door to collect for the 3 months I hadn't paid. I told him it was cancelled 3 months ago. Apparently they were aware of it, since he didn't argue. "Did you watch it during all that time?" he asked. "Nope," I lied. That was way back in the early '80s. He disconnected it and left, and I haven't missed it at all.
Oh, I haven't watched much TV since being a writer, but the moment I turn it on I'm in a different mindset, especially if its something in a genre I write on or romantic comedies, I have a field day tearing it apart in my head.
On another note, it's why I like Cinema Sins on youtube.
On another note, it's why I like Cinema Sins on youtube.
Micah wrote: "Hákon wrote: "I actually liked the movie when I saw it first when I was maybe 8 years old..."Kill the heretic!
];p
You obviously didn't have your father reading the book to you when you were 8-10."
Nope, around that age I was reading robotech novels before bed. Occasionally some Conan the Barabrian books. I was weird kid that hated mainstream back then too.
G.G. wrote: "Imowen wrote: "G.G. wrote: "I still watch movies and TV shows (on Netflix only). For as long as I have known my hubby, he always had something to complain about (especially when the armed forces we..."That's idiot movie industry half assing like the democrats.
R. wrote: "Oh, I haven't watched much TV since being a writer, but the moment I turn it on I'm in a different mindset, especially if its something in a genre I write on or romantic comedies, I have a field da..."That's one of the reasons why I stopped watching movies and television all together. As a writer I keep finding flaws in character development and everything across the board. My hypothesis is this, when you have a team of writers and a head writer you get crap. Team work only works with slave sport athletes and military units
Micah wrote: "Imowen wrote: "If I want to be entertained I play skyrim elder scrolls..."I bought that game off Steam but have never downloaded it. Honestly, it's less work and more entertaining for me to watch..."
Oh man you're missing out. That game is 'beautifully' written. One the key perks on why I bought the collectors edition. You don't have to be online to play it either. Skyrim the elder scrolls dragon born is identical to the roman empire losing Germania. King Alfric is like Artimetis and the empire is like greedy Roman empire. But that's not the main story. I like games that let you do whatever you want. That's what I do in my time.
You tube wise...Type in Mortal Kombat breakfast by Izreal 85...Now that a LMAO!
Imowen wrote: "I was weird kid that hated mainstream back then too..."Chitty Chitty Bang Bang may have been mainstream in a UK kids book way, but it wasn't mainstream in the US until the movie mucked it up.
Micah wrote: "You obviously didn't have your father reading the book to you when you were 8-10."No, I think that is exactly the problem I had with the book Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. :-)
Micah wrote: "Imowen wrote: "I was weird kid that hated mainstream back then too..."Chitty Chitty Bang Bang may have been mainstream in a UK kids book way, but it wasn't mainstream in the US until the movie mu..."
Ahhh but you see where I am coming from though. I read some books from the U.K. Too. One thing about the U.K. Growing up when it came to horror they don't give a shit about how you feel.
Micah wrote: "Imowen wrote: "I was weird kid that hated mainstream back then too..."Chitty Chitty Bang Bang may have been mainstream in a UK kids book way, but it wasn't mainstream in the US until the movie mu..."
Here's the mortal Kombat Breakfast I LMAO when I watch this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u81j9...
I wonder if it's more the other way around. I think it was, for me. Pop music was first. There are some new musical groups I like enough to buy their albums, but it's not stuff you'll hear on a radio. Then it was TV, and my viewing declined to the point now where I maybe watch a few hours a year, if that. I stopped going to movies because nothing being produced caught my interest. Books were next, and I came to the conclusion that those that became bestsellers were unlikely to appeal to me. That's probably what finally prompted me to write. I couldn't find much entertainment I liked, so I decided to make my own.
D.L. wrote: "I wonder if it's more the other way around. I think it was, for me. Pop music was first. There are some new musical groups I like enough to buy their albums, but it's not stuff you'll hear on a rad..."Now I've got Talking Heads stuck in my head:
"Damn that television what a bad picture"!
"Don't get upset, it's not a major disaster".
"There's nothing on tonight", he said, "I don't know what's the matter"!
"Nothing's ever on", she said, "so I don't know why you bother."
We've heard this little scene, we've heard it many times.
People fighting over little things and wasting precious time.
They might be better off I think the way it seems to me.
Making up their own shows, which might be better than T.V.
The newest "things" are not always the best ideas, just people trying to make a name for themselves. Look at the flip side, you got 1000 years of music to choose from and a 100 years of film to look over before you decide to trash the entire system.
Robert wrote: "The newest "things" are not always the best ideas, just people trying to make a name for themselves. Look at the flip side, you got 1000 years of music to choose from and a 100 years of film to loo..."Good point, that. Still, there is something to be said for anticipating the next new book from a favorite author and so on.
Robert wrote: "The newest "things" are not always the best ideas, just people trying to make a name for themselves. Look at the flip side, you got 1000 years of music to choose from and a 100 years of film to loo..."
And the best movie ever made is still Casablanca from 1942.
And the best movie ever made is still Casablanca from 1942.
Rob wrote: "@Micah, how fitting, remember this thread? :https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/..."
Curses, found out again!
This is an interesting question but there seems to be two issues here. One is a writer's inability to enjoy entertainment without deconstructing it. The other is the quality of available entertainment. I have an annoying affliction which interferes with my ability to enjoy books. I'm very judgemental and I put many books down after one chapter, based on the quality of the prose. I think it's ego. I think we become very competitive as writers. But I don't blame an entire medium for it. It's my problem and it's my loss.
The quality of film and TV production has never been better. It's fantastic, but only if you're a savvy consumer. Don't like Hollywood action films? Well, don't watch them. With the variety of films and TV shows available, you'll never have to watch another big-budget flick with a series of outlandish car chases held together with an awful plot. Go indie and you'll find the deeper you dig, the better it gets. And the rise of TV over the past five years has dramatically increased the quality. The bar has been raised sky high. I can't even remember what it was like before HBO and AMC started aggressively competing, and then there are the crime shows coming out of Denmark and Sweden.
I'd hate to give into my ego completely by exclusively producing my own entertainment. Of course I write to entertain myself, but I need to be open to other influences. Otherwise what am I'm left with? Kind of a weird version of solopsism. A fun subject to write about but certainly not a world I want to live in.
I do remember what TV was like before cable—a lot of it was pretty awful, with a few shining exceptions. Back then the most insulting thing you could say about something that was poorly written was to compare it to made-for-TV movies. They showed some promise in the 1950s, but then degenerated into formulaic pablum that was so bad that by the 1970s you couldn't even watch it unless you were 90% brain dead. One exception was a Viet-Nam-era made-for-TV movie named "Tribes," also known as "The Soldier Who Declared Peace," about a hippie inducted into the Marines and sent to boot camp for training. Normally they would have done this as a hokey comedy, aka Gomer Pyle, but somehow they put together a serious, emmy-winning piece starring Jan-Michael Vincent and Darren McGaven, and I think you can find it on Youtube. Those were very rare.
Ken wrote: "I do remember what TV was like before cable—a lot of it was pretty awful, with a few shining exceptions. Back then the most insulting thing you could say about something that was poorly written wa..."That's when T.V. had 'writers' back then. When that chaotic writer strike happened, people were warned movies along with entertainment was going to be crap from here on out.
I researched the reason why the strike happened. Let me tell you there's a 'GOLD' mine of information about it. It starts with George greedy Lucas. He didn't want to give any respect towards writers who wrote starwars into script. Also found out Lucas ripped off a Japanese story about Samurai that was brain washed into killing his own father. The punch line their the kid had no idea the forces of good tricked him like that. Another avenue I found out was about Sophie Stewart. Sophies experience proves racism still exist in Hollywood. And here are the facts. She wrote the terminator and wrote that crap matrix too. Unfortunately I hate stuff that has that retarded messiah complex chosen B.S. Hollywood stole all of her ideas for their own. And they owe 2.5 billion dollars.
However Sophie is to blame the first time around. Meaning she should've kept Matrix to herself and gone self publishing route. But she did not, that's what you get for trusting a crooked person that wears a suit to work.
You tube:
That's what I have been seeing lately there's tons of 2 hour long old movies on you tube. Therefore makes you tube look like hypocrites to me. They raise hell about parodies and music, when it comes to old movies they turn a blind eye. Oh well that's crooked American business for you.
Imowen wrote: "That's what I have been seeing lately there's tons of 2 hour long old movies on you tube. Therefore makes you tube look like hypocrites to me. They raise hell about parodies and music, when it comes to old movies they turn a blind eye. Oh well that's crooked American business for you..."
Crooked? Not necessarily. Hypocritical? Maybe.
Crooked? Not necessarily. Hypocritical? Maybe.
I got into a discussion about my genre with a friend then some entertainment minded hee-haw brings up I should watch some movies for inspiration. I told her I don't support racist hollywood and neither do I give a damn about the barbie doll thespians either. Not going into detail on what happened afterwards.
I find myself being completely absent minded when comes movies and television.
I don't have television anymore ( thank goodness) last time I watched it, I started pointing out plot errors, lack of character development and inconsistency in everything I watched. I pointed this out to the entertainment minded, they happily kicked me out the house.
My point is this, as we all grow in writing at times I find myself critiquing instead of enjoying anything on the tube or movie screen. Remedy for that I stopped watching them and turned research into something I love to do.
I am just wondering am I the only soul that gives the thumbs down on entertainment industry.