Caspar Newbolt’s Rules for Watching Movies

“Hype not only ruins the impact of the art, it undermines the very value of art itself in the first place.” 

Intriguing piece by graphic designer/photographer/ filmmaker Caspar Newbolt on hype, expectation and projection that comes when we rely on reviews, marketing and advertising’s spin on a film.

It doesn’t always happen this way, but I prefer to go in with very little knowledge about the films I see. I find going in with little to no expectations really does add to the richness of the experience - good or bad. This is what I loved about Sundance. I’d end up with tickets to a film I knew nothing about and only had my own feelings/reactions to the film to really process. 

Anyway, you can read the full essay here, but to summarize there are three rules to follow… 

“Rule 1. (to kill expectation)

Go into the film without having read or watched anything. Trailers are acceptable, as they are sometimes created by film directors themselves, though even that sometimes is questionable.

Rule 2. (to kill projection)

Assess what the film is trying to say or achieve within the realm of what kind of movie it is trying to be. Do not project your own expectations. Let the film dictate the level of expectation, be that tonally, narratively or conceptually.

Then, assess how well you think the film reaches whatever goals it set out to achieve.

Rule 3. (to kill hype)

Don’t talk about the film with anyone who has not seen it, except if you’re encouraging them to go see it. Only discuss the film with those that have seen it, and discuss it hard. That’s what it’s there for.”

8 Notes/ Hide

  1. nancylicious said: based on this article alone, i now have a crush on Caspar Newbolt.
  2. brieflynoted posted this