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EXPECTED OR DEFECTED
by Jacob Sanders

I have written about many topics that either make me smile, piss me off, or try to piss off others. But they have all been educational in some way, I think. Now I'm going to share something else with you. Something deeper. Stretching my writing beyond the computer screen.

As you may know, if you've been reading my article submissions, I don't deal well with numbers or statistics. I do better with emotions and feelings.

Of course, you won't find any Emotion charts or graphs in any conference room (unless it's an AA meeting, perhaps), but as overlooked as they are, they are the most important part of film making, when it comes to the audience.

That's where word-of-mouth takes charge. No promotion is involved. Word-of-mouth is free, and the most honest promo ever. Any good editor can make a terrible movie seem interesting in a trailer.

The average moviegoer does not care about a budget or what kind of tax breaks certain cities give for filming in their town. Don't get me wrong, these issues are very important. No, they care about how a movie makes them feel before and/or after they have watched it.

So, what I'm going to do is find complete strangers and ask their opinions about the latest movies at the box office. I want to see what their expectations are before they see the film, and what their reactions are after witnessing them. Mind you, these are all real people, with real reactions.

DOWNTOWN INDIANAPOLIS-
(Yeah, I know. You don't have to tell me)
It was a beautiful, sunny day. The temperature was near 60 degrees. The city was active. At first, it seemed this would be an easy task- Ask people about movies they just saw, then write about it.

However, it turned out not to be so easy. I have never had so many people look at me like I was crazy. (Except for that time I stood in front of the City County Building with a picket sign that read 'NO MORE PROTESTING') I never got so many weird looks. I heard many a 'Leave me alone.',
'I'm not interested.' and the famous, 'What are you selling?'

Once, a police officer even came up to me, grunting and asked me what I was doing. When I explained to him that I was just doing film research, he asked if I had a permit. I explained to the ignorant rookie that you only needed a permit to film, not to ask questions.

Well, he continued to hassle me for a while, and tried to run me off, using that vague term 'instigating a riot'. Whatever that means. But I stood my ground. I was in no way, shape or form breaking the law.

He knew this, but he had nothing better to do. Although, three crimes were committed within the same block we were at during the time of my interrogation. Good job! Keep up the good work, officer.

Actually, the little blue man trying to belittle me worked in my favor. It caught the attention of many passers by. Now I had people wondering what I was doing. Spectators began to rally. Thank you, IPD, for your lack of training.

After he skirted away, I had no problem with people talking to me. You have to understand, this is Indiana, and most of these people have never heard of anyone working in the film industry.

THE QUESTONS AND EXPECTATIONS

(All people agreed to speak with me after the films were over, but I told them that even though this would be published, I was not going to use any of their names)

DATE: 03.09.07
THEATER: United Artists

12:30pm -I approached a young couple.
JS: What film are you seeing today?
Couple: Black Snake Moan.
JS: Why? What are your reason for choosing this film?
Couple: It looks very original and interesting. And Samuel Jackson is great.
JS: What are your expectations?
Couple: Violence, and a good story.

12:35pm- A pair of rock n roll-looking kids
JS: What movie are you going to check out today?
KID: Zodiac.
JS: What is it that draws you to this film?
KID: Because it's a true story, and it's about a serial killer that they never could figure out who it was.
JS: Can you tell me one actor who is in it?
KID: No, I can't. I could go look at the poster, then come back and tell you.
JS: Do you think this will have the same serial killer aspect as other films that deal with the topic?
KID: No, I think it will be more of a detective involved story. You know, trying to figure out who done it.
(I wanted to say, 'Well, no kidding?' Because, sure, no one every did really figure out who it was. You just said it yourself.)

12:50pm- A group of what seemed to be college students
JS: What movie are you watching this afternoon?
STUDENT: 300.
JS: Why is that?
STUDENT: We've heard a lot about it, and it looks really cool. All the battles and sex.
JS: So, it's a lot of the hype that brought you here?
STUDENT: Basically, yeah.

1:00pm- A mother and child
JS: Hello, what movie are you two going to see today?
CHILD: Norbit.
JS: Why Norbit?
MOTHER: It looks like a good, clean movie for my child to see.
CHILD: Eddie Murphy is funny. I liked The Klumps.
JS: That's nice. Have you ever seen Coming to America? Or RAW?
MOTHER: Oh, no. He won't be watching those.
JS: I don't blame you. Not for kids.

*I noticed a lot of people lining up to talk with me. It may have been because of the brief incident with the decorated authority figure, or the digital audio recorder in my hand, but I wish I had all this on film. These people were like sheep. What a sight!

In the midst of my questions and answers, you can hear from time to time random rotarians hooting and hollering into the mic. A lot of people trying to promote their hip hop labels. And their were a lot of 'Westsides'. Whatever.

1:05pm- Some lone guy
JS: Let me guess- Ghost Rider?
GUY: Yep.
JS: Why Ghost Rider? Why not The Astronaut Farmer?
GUY: I'm, like, really into comics, and I never miss a movie when they make it based on a comic book.
JS: What do you think will be different from other 'comic book' movies?
GUY: It's Ghost Rider, man. Nick Cage as a super hero.
JS: So, you aren't really looking for something different? You just want to see super heroes?
GUY: Yeah, it's just I want to see some action.
JS: That's cool.

1:15pm- A pair of good-looking women
JS: Film?
WOMAN: The Number 23.
JS: What drew you to this decision?
WOMAN: Jim Carey has always been funny, no doubt. But like in Eternal Sunshine and The Majestic, he shown that he can do great drama, and that he's not just a comedian.
JS: I couldn't agree more.
WOMAN: Also, I like the idea that everything in the film is said to revolve around the number 23.
WOMAN2: Plus, he's hot.
JS: So I hear.

The crowds were dispersing. The shows were about to begin. Okay, now the bait was set. All I have to do now is wait until the film showings are complete. This gives me approximately two hours to venture around the town.

Although, I could've wandered into the theater myself to catch a flick, but I felt that would be cheating on the research that I was doing. So, I'll just wait it out, enjoy the sunshine and do some thinking.

THE ANSWERS AND REACTIONS

(Something that I didn't think of was being able to remember the faces of all the people I talked to. Again, this is where video would have came in handy. But, luckily, most of the people came up to me afterwards, so it all worked out)

By now, I had no longer continued to record times. The films varied to about a 45 minute difference or so.

BLACK SNAKE MOAN

JS: So, how was the movie? Was it what you expected?
COUPLE: Oh, yeah. It was good. There was a little more of a positive outcome than expected. But I was impressed with the look of the movie.
JS: Would you see it again?
COUPLE: Not in a theater, no. But I will probably buy the DVD.
JS: Overall what would you rate it from 1 to 10?
COUPLE: About a 7. Maybe 8.

ZODIAC

JS: How was it?
KID: It was OK. It wasn't really what I expected, but it was still worth watching.
JS: Would you see it again?
KID: Yeah, I might rent it when it comes out.
JS: Overall rating from 1 to 10?
KID: 6.

GHOST RIDER

JS: So, was this the same as other super heroes movies?
GUY: Yeah, pretty much, but it had some great special effects. The story was a little more realistic.
JS: Would you see it again?
GUY: Of course. I'm for sure getting the DVD of this one.
JS: Well, that answered my next question. Scale of 1 to 10, rate it.
GUY: 9.

NORBIT

JS: How was it?
CHILD: Funny.
JS: Did you like it?
CHILD: Uh-huh.
JS: Would you see it again?
CHILD: Yeah.
JS: What about getting the DVD?
MOTHER: Oh, I'll get it for him.
JS: From 1 to 10, what do you think it was?
CHILD: A 10.

THE NUMBER 23

JS: So, what'd you think?
WOMAN: It was great. Completely threw my off guard.
WOMAN2:I'd like to go back in and see it again, just to see what i might have missed.
JS: Was it that full of puzzle pieces?
WOMAN2: Yeah, pretty much.
JS: Is it something that you will own on DVD?
WOMAN: with out question.
JS: 1 to 10, what do you give it?
WOMAN: At least a 9.
Woman2: 10, for sure.

Okay, now it was time for the countries #1 film-

300

JS: How was it?
STUDENT: Great! Awesome!
STUDENT2: I want to got see it at IMAX.
JS: So, you'd see it again?
STUDENT2: Yeah, probably next weekend.
JS: Was it what you expected?
STUDENT2: More. Oh, god. The effects and the battle scenes.
JS: Favorite part?
STUDENT2: That's a really hard one to make. There were so many great parts – all of it.
JS:DVD worthy?
STUDENT: Hell yeah.

Well, as you can see, the general reaction from the public was that at this time in film, people are not really being disappointed like they were a year or so ago.

This is good. It means that studios may be realizing that you can't just put crap out there to make money. You have to give people what they like, or they will turn on you like rabid dogs.

I didn't get any responses from anyone talking about new break-through directing styles, or the fact that some films reached certain boundries that will set the stage for others to come.

Really, I didn't expect to. These are just your average everyday people who want to be entertained for a few hours. So, it seems to me that – that goal was accomplished. Kudos, Hollywood – I don't have to write bad about you this month... Let's try to make it next month too.