There’s really nothing like going out on a Friday or Saturday night to enjoy a great film. And there’s really nothing worse than having a great film constantly and consistently interrupted. It’s hard to lose yourself in the magic of the cinema when you’re nervously wondering whether you’ll be experiencing unexpected intermissions. Unfortunately, anyone who chooses to spend an evening at the Wesleyan Film Series (WFS) has no choice but to resign themselves to the inevitable technical difficulties that, for whatever reason, seem to be plaguing the Goldsmith Family Cinema of late. In fact, I believe that every single showing I have attended so far has had some kind of technical problem.
Now, I don’t pretend to understand the mechanics by which film projectors work. I’m sure they’re complicated machines. However, they can’t be too complicated, seeing as it’s possible to go to any megaplex in America and be reasonably certain that your viewing will not be interrupted. If AMC Theatres can do it, surely a university with a highly regarded Film Studies department can too.
My understanding is that the WFS uses 35 mm film whenever possible, due to its superiority. Now, I don’t know whether a movie shown in 35 mm film actually looks any better than whatever the alternative is, but frankly, if using special film means that it’s impossible to get through a showing without the movie cutting out several times, we should stop using it. I’m quite sure DVDs don’t have this problem, and if the picture quality isn’t quite as good, we’ll get on with our lives somehow.
While routine stoppages may be a godsend for those with overactive bladders, for those of us who enjoy seeing our movies start to finish, they are, at best, royal nuisances. At worst, they can severely diminish the entire experience. The WFS needs to start showing us — and the films themselves — the respect we, and they, deserve.
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