Today, movie theaters are still exciting. The seats are far more comfortable, the images on the screen and the sound quality have never been better.
Beauty of the Silver Screen
The movie theater is a magnificent place. Going to the movies has been one of my great joys dating back to my earliest days. The audience sits in anticipation of the feature film. In my younger days it was so exciting. The previews included a black and white newsreel of President Eisenhower meeting with Nikita Khrushchev followed by a short comic “crazy race.” Kids in the theater would scream their heads off as a cycle or running race took place. The kids with a matching number to one of the on-screen contestants would win a prize if their contestant won the race. One time I won a small toy race car. It was cool.
Today, movie theaters are still exciting. The seats are far more comfortable, the images on the screen and the sound quality have never been better. Of course, it’s easy to watch film at home on a television screen with a high-definition picture. Streaming services provide countless great films to watch. But going to the theater is even better. A giant screen and big sounds make a difference.
The moment in the recent film, Oppenheimer, when the experimental nuclear bomb explodes was terrifying. And who could forget the inspiring image of an enthusiastic Leonard Bernstein (played by Bradley Cooper in Maestro) behind the podium conducting the New York Philharmonic Orchestra? Movie tickets provide great value because we are entertained, horrified, educated, and even motivated by feature films. Over the years I have watched many movies that range from soaring to below average (I’m being polite). I’ve made films myself, mostly for television, but I’ve produced about fifty films. One of my greatest thrills is watching one of my own productions come to life on a big screen.
The major motion picture studios distribute films throughout our region. The phrase “a theater near you” is relevant in Maryland. But we rarely get to watch lower budget, independent films in movie theaters. There are thousands of films produced every year. On April 4th through 7th, the Annapolis Film Festival will present over 70 productions. A handful of the films will be major studio releases, but the majority will be independent productions. The roster of films will cover a wide range of topics. Last year I watched six films. I found all of them good and thought provoking. I should mention that I’m the current Chair of the Board of the Annapolis Film Festival. The staff has been working hard to present worthy productions. The venues for the theaters this year will include Maryland Hall, St. John’s College, the Boys and Girls Club Gymnasium, and Asbury United Methodist Church on West Street.
The process of making a film takes patience, grit, resourcefulness, and even a little luck. Most films take years to finish from early development through final editing. My genre has been live sporting events and documentaries. These programs are non-fiction films. Documentaries are special because people talk about their passions in compelling ways on camera. I’ve conducted a few thousand interviews over the course of my career. You can never anticipate how someone will answer a question. What I’ve learned to do when interviewing someone is to listen carefully to their words and move the discussion in the direction of their narrative. The interviewee becomes comfortable, open, and engaging.
Fictional films, or documentaries based on historical events, require skilled actors. Everything you see on the screen needs to be prepared well in advance of filming. Actors memorize their lines for each day’s shoot. It’s hard work. Most films take three to six months to shoot before the editing process can start. Original music, and in recent years, realistic animation is created to enhance the production.
I enjoy watching Turner Classic Movies on cable television. The productions from the past were generally lower key than what we see today, but the acting and the storylines are still compelling. I was racing sailboats with Ted Turner when he realized the value of old films for his television networks. He took on the arduous task of colorizing old black and white films. Movie critics would howl in disapproval of Turner’s colorizing. I asked him why he did it, and he was succinct when he explained, “Because more people will watch a film when it is in color.” A good answer I thought at the time.
Interestingly, the recent film Maestro alternated between black and white on a 4:3 screen size and brilliant color on a wide screen to emphasize the different time periods of Bernstein’s life. No doubt inspired by a predecessor 85 years ago. In 1939, the iconic film The Wizard of Oz used the same format by starting out in black and white and shifting to color when the young heroine, Dorothy, searched for the mythical kingdom of Oz.
My advice is to keep watching films at home, and for a special treat go to the movies. The experience makes our life a little better. I hope to see you at the Annapolis Film Festival. We are all in for a treat.
