topics
GreenCine Movie Talk
	Independent Talk about the world of independent film.	42

Mental conditioning
	Topic by: kodack Posted: April 16, 2004 - 4:49 PM PDT Last Reply: March 25, 2005 - 7:23 AM PST

author	topic: Mental conditioning
kodack	post #1  on April 16, 2004 - 4:49 PM PDT   Are we mentally conditioned to believe that something "official" or "sanctioned" is high quality and something underground or independant isn't as good? I am talking about a quality thing like branding. We are a brand conscious society and I think this crosses over to movies and music. I think most people would buy something they know and avoid small labels, independent films, and bands that haven't hit it big. I'm trying to spark up a conversation here so let loose your opinion!
kamapuaa	post #2  on April 17, 2004 - 12:19 AM PDT   > Are we mentally conditioned to believe that something "official" or "sanctioned" is high quality and something underground or independant isn't as good? Not if by "we" you mean the people on Greencine! We spend most of our spare time talking about the relative merits of obscure Korean comedies.
kamapuaa	post #3  on April 17, 2004 - 12:21 AM PDT   > Not if by "we" you mean the people on Greencine! We spend most of our spare time talking about the relative merits of obscure Korean comedies. P.S. My Sassy Girl rocks the house!
Abductee224	post #4  on April 19, 2004 - 9:56 AM PDT   > Are we mentally conditioned to believe that something "official" or "sanctioned" is high quality and something underground or independant isn't as good? Weird, I'm mentally conditioned in the exact opposite manner...
sinisterguffaw	post #5  on April 19, 2004 - 5:12 PM PDT   I can see that applying to clothes maybe, or food, but not to entertainment, and especially not in this neck of the woods. I wonder how many GCitizens listen to NPR. I'd venture at least 75% listen in at least once a week. I wonder how many would rather listen to Charlie Hunter than No Doubt, etc. etc.
Ralsar	post #6  on April 20, 2004 - 5:03 AM PDT   NPR is pretty much all I listen to. I have a 2 hour commute to work and music isn't interesting enough to keep me awake for that long. NPR fills the void much better. Great radio station.
sinisterguffaw	post #7  on April 20, 2004 - 6:39 PM PDT   have you caught any "Air America" programming yet? I listen online, since they are only in a few select markets right now, but the O'Franken Factor is hilarious!
dh22	post #8  on April 21, 2004 - 10:46 AM PDT   I agree that this is not as much of an issue with film, or music. Brand loyalty, or reputation, is not something most people consider when a new film comes out. I don't know anyone who would say "Hey, did you hear about the new Paramount film coming out?" With products it can actually be a hugely important factor. If say Honda came out with a toaster I might have a favorable opinion of it, even though I've never heard of a Honda toaster. This is because my past experiences have left me with a very good impression of Honda's products. The only thing that might be industry-wide is by director. You might actually be sitting around on your hands waiting for the next film by certain director to come out, even though you have no idea what its about, but simply because it is being made by one of your favorite directors. The only thing I can think of by production company is Disney. They use to have a very good reputation with their animated films. Whenever a new one came out everyone wanted to see it, even if they knew nothing of the film. This reputation, however, has gone in the shitter after their last few films. I think the downward trend started with Pocahontas.
kodack	post #9  on April 29, 2004 - 3:43 PM PDT   Perhaps not "a paramount flick" but if a movie came out with no actors, directors, writers, you have never heard of and it was not widely released by a big studio I think most people just walk on by. > On April 21, 2004 - 10:46 AM PDT dh22 wrote: > --------------------------------- > I agree that this is not as much of an issue with film, or music. Brand loyalty, or reputation, is not something most people consider when a new film comes out. I don't know anyone who would say "Hey, did you hear about the new Paramount film coming out?" > > With products it can actually be a hugely important factor. If say Honda came out with a toaster I might have a favorable opinion of it, even though I've never heard of a Honda toaster. This is because my past experiences have left me with a very good impression of Honda's products. > > The only thing that might be industry-wide is by director. You might actually be sitting around on your hands waiting for the next film by certain director to come out, even though you have no idea what its about, but simply because it is being made by one of your favorite directors. > > The only thing I can think of by production company is Disney. They use to have a very good reputation with their animated films. Whenever a new one came out everyone wanted to see it, even if they knew nothing of the film. This reputation, however, has gone in the shitter after their last few films. I think the downward trend started with Pocahontas. > ---------------------------------
Dexteron	post #10  on October 9, 2004 - 9:52 AM PDT   Indie films have merit, but sometimes I'm in the mood for a big hollywood no-brainer, or a Will Ferrell comedy. Too much "art" can lead to pretension.
KSchultz	post #11  on October 13, 2004 - 9:07 PM PDT   In my humble opinion I think our society that follows the mainstream is purely swayed by media and hype towards any and all products including film. Take any film featuring a former wrestler or football hero and insert a character into the cast to replace said wrestler / footballer, now using your imagination watch the film again. Being a reasonably intelligent thinker this is completely possible. Well how was the movie??? In general weak story, mediocre character building, and spoon fed action scenes most likely. Thats a formula for a whole genre of films in the action section, not that all action films are this way but, on the whole I find many to be this exact painful to wathc scenario.... Big handsome oaf .... Hot scantily clad woman in need..... Explosion..... steamy sex scene.......car chase...... Bad guys get graphically killed...... Sex scene....... Everyone is happy and sitting drinking lemonade under an old oak tree...... How can this movie possibly be a hit?? I can't answer that question other than looking at all the hype surrounding the release of said Mr. Beefy Boy and Ms. Bionic Bust being cast into lead roles for it. A one month prequel on one of the networks including "The Making Of" and suddenly even I am a bit curious to see the Film "The Too Fast Too Long Of Legs Gone Wild In In the Biceps Of Rowdy Roddy Piper" I guess in answer to the question posed YES in genereal most are mentally conditioned to accept a plate of steaming dung and be told it is chocolate mousse and lap it up and ask for seconds. Thus I thank the powers that be and hope that society never really discovers true indie films and music and totally popularises it and ruins the credible work some are still producing. (jumps off soap box) anyway I'm kinda wordy so I don't post much but I'd like to post more often this one struck me as I just had a conversation about sh@tt@ movie today at work and insulted some "The Rock" movie I won't even see and was told that Marlon Brando was a awful actor and wished he could be as good as the Rock.... LOL
underdog	post #12  on October 18, 2004 - 11:45 AM PDT   > On October 13, 2004 - 9:07 PM PDT KSchultz wrote: > --------------------------------- > I just had a conversation about sh@tt@ movie today at work and insulted some "The Rock" movie I won't even see and was told that Marlon Brando was a awful actor and wished he could be as good as the Rock.... LOL > --------------------------------- Did someone *really* say that? I'm aghast. Ill, even. Is the only Brando movie they've seen The Island of Dr. Moreau? How sad... Tell them to watch Streetcar Named Desire and The Godfather, then to try to imagine The Rock in either of those roles. Their head may explode. ;-) I had to sit through the Rock's last piece of dung, the one with that guy from Road Trip and Christopher "I'll Do Anything" Walken, set in South America, and although he's a likeable presence, he has no range and it doesn't matter anyway because the film was a perfect example of what you're talking about with respect to most new action movies. C
hamano	post #13  on October 18, 2004 - 2:07 PM PDT   > On October 18, 2004 - 11:45 AM PDT underdog wrote: > --------------------------------- > Did someone *really* say that? I'm aghast. Ill, even. Is the only Brando movie they've seen The Island of Dr. Moreau? Oh, come on! That was his best work in years! Don't you think that film inspired Mike Myers to come up with Mini-Me? > I had to sit through the Rock's last piece of dung, the one with that guy from Road Trip and Christopher "I'll Do Anything" Walken, set in South America, and although he's a likeable presence, he has no range and it doesn't matter anyway because the film was a perfect example of what you're talking about with respect to most new action movies. He's just positioning himself to be Governor of Hawaii or something some day. That's not so far-fetched any more.
dh22	post #14  on October 19, 2004 - 7:35 AM PDT   A friend of mine saw that Rock movie and swore it was awesome. He made me sit down and watch it. All I could think ws "this is it?" I watch plenty of action films, and never hold them to the same standard as other, more serious, films. I have no problem with them being there purely for no-brainer entertainment, but this movie was lame.
dvdemon	post #15  on March 25, 2005 - 7:23 AM PST   We are conditioned to prefer certain films, then the films condition us to think certain ways. "Independent" films do the same thing, though. We are also conditioned to believe an independent film is going to be accurate and truthful. Not necessarily--(look at Michael Moore). Want hard-core truth? Find Alex Jones documentaries (he even made bootleg copies legal to distribute) and tell me that doesn't rip your mind out of a real-life Matrix!