Matt Damon: Netflix Adjusts Filmmaking for Distracted Audiences | Quick Digest
Matt Damon revealed Netflix's strategy to adapt filmmaking for distracted home viewers, advocating for early action and repeated plot points. This shift is driven by audiences often multitasking on phones while watching, a trend also acknowledged by Ben Affleck.
Matt Damon discussed Netflix's changed filmmaking approach on Joe Rogan's podcast.
Netflix urges big action sequences early to hook distracted viewers.
Plots are reiterated multiple times for audiences on their phones.
Damon highlighted the difference between theater and home viewing attention.
Ben Affleck noted some Netflix productions avoid these methods successfully.
This impacts traditional film structure, prioritizing quick engagement over slow builds.
Actor Matt Damon, alongside Ben Affleck, recently shared insights on 'The Joe Rogan Experience' podcast about how streaming giant Netflix is influencing contemporary filmmaking. Promoting their new Netflix film 'The Rip,' Damon explained that Netflix suggests significant changes to traditional movie structures to accommodate modern audience viewing habits. He specifically highlighted Netflix's push for major action sequences within the first five minutes of a film, a departure from the conventional approach of building towards a grand finale in the third act. This strategy aims to immediately capture and retain viewers who are often watching at home with numerous distractions.
Damon further revealed that Netflix also recommends reiterating plot points 'three or four times in the dialogue.' This tactic is directly attributed to the observation that many viewers are simultaneously using their phones while watching movies, leading to divided attention. He contrasted the immersive, focused experience of watching a film in a cinema with the often-multitasking environment of home viewing, which he believes 'infringes on how we're telling these stories'.
While Damon expressed concerns about these evolving demands, Ben Affleck offered a counterpoint, noting that not all Netflix productions adhere to these guidelines. Affleck cited the critically acclaimed limited series 'Adolescence' as an example of a successful Netflix title that does not employ these attention-grabbing gimmicks, demonstrating that compelling storytelling can still thrive without such interventions. The conversation underscores a significant industry shift, where streaming platforms are adapting creative processes to align with changing consumer behavior, sparking debate about the future of cinematic narrative.
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