How many movies do you watch per week on average?

Bad Penny · Dec 9, 2006

Old and new. I've firmly come to the conclusion you just can't write a effective screenplay in any given genre unless you've seen at least a few hundred films in any given genre. Unless you're writing slasher crap anyway. Then you only need to see about 40. Thoughts?

billythrilly7th · Dec 10, 2006

2-3.

I don't think you need to see a FEW HUNDRED films in a genre.

If you have a great concept and know how to write, I think a handful could suffice.

But...maybe that's not true because, without really realizing it, I have seen a few hundred in every genre over the years.

Tough call on this one.

dpaterso · Dec 10, 2006

I watch maybe 6-7 films a week and read maybe 3-4 screenplays a week, sometimes more, sometimes less.

But before I tried my hand at screenwriting I'd already watched 1,000s of films and read dozens of screenplays. I'm not saying that qualified me in any way, but it probably helped.

I'd be mildly surprised if anyone popped up and said they don't watch films but want to be a screenwriter.

Not so much a conclusion as a random thouight.

-Derek

Celia Cyanide · Dec 10, 2006

I only watch about 1 a week right now. In college it was more like 2-3 a day, though. So I have watched a few hundred in any given genre.

Bad Penny, when you say, "slasher crap," do you mean slasher/horror films in general, or bad, direct to video Halloween rip-offs?

eldragon · Dec 10, 2006

We don't watch TV, but do watch films from Netflix, usually. 4 per week. Almost exclusively foreign.

Bad Penny · Dec 10, 2006

billythrilly7th said:
But...maybe that's not true because, without really realizing it, I have seen a few hundred in every genre over the years.

but less than three made before 1970 you forgot to mention

Bad Penny · Dec 10, 2006

dpaterso said:
I watch maybe 6-7 films a week and read maybe 3-4 screenplays a week, sometimes more, sometimes less.

But before I tried my hand at screenwriting I'd already watched 1,000s of films and read dozens of screenplays. I'm not saying that qualified me in any way, but it probably helped.

I'd be mildly surprised if anyone popped up and said they don't watch films but want to be a screenwriter.

Not so much a conclusion as a random thouight.

-Derek

Still dressing like a woman I see, dpat

dpaterso · Dec 10, 2006

LOL!

Shirley it's not you...?

-Derek

Joe Calabrese · Dec 10, 2006

Let's just say I get more than 10 times my money's worth with Netflix.

Sometimes I rent movies just to watch and study one scene and throw it back in the mail the same day.

Great tool for research...

truelyana · Dec 10, 2006

One if your lucky

nielsty · Dec 10, 2006

Today I only see a few (1 to 2) each week but earlier I saw a lot! Especially the first two years I was studying film- and media science. We used 8 hours each week in a cinema watching film history from the beginning and up to today.

billythrilly7th · Dec 10, 2006

Bad Penny said:
but less than three made before 1970 you forgot to mention

Six that I like actually.

And just a handful others to cement my opinion about pre-70's movies.

tourdeforce · Dec 10, 2006

One per week in the theater if I am lucky (but this is more like 2-3 per month).

About four per week from Netflix.

About three to five more on cable.

Depending on how good they are, some of these end up playing in the background while I do other things.

Bad Penny · Dec 10, 2006

dpaterso said:
LOL!

Shirley it's not you...?

-Derek

Yes, it's me. And don't call me Surely

Bad Penny · Dec 10, 2006

billythrilly7th said:
Six that I like actually.

And just a handful others to cement my opinion about pre-70's movies.

I'd really love to know what those six are. or would i

dclary · Dec 10, 2006

I tend to watch about 1-2 movies a day. But one of them has to be from this list:

Star Wars IV-VI, LotR, Bad Boys 1+2, Heartbreak Ridge, A Knight's Tale

and Kevin Costner's "Robin Hood"

tourdeforce · Dec 10, 2006

No Raiders?

Bad Penny · Dec 10, 2006

With your extensive pool of cheesy favorites to swim in, dclary, you still just stick to the shallow end? There's something wrong with that

Bravo · Dec 10, 2006

i write screenplays too, but seriously barely watch movies.

although i catch up on tv shows that i tivo when i get the chance.

and i think the whole thing about you having to watch a 100 movies from your genre is ridiculous.

reading lots of screenplays from your genre would be much more beneficial.

Bad Penny · Dec 10, 2006

Bravo said:
and i think the whole thing about you having to watch a 100 movies from your genre is ridiculous.

you take the high road...i'll take the right road

Bravo said:
reading lots of screenplays from your genre would be much more beneficial.

Bugger that. Sooner or later I'd have to read something by dclary

billythrilly7th · Dec 10, 2006

Bad Penny said:
I'd really love to know what those six are. or would i

Pride of the Yankees
March of the Wooden Soldiers
Miracle on 34th Street
Wizard of Oz
It's a Wonderful Life
The Ten Commandments

dpaterso · Dec 10, 2006

Bad Penny, I like writing swashbucklers with a dark sorcery twist. Which few hundred films would you recommend I watch to become familiar with this genre?

-Derek

Bad Penny · Dec 11, 2006

Hawk the Slayer
Dragonslayer
Krull
Excalibur
Conan the Barbarian
Conan the Destroyer
The Sword and the Sorcerer
The Beastmaster
The 7th Voyage of Sinbad
Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger
The Golden Voyage of Sinbad
Jason and the Argonauts
Clash of the Titans
The Sword in the Stone
The Scorpion King
Kull the Conqueror
The Warrior and the Sorceress
Barbarian Queen
Dungeons and Dragons
Dragonheart
First Knight
Red Sonja
Gor
Time Bandits
The Black Cauldron
The Dark Crystal
Lord of the Rings 1
Lord of the Rings 2
Lord of the Rings 3
Lord of the Rings (Animated)
Conquest
Deathstalker
Deathstalker 2
Deathstalker 3
Deathstalker 4
Demonicus
Dragon Storm
The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm
Robin Hood Prince of Thieves
Guinevere
Harry Potter 1
Harry Potter 2
Harry Potter 3
Harry Potter 4
Heavy Metal
Highlander
Highlander 2
Highlander 3
Highlander 4
Highlander 5
Highlander 7
Highlander 6
Highlander 7
Highlander 8
Highlander 9
Highlander 10
Highlander 11
Highlander 12
Highlander 13
Highlander 14
Highlander 15
Highlander 16
The Hobbit
The Keeper of Time
The King's Guard
The Magic Sword
Jack the Giant Killer
Quest For Camelot
Legend
The Princess Bride
The Thief of Baghdad
The Seventh Seal
Wizards
Ladyhawke
Shrek
Shrek 2
Hook
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
The Reluctant Dragon
George and the Dragon
Ulysses
The People That Time Forgot
Pete's Dragon
The Last Unicorn
Thor the Conqueror
The Warrior and the Soceress
Labyrinth
Masters of the Universe
Willow
Beastmaster 2
Aladdin
The Magic Carpet
Legend of the Liquid Sword
A Kid in Jing Arthur's Court
Hercules
Quest For Camelot
The Wolves of Kromer
The 13th Warrior
The Black Knight
Prince Valiant
Tuck Everlasting
Ever After
Pirates of the Caribbean
Pirates of the Caribbean 2
Ella Enchanted
Timeline
Chronicles of Narnia
The Dark Sorceror
Wizard Quest
Blood Moon
The Raven's Gauntlet
Spearheart
Swashbuckling Dwarves
The Amulet Guy
Dclary in Tights
The Magic Jester
Merlin Goes to Camp
Aliens and Predator vs. Gandalf

That enough for ya?

C.bronco · Dec 11, 2006

.2
unless you count my son's videos (Thomas the Tank Engine, Pooh's Heffalump Halloween etc.)

tourdeforce · Dec 11, 2006

Help!

I am writing a buddy comedy set in Darfur featuring two bisexual lingerie models racing to stop a nuclear explosion.

What are my one hundred movies?

How many movies do you watch per week on average?

Bad Penny

billythrilly7th

dpaterso

Also in our Discord and IRC chat channels

Celia Cyanide

Joker Groupie

eldragon

in a van down by the river

Bad Penny

Bad Penny

dpaterso

Also in our Discord and IRC chat channels

Joe Calabrese

truelyana

Set yourself free

nielsty

I write my own stunts

billythrilly7th

tourdeforce

Bad Penny

Bad Penny

dclary

Unabashed Mercenary

tourdeforce

Bad Penny

Bravo

Socialitest

Bad Penny

billythrilly7th

dpaterso

Also in our Discord and IRC chat channels

Bad Penny

C.bronco

I have plans...

tourdeforce