A grave offence
Kiwi tastes in movies are becoming narrower and more mainstream, despite film being more accessible than ever.
A survey of more than 800 movie-watchers, carried out by a Massey University researcher, has shown the popularity of online movies is catching up to televisionbroadcast movies among some groups and those watching online are choosing a more limited, Americanised selection.
‘‘It’s action, comedy, fantasy and animation,’’ Dr Ian Huffer said.
‘‘And Netflix and those sites have a limited range of diverse films from around the world.’’
Younger and ‘‘relatively lowincome’’ viewers were more likely to watch films online, legally and illegally. Wealthier movie watchers from the baby boomer generation were still visiting cinemas regularly to see independent and foreign films.
Huffer’s data didn’t determine why the trends were occurring, but there were several possible reasons, he said.
‘‘Other studies show the prestige of going to see art-house and foreign cinema has changed – the idea it’s good for you and important to watch. So... your audiences are simply less interested.’’
Online, ‘‘recommendation engines work based on previous choices, so that it can narrow the range of things you are consuming’’.
Younger audiences were timepoor, less likely to research a selection or choose more taxing material.
‘‘Your audiences are feeling slightly alienated by what they might see as slight snobbery, but actually they might be losing out on a degree of cultural enrichment through engaging in films from other countries.
‘‘In an era where cultural differences seem to be dividing people, in very destructive ways, I certainly don’t think it can do any harm to immerse yourself in other countries and cultures’ stories.’’
Film-maker and Stuff film reviewer Graeme Tuckett said movie watchers’ tastes typically matured as they aged, but The driver of a car that gouged out more than 100 metres of a cemetery hillside was stuck in the mud when police arrived.
A member of the public raised the alarm after seeing the car driving around the grounds of Palmerston North’s Kelvin Grove cemetery after staff had finished work, but before the gates were closed.
The car got bogged down and police arrived to find it buried up to its belly.
There were four people in the car when police arrived to check out a report a vehicle was doing a burnout on Wednesday last week.
A police spokesman said the vehicle had to be towed out.
The driver was forbidden to drive, so the vehicle was impounded for 28 days. Hollywood was offering a narrower range of films. ‘‘Of the 20 biggest of 1996, nine were based on unique, non-franchise scripts. In 2016, only one of the 20 highest-earning films was.
‘‘I think there’s more films being made now than ever, but seeing them outside of the director’s own Vimeo channel is another story.
‘‘Seeing, or even being aware of all these sub-cultures of filmmaking takes immersion... you can’t rely on the gatekeepers of commercialism to dictate what you can see and hear.’’
However, he noted television programmes were becoming more sophisticated.
‘‘I’m not the only one saying that the ‘great movies’ are mostly 12-part TV shows on HBO etc now.’’
He was also summoned to court for driving while forbidden and careless driving.
Palmerston North City Council property manager John Brenkley said the damage the vehicle caused was extensive, with a strip about 110m long and some 30 centimetres deep gouged out.
‘‘It is frustrating that this reckless behaviour will take a lot of staff time and resources to repair,’’ said Brenkley.
‘‘This means our staff are pulled away from their usual work of attending to the grounds and gardens.’’
Brenkley said the council was grateful for the actions of the person who called the police and the prompt response that meant the offender was caught.
‘‘We hope this gives a message to others that there are consequences for reckless behaviour.’’