Sean Baker Addresses IndieWire Future of Filmmaking Summit

I wanted to highlight a quote from the interview, because he addresses a point I've seen other redditors make about theatrical windows being "elitist".

“I think [studios] forget that releasing films in theaters first, it’s not an elitist thing. Everybody will eventually see the film, but what it is — putting it out there and exhibiting it the way that is the most ideal way of presenting it to audiences — it elevates the importance,” Baker said. “Number one, people have to actually schedule their night, spend money, travel to a theater. I think it ups the importance of it in our minds.”

I've seen several redditors try and counter this point, and I've never seen one whose point really goes any further than "because I don't wanna wait" no matter how much they dress it up. I get that you might have limitations that prevent you from enjoying or even being able to go to the theater and that it can be frustrating that you can't see something you want to see, but sorry guys that obv shouldn't come at the cost of the experience being crafted by artists. It's not a punishment to wait a few months ffs.

Look I like streaming, I grew up with it and it's convenience. But when I was a teen I started going to the theater more and appreciating it for giving me an experience I can't match at home. Hell can anyone match it? Do you have anywhere between 8 and 64 cinema speakers in your home? And that's not even touching on the whole cultural relevancy topic. Can you imagine if longlegs went straight to streaming? I didn't even like the movie that much and I still talk about it. (Not a movie but it's funny to me no one mentions stranger things for like 2 years, then it's all the talk for 2 weeks max, then another 2 years of nothing)

Hopefully theaters can continue to draw people back post covid and work on making the experience and quality better for people. I also read AMC was planning some major renovations so it sounds like we're getting a first step.