Actor Matt Damon says Netflix is asking movie makers to continually restate the key plot points throughout the script because viewers are watching while distracted by their smartphones.
In an interview on the Joe Rogan Podcast (via Variety) to promote the new Ben Affleck and Matt Damon vehicle The Rip, the latter revealed the internal discussions Netflix has with filmmakers over structure and scripting.
It’s all do with Netflix viewers granting content a “very different level of attention” to the viewing experience at home than in the cinema. Due to the TV often being a second screen experience, Netflix asks producers to front load big action scenes into the early part of the movie to get them hooked, and then continue to tell them what’s going on because they’re likely scrolling Instagram and TikTok during the first act where everything’s established.
“The standard way to make an action movie that we learned was, you usually have three set pieces. One in the first act, one in the second, one in the third,” Damon told Rogan.
“You spend most of your money on that one in the third act. That’s your finale. And now they’re like, ‘Can we get a big one in the first five minutes? We want people to stay. And it wouldn’t be terrible if you reiterated the plot three or four times in the dialogue because people are on their phones while they’re watching.’”
While revamping the time-tested structure of movies seems startling, it’s regarded as commonplace for television. Soap operas, and daytime dramas for instance. You’ll find they constantly restate the plot because people are doing jobs around the house with the TV on in the background. Ever see an episode of Law & Order: SUV? I have it on in the background while working sometimes and Ice T shows up every once every once in a while to remind you of what’s going down. It really works. Try it yourself!
