User-Generated Content And Social Media Become An Obsession

Cinema is undertaking an electronic revolution! I am not talking about virtual reality or high-budget production. I am talking about user-generated content that is accessible to anyone worldwide, simply with a decent connection to the internet. When I think to an interesting cinematic viewing experience, my first thought is not about any impressively big screen or elaborate theatre performance. I think of laying in bed with my tiny little netbook, watching homemade videos on Youtube. I want to start off this essay saying sorry to the Hollywood elites because my consumer dollar is not going to their luxury vacations or $50 artisanal salads. I would pick the comfort of unwinding in my own room over a daunting excursion to sit amongst an anonymous audience while watching a prequel, sequel, or spin-off of childhood stories long overused. There was once a time where mainstream cinema was the epitome of movie watching because of the comfort and big screen. Reflected in the decline in movie theatre attendance, many people such as myself are turning to the comfort of the small screen at home.

My netbook is simple and worn but it does exactly what I want it to do. It’s display is only around 14” in size and its loudspeakers were not produced for surround sound. I set the brightness of my screen to equal that of the room. In my lowly lit room, that means setting the brightness on low to allow my eyes to rest while I watch. I use my earbuds to avoid bothering others around me in the dorm I live in. It also helps to block out the noise of the buses as they frequently stop just outside my window. I prefer earbuds with soft tips to allow me to hear the audio in full. In video, the quality of the image can suffer and be a great stylistic choice while poor audio can ruin a video.

In the privacy of my room, I control the entire viewing experience. I would usually watch videos alone, as opposed to being a part of a bigger live audience. It may seem more introverted than going out but unlike the theatre, I have so many more options to be social while watching a clip on Youtube than I do in a theatre! I can watch videos with friends and not be afraid to chat and laugh out loud while it plays. I can watch videos on my own and share them online with friends far away. I can even engage with people I have never met before thanks to the comments section below each video. Over any other film platform, I prefer Youtube. Youtube is a website where users can both watch and upload homemade videos and video clips. In essence, it is a place where anyone can get published. Growing up with the internet, Youtube provides an additional element of nostalgia in its design and purpose. While there is are rules around explicit content, Youtube has no limit around its themes. Videos tend to be around five minutes in length but can stretch to twenty minutes or more. I can watch a pet cat spooked by its own tail, pranks caught on video, dictators being assassinated, or crudely made online skits.

Youtube as a platform means that I never feel alone. I know what is going on in the world because Youtube breaks news more efficiently than any news broadcasting channel. I control the story because I choose what I watch. If I do not enjoy the video, I all I have to do is click to the next one. I can comment, like, and share videos I find interesting. Thanks to social media, I can update myself on what my peers are watching too. Because of the interactive nature of social media, viral videos are capable of forming communities around them. Creativity on this film platform stretches beyond the filmmakers themselves. People who have never met can engage in lengthy discussions over videos and even delve into pitiless arguments. While I prefer to not engage, I appreciate the creativity in the comments of people there before me. I used to think that great films are made with expensive equipment. But in reality, good filmmaking is evaluated by the viewer, not the budget behind the film. It is the experience that matters the most to us. It defines the quality of the work. I believe that our obsession for user-generated content and social media is only just beginning.