It was in 2013, a busy summer screening of the Seth Rogen, James Franco comedy, This is the End that I first noticed someone using a phone in the theatre. Despite there being several warnings before the movie. I can’t remember if anyone told them to put their phone away or how that interaction panned out. I do remember a screening of Life of Pi, just a few months earlier where someone in the audience was reacting too loud to the movie and was called out for it – “I deserve to enjoy the movie and if I want to ooh and ahh I can, its my right to enjoy the movie too” I recall hearing loudly from near the front of the theatre.
Recently a podcast mentioned that you can no longer call out people for using a phone at the theatre because they may talk back. Someone also recently told me an anecdote of this happening. I of course noticed when some of the preshow advertising no longer said to not be on your phone (although it seems to have been switched back soon after). CBC recently published an article featuring a quote from Canadian chain Cineplex saying it was becoming more accepted and commonplace to use phones during screenings. It was ok to check up on the baby sitter, parking meters, etc….
**Carrie Bradshaw voice** – I couldn’t help but wonder, am I the one who is not conforming to the times? Why yes, I watch movies at home but I still believe strongly in the movie going experience. I just know the bright screen from phones is a distraction. Ultimately as someone who is chronically online I enjoy the moments away from my screens and prefer to spend time soaking in the content of the big screen.
The biggest distraction is the time I distract from all the small screens and focus on the big one.
