Is this movie cinematic?

“Is this movie cinematic?” – this is the question a sales agent /financier asked a filmmaker in Cannes.  

The filmmaker understandably was a little confused by this – what do they mean ‘is this movie cinematic’?  She had written a 90 page screenplay, with depth of character, plot and story – of course this movie is cinematic. Or is it?

Technically speaking …

• In technical terms, when there’s a reference to cinematic quality, it usually means some of the following:
• wide vistas;
• depths of field;
• colour palettes;
• hand held or static /fluid camera movement. 

The Audience

However, my thought is that the sales agent / financiers aren’t being technical – they’re thinking about the audience.  

• Who would pay to go and see this at the cinema.
• Why is this cinema versus a home entertainment experience?

We live in a digital world – everyone has the ability to make a movie; just pick up your cell phone, point & shoot.

• Steven Soderbergh made his movie UNSANE on his iPhone.  
• There are TV series with scope and scale (& budgets) that are far bigger than many independent films.  
• There are movies financed by SVODs which are beautiful, feature length awards winners and could quite easily sit on the big screen.

What is Cinematic?

When a potential sales / financing partner references the cinematic quality of your film – they’re really wondering why the audience will leave the house to pay to see this in a theater.  

• This doesn’t mean the movie has to have sweeping landscapes:
• ROOM is obviously a very ‘contained’ movie.  
• The film does not need steady, slow camera movements – Paul Greengrass has bounced us around on numerous occasions. 
• GET OUT and THE HANGOVER: horror & comedy will always be better experiences when you are in a room with other people & there are fewer distractions (& no opportunity to hit ‘pause’).  

Is this Movie Cinematic

From a sales /financing perspective, if the audience will pay to see the movie, the seller will get a better deal from the theatrical distributor. ‘Is this movie cinematic’ is asking if the movie has a hook, or a theme that an audience will enjoy on a community level – & that the social experience of seeing this film at a cinema outweighs the ease of viewing at home.