[Important] Background Movies
2Okay so what’s a movie that you don’t necessarily care about sitting down to watch but makes great background noise?
(Shoutout to the guy at the blood bank who’s been sticking people with syringes while Forest Gump plays on a loop for the last six weeks.)
- 13 comments, 12 replies
- Comment
I used to turn on Sabrina every night before bed. Sometimes I’d be out cold by the time we got to the goldfish named George.
Those slasher type movies with extremely high body count!
@mycya4me um
For me, it’s almost anything on the DVD shelves in the hall. Best of the Atmospheric Backgrounders are the LotR trilogy; I’ll pause for certain bits, but the films are so familiar, and the score so perfect, that I know what I’d see just from what I can hear.
And now, dammit, I want to go back to Hobbiton with the iPod loaded with the entire extended score, and spend basically an entire day there shooting several more gigs of photos.
Pick a movie you kinda love but know so well you won’t get into (if you are using it for winding down before sleep)
Audiobooks you know well can also work.
But don’t pick anything with toooch tension or anything you love so much that you’ll focus on it.
I sometimes use podcasts for this purpose.
I never really understood having the TV on if I wasn’t going to watch it. Too easy (for me) to get distracted and sucked back into whatever is playing on the screen. Music, on the other hand, is pretty much a constant if I’m awake.
(My MIL has the TV on in her kitchen all day long when she’s home. Generally it’s tuned to a news channel. That would drive me batshit crazy!)
Edit BTW @jouest kudos on (presumably) being a blood donor.
@chienfou I’m just there for the cookie and juice
@jouest
… And the shirt…
@jouest
This is still my absolute favorite donor shirt… Probably over 15 years old (at least)
When you are the oldest sibling, all old Disney movies are now background noise for your younger siblings. I have seen Moana an ungodly amount, so much I can sing almost all of the songs from memory. Anything for my baby sister though. She is the best.
@Wollyhop
That’s how it was with me. I have 2 brothers, each 2 years apart and then a half sister 11 years younger. First thing I did with my paper route money was buy my own tv when I was 12.
I’m somebody who likes tv on while I’m cooking for the noise. If I’m home alone it’s usually something like general hospital or law and order. For a movie it have to be something I’ve seen a million times and know almost by heart. Something like sweet home Alabama.
@Star2236 dang… now I got that song on headstream, (I.e. song in my head)
Men in Black.
YouTube on Fail Nation or similar.
I love movies so [too] much, such that if there’s one on, I’m very likely to be sucked in and have to stop/pause/sit and watch.
That said, there is some good research about how re-watching old favorite well-remembered movies has beneficial health effects:
From Google’s “AI”:
Watching older, familiar movies can be healthy due to the emotional comfort, reduced stress, and enhanced social connections they provide. Rewatching familiar movies triggers dopamine release, fostering a sense of reward and joy. This familiarity also lowers cognitive load, making it easier to relax and reduce stress levels.
Moreover, sharing these experiences with others can strengthen bonds and foster a sense of community.
Here’s a more detailed look at the benefits:
Dopamine Release:
Anticipating familiar scenes and enjoying the story can trigger the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward, making the experience more enjoyable.
Lower Cognitive Load:
Knowing the story and characters reduces the mental effort required to engage with the film, allowing viewers to relax and enjoy the experience more fully.
Emotional Regulation:
The predictability of the plot can provide a sense of control and emotional regulation, which can be particularly helpful for those experiencing stress or anxiety, according to Patient.info.
Shared Experiences:
Re-watching movies with loved ones can create shared experiences and strengthen social bonds, fostering a sense of connection and belonging.
Nostalgia and Reminiscence:
Familiar films can evoke positive memories and feelings of nostalgia, allowing individuals to reconnect with past experiences and emotions.
Reduced Isolation:
Sharing these experiences can help combat feelings of isolation and loneliness, especially for older adults who may be experiencing social isolation, notes Senior Solutions Management Group.
Enhanced Memory:
Watching familiar movies can help activate long-term memories and promote reminiscence, which can be beneficial for individuals with cognitive impairments.
Brain Stimulation:
Engaging with a movie, even a familiar one, can stimulate the brain and promote cognitive function.
Parasocial Relationships:
Watching favorite movies can create a sense of connection with media characters, fostering parasocial relationships that provide a sense of belonging and meaning.
Emotional Catharsis:
Movies can provide a safe space to experience a wide range of emotions, including sadness, joy, and fear, which can be cathartic and help individuals process their own emotions, according to WellPower.
Escape and Distraction:
Watching movies can provide a welcome escape from daily stressors and allow individuals to relax and recharge
More definitively sourced:
https://patient.info/news-and-features/why-do-we-find-it-comforting-to-rewatch-our-favourite-movies
https://www.fielding.edu/reap-the-benefits-of-rewatching-your-favorite-movies/#:~:text=Rewatching old movies is a,into a comforting%2C rewarding practice.
@PhysAssist I really don’t need or want AI’s processed-food opinion on things - yours is great and interesting, but the rehash from AI is just wasted space.
@Kyeh
FWIW, I thought that the AI I quoted did a decent job of summarizing the information that was included in more detail on the sites for which I posted the links.
Maybe I should have added aYMMV disclaimer though.
I am sorry that my posting it offended your sensibilities.
Thank you for valuing my input!
@Kyeh
That said, in reviewing the thread, I realized that my post wasn’t aimed at or even in reference to you or anything you posted.
So, you apparently just thought you needed to disparage the AI content I included for no particular reason?
Whatevs
@Kyeh
To put it a bit more succinctly:
Who aksed ya?
[J. K., I do value your opinion. ]
@Kyeh @PhysAssist No I found the dissertation, as it were, and the response interesting. I’d have to look back but I didn’t think I saw a NOTE:AI-generated content flag. All the sites are dealing with this now. But given the open-ness of this site I think we need to get the code monkeys on this (oh wait that was their name on the other site )
My Spotify playlist which if it didn’t repeat would play for about 3 days. Oh wait that’s not a movie, but it’s what’s in the background
Being WFH for a long time i wasn’t able to do work without something on TV (daytime talk or sports). Can’t believe those poor suckers had to work in cubicles 9 hours a day. But I did too for a while.
@pmarin I spent most of my career in cubicles. TBH, I actually preferred it - collaboration (and socializing
) seemed better in-person than online. But I certainly didn’t miss the commute when WFH during the covid years.
For me it’s the Sergio Leone spaghetti western trilogy: A Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More, and The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly. I’ve seen them each a zillion times, so I can take a break from what I’m doing, sit down, and always know exactly where the film is in its plot. And the music… Ennio Morricone was indeed the Maestro.
My spouse puts “The Stand” on so frequently.