Do you ever take notes while watching a movie?

[matt72582]

And if you do, what kind of stuff do you write?

I think I have about 2-3 times, little reminders, knowing that I'm going to write a review.. Sometimes I might write down lyrics to a song that sounds nice, or things to look up later (if I didn't recognize a name, term, etc).

[MovieMad16]

I can't say I have. I tend to watch a film, ponder over it for a while, put down some notes, and then write something of a review. Note taking tends to take you out of the moment when watching a film.

[Sexy Celebrity]

Mental notes.

[CosmicRunaway]

When I was in University, if I was watching a movie for a film class, I'd pause it frequently to take notes during a second viewing. I'd make notes about shot composition, themes, relevant plot points, editing, or anything that was relevant to whatever point I was trying to make about that film. I'd go back and watch particular scenes over again as well, to add or alter what I had written. If I watched the movie again before starting the paper, I might take more notes but I wouldn't pause it any more; I'd just let it run while I wrote.

However whenever I watched a movie for fun, or whenever I watch a movie now, I never take notes.

[Yoda]

If I'm recording a podcast about it, or planning to write about it, yes. Otherwise, no.

[Swan]

I haven't much but I need to, I was actually thinking about it the other day. Could him me a lot with screenwriting.

[Gatsby]

When I want to write a review on a particular film, then yes. If I'm watching a movie for the first time, or just trying to enjoy an old favorite, then no. Sensual experience first, analysis later.

[matt72582]

I can't say I have. I tend to watch a film, ponder over it for a while, put down some notes, and then write something of a review. Note taking tends to take you out of the moment when watching a film.

I agree, that's why I've done it 5 times out of about 2,000... I'm sure I was thinking about this site when I should have been concentrating on the movie, even though I'm sure I'd write something when there's a quick lull. Sometimes I'll tell myself I should in the future, as I wouldn't want to leave out something I noticed, while remembering things not as significant.

[TONGO]

In a weird way, I did here. My first review thread I posted as I watched.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?t=19834&highlight=For+The+First+Time+Im+Watching

I tried notes, but thats too distracting. Best to use just Hotwords which will remind yourself your point of the scene.

[Citizen Rules]

The only movie that I scribbled out some notes for, was Blade Runner and that was for the 10th Hof. I wanted to remember a few things about it for my review. Problem is, I was writing in the dark and could barely make out what I had wrote latter on. I probably won't take notes again.

[cricket]

No

[Sexy Celebrity]

I don't think I've ever written notes during a movie. Maybe in school, when it was required. I always found that distracting. I take mental notes and what I can remember gets used in a review or something here. Or whatever.

[Sexy Celebrity]

I guess if you count the commentaries I've done on MoFo. Those are like written notes.

[SilentVamp]

I've only done it for some of the movies in the HoF's. And when I do do that, it is generally about something that I really want to remember to mention in a review. And then those are just a couple of words. Not much at all.

[SeeingisBelieving]

And if you do, what kind of stuff do you write?

I think I have about 2-3 times, little reminders, knowing that I'm going to write a review.. Sometimes I might write down lyrics to a song that sounds nice, or things to look up later (if I didn't recognize a name, term, etc).

I would only write anything down if I was going to review it.

[Redwell]

Never on a first watch. Most recently on a rewatch of Terrence Malick's Knight of Cups I paused during the title cards to read the wiki for the tarot card in question. That was rewarding.

[NedStark09]

I know a guy or rather I watch a youtube channel called Blindwave and that group who do reaction video take notes as they do chows and trailers so i imagine they do movies too.

[thegoldenfatty]

Interestling question Matt.

I use a tape recorder sometimes- especially when I watch wrestling. When I was watching Fraggle Rock, I wrote down and took notes to find out which episodes I liked best and put them in order. Stuff like that.

[SeeingisBelieving]

Never on a first watch.

No, me neither. I like to just be a viewer and not think about it too much.

[FromBeyond]

Only if it's really bad

[doubledenim]

When I was watching Fraggle Rock, I wrote down and took notes to find out which episodes I liked best and put them in order. Stuff like that.

:lol:

I took notes for Predator and the hopefully impending review. That said, it was random thoughts more than any pertinent insight.

[MovieMeditation]

90% of the time, no.

Not even for my major cinema reviews, although I did watch some of them twice before making/completing the review, like The Hateful Eight for example. I will write notes after both viewings and mostly that's good enough.

There has been a few films where I have written small notes or stuff I caught while watching, sometimes while it plays or if extended thoughts I'll pause it. I remember doing that with my Before Midnight review, which also happens to be one of my most detailed, in depth and complete reviews I've ever done imo. And Hateful is one of my personal fav reviews as well... guess those notes do do something aftet all... but mostly, I just wanna enjoy the film, you know. :shrug:

[Movie Max]

Sure, all the time, but, since it's usually dark, it comes out looking like this...

http://www.pd4pic.com/images/book-notebook-scribble-writing-handwriting.png

... and since I need to take notes, by the end of the movie I can't remember what I was trying to write.:p