Quentin Tarantino, a renowned figure in the film industry, has expressed his reservations about the effectiveness of TV as a medium compared to film. In a recent appearance on "The Joe Rogan Experience" alongside Roger Avary, he shared his thoughts on this matter.

Unraveling the Battle Between Film and TV's Effectiveness

Quentin Tarantino's Perspective on TV vs. Film

Many of the film industry's top talents are now bringing their skills to television. However, Quentin Tarantino isn't convinced that TV will ever reach the same level of effectiveness as film. During his appearance on the podcast, he noted that while TV has improved significantly, it still feels like television to him. He posed a rhetorical question: What's the difference between television and a good movie? He explained that although many TV shows now have the look and feel of movies, they lack the complete experience that a film provides.For example, Tarantino recounted his recent binge-watching of "Yellowstone." Initially, he was entertained by the show, but he felt that its dramatic structure didn't build towards a climax. It seemed to produce an endless stream of storylines that could go on forever, rather than a cohesive narrative like a film. He said, "I didn't really get around to watching 'Yellowstone' the first three years or so. Then I watch the first season and I'm like 'Wow, this is fucking great!' I've always been a big Kevin Costner fan, he's fucking wonderful in this.' And I get really caught up in the show, I'm having a great time watching. But at the end of the day it's just a soap opera."He continued, "While I'm watching it, I'm compelled. But when it's over… I don't remember any of the details of it. I'll see a good Western movie and I'll remember it the rest of my life. I'll remember the story, I'll remember this scene or that scene. It built to an emotional climax of some degree. There's a payoff to it. But there's not a payoff on this stuff. There's just more interconnectional drama."

The Impact of Cinematic Language on TV

Tarantino also discussed the use of cinematic language in TV shows. He pointed out that while many TV shows are now using cinematic techniques to engage viewers, it doesn't necessarily make them as effective as films. He said, "They're using cinematic language to get you caught up in it, but it's still not the same as a movie. A movie has a beginning, a middle, and an end. It builds to a climax and has a payoff. TV shows often lack that sense of structure and purpose."For instance, he compared the experience of watching shows like "Yellowstone" to watching films. He said that after finishing a film, he remembers the story and specific scenes. But with TV shows, he often forgets the details immediately after watching. This shows that films have a lasting impact that TV shows often lack, regardless of how cinematic they may look.

The Future of TV and Film

The debate between TV and film's effectiveness is likely to continue as both mediums evolve. Tarantino's views highlight the importance of storytelling and structure in creating a memorable viewing experience. While TV has made great strides in recent years, it still has a long way to go to match the impact of a well-crafted film.As the industry continues to develop, it will be interesting to see how TV and film adapt and compete with each other. Will TV shows continue to improve and reach the same level of effectiveness as films? Or will films remain the gold standard for storytelling? Only time will tell.