In the age of mass media, and the internet, people have developed the “scoop” mentality. Everyone wants to be the first. Media outfits will pay good money to get the scoop on an event and internet publishers sometimes try to out-scoop media.
The more serious movie goer and book reader do it to their peers too. You can see it from the way people queue up on the box office on opening day. You can see it from the long lines in bookstores when a much-awaited book comes out. Even the bored housewife and her labandera gloat when they are the first to hear the latest gossip or scandal about their favorite celebrities. No one wants to be the last.
With media, it’s about the money. The outfit that publishes the news ahead of its competitors will generate more sales. With internet publishers, it’s about the traffic which translates to popularity or advertising revenue, or both.
But with movie goers and book readers, what’s the big deal about being the first to see a new movie or read a new book? Unless you are also in the business of publishing reviews which, in a way, makes the I-have-to-be-first game understandable, a movie or a book will stay the same even if seen or read ten years after its first release.
Of course, much of if has to do with hype and trending. Advertising and marketing build up the hype about a product, whether it be a film or a book, to boost initial sales which will then set a trend as the bandwagon mentality takes over. Bandwagon? When a movie opens and we see advertisements that include video footage of “ambush” interviews of moviegoers against a backdrop of huge crowds in front of a movie house, the message is that people are coming in droves because the movie is good and so everyone else should see it.
Even a love affair, real or contrived, between a leading man and a leading lady is exploited to generate sales for a film or a television show. The more complicated, the better. Hence, it isn’t unusual to find the involvement of a third party — a love triangle, after all, titillates the imagination of the public even more. In short, many publicized celebrity love affairs are, purely and simply, marketing gimmicks meant to sell the actors’ latest movie or television show.
The curious thing is that I don’t know of any movie buff or serious reader who has dissected his reasons for wanting to be the first to see a movie or read a book. But I know many movie buffs who make it a point to go and see a movie on opening day. And I know a lot of book lovers who pre-order a book so that they can get their copies even before the book hits the bookstores.
What many exclude from the equation is the price. There is a premium on being the first to see a movie or read a book. In some movie houses (and this is something I only learned recently from a friend who is a huge fan of Filipino films), the price of a movie ticket is higher on the first week, it slides down on the second week and slides down some more on the third week. It’s cheaper if you wait for the DVD release because you pay one price, everyone in your family can watch it as many times as he likes. You can even invite friends or neighbors to watch with you or lend the DVD to them after you’ve tired of it. That’s not a crime. It’s copying, distributing and public exhibition that the law prohibits.
With book lovers, the obsession over getting a copy of a book as soon as it comes out commands a higher price. Hardcover books are many times more expensive than paperback copies. And first editions are almost always hardcover; the paperback edition follows after several months. Unless you’re collecting first editions as a business investment, does it really matter if you read a novel in hardcover or paperback edition? It’s the same author and it’s the same story.
Obviously, I don’t have an obsession over opening days and first editions. I like DVDs (I’ve explained why in detail in my January 14 column), especially when they are on sale, and I like the thrill of buying a hardcover edition of James A. Michener’s Tales of the South Pacific from a second hand bookstore for – brace yourself — fifty pesos. In mint condition – it looks like the first owner never bothered reading it.
If you call yourself a book lover but have never spent time in second hand book stores, boy, you’re missing a lot. Half of my cookbook collection came from second hand book stores – most are hardcover editions and none of them cost me more than a thousand pesos. Most, in fact, I bought for less than four hundred pesos.
I don’t mind second hand paperbacks either. Some of the best novels I have read were second hand paperback copies. I bought my copy of James Clavell’s Tai-Pan for thirty-six pesos in 1986. The pages are now brown and frayed, and the book body has disengaged from the cover in three pieces. But I’ve enjoyed it oh, so many times! I even loaned it once to a cousin who got hooked on reading because of it. It’s almost like a credit card advertisement – book, thirty-six pesos; enjoyment in reading it, priceless.
So, the next time you get the itch to run to the movie house on opening day or to pre-order the hardcover edition of a new book, ask yourself first why you’re doing it. Ask yourself if it’s really that important to you or if you’re just a victim of advertising and marketing hype.
So true miss connie.. If there are two places i could spend hours in, they would be a bookstore (any kind) and a hardware store.(true value or ACE hardware )..
There was a time when i was younger that i HAD to have a book upon it’s release but i’ve learned my leason . Now i browse at BOOK sales. I remember getting almost an entire collection of agatha christie books (1st edition ) at 40 pesos each.. And buying READERS DIGEST select editions (4 titles in a book ) for 35 only..
Although since having vision problems,i turned to AUDIOBOOKS..
More power miss connie.. I love reading your blogs.. and have learned some interesting recipes along the way.. Thanks and All the best to your Family…
“When a movie opens and we see advertisements that include video footage of “ambush” interviews of moviegoers against a backdrop of huge crowds in front of a movie house, the message is that people are coming in droves because the movie is good and so everyone else should see it.“
Oh my, Miss Sassy! ito ba iyong “ang gandaaaaaaaaaa! bagay na bagay sila!“ or “panoorin niyo marami kayong matututunan“? LOL.
Anyway, ako din, I frequent second-hand bookstores. I think I bought most of my Agatha Christie books second hand. Pag may bago with other authors, I just wait for the paperback. Pero pag nakakita ako sa sale ng hardbound, I`d still buy it kahit meron na akong paperback. There`s just something about hardbound books all lined up in my bookshelves that makes me happy.
Re ““ang gandaaaaaaaaaa! bagay na bagay sila!“ or “panoorin niyo marami kayong matututunan“”
That’s it! Mismo. These people will say anything just to be seen on TV. And they know that making negative comments means getting deleted in the editing room.
Usually I watch movies in theaters if it’s full of special effects/CGI so that I can appreciate it better- of course I’ll still buy a DVD version. But more or less, for some movies, I’m content with watching them at home. I hate long lines.. (my head hurt when I saw all those people line up for New Moon, nothing against them, though..)
For books though, I love swapping with friends and browsing at Book Sale. You’re right, there are a lot of good hard bound books there which are a steal! I bought a really big History of Art book there once for less than P500- to think it might be worth almost 3-5k in bookstores.
Off Topic…. I wonder why we dont have public libraries here. I’m thinking of some people who do not have the money and also the space to stock up on books.. The worst is no one in the govt tries to do anything about it..
I think every local government (city, municipality) has one. Problem is they are dependent on donations so the collections are not really, how shall I put it… not really interesting.
I’m a book binge addict, so everytime I go to the mall, I check out the bargain bookstores first. Book Sale, Pick-a-Book, Books for Less, I’ve probably scoured them all. I don’t mind reading a tattered book with worn-out pages; for me, what’s important is the content.
And as for my reasons why I want to be first? I don’t want to get spoiled. Really. It’s happened to me many times before, and I just end up getting more and more frustrated by the time I’m finally able to watch the movie/read the book. Some people can be such buzzkills.
Hehe. And oh, I don’t know if you know of some Internet commenters who have this knack for wanting to be the “first” to comment–sometimes, for absolutely no reason at all.
Nice article, Ma’am Connie.
Maybe they were thinking that if they had it first, makukwento nila sa iba. Spoilers. hahahah
And everyone else won’t want to be the last lest they get victimized by those killjoys.
I just bought loads of used cook book from Amazon and have it delivered to my friend in NY. I’ll get it when I visit her this year. Yes, I saved so much money – 50-80% off as compared to buying new ones.
I used to visit booksale a lot. I also buy second hand books, old magazines and reader’s digest from Recto – before the stalls were demolished.
What I understand even less is when people buy expensive hardbound books to display on their bookshelves at home — UNREAD.
Second-hand bookstores are awesome. It’s nice to find hard-cover books in excellent condition for only $3, sometimes even $1. I also love going to Thrifty stores like Salvation Army or Goodwill. I’ve found a lot of cookbooks for .50cents. Weeeee
Movies, hay naku.. we always go after 2 weeks a hit movie was released. It’s a much quieter crowd.
Wow!This is really a very nice post Ms.Connie. I visit your blog everyday, but I seldom post comments.
My husband is a book lover.No wonder he writes to get by.When I first met him I told him that I only read required school books,unless there’s a report book to be submitted for a particular book that we are required to read.I believe he took pity on me after knowing that. Until one day he gave me a present – “Tuesday’s with Morrie”.And everthing started from there.I begun to read books…Today I can say, I’m so thankful I’ve met him and of course we got married. Books is now included in our budget list.
I hope you don’t get bored reading my introduction.Anyway, There was a time when I went to UK and I thought the best pasalubong to him is nothing else but (2)Chess books.Pikit mata kong binili ang book,knowing the price when converted to peso.Since chess is his favorite game he has also lots of chess books.Suki din siya ng Amazon.
Then one time may na discover sya,I’m not sure if your familiar with “book alike” in UP? Medyo nakakakonsensya but it’s a big savings for us knowing the prices of Chess books if you wanted to buy it through bookstores or Amazon.I’m happy kasi konti nalang binibili nya na brand new chess books.Pag chess books kasi I can’t even read it coz I don’t know how to play chess so siya lang nag-e enjoy. Unlike if recommended books, we can read it both. So ok lang sa akin if we bought it in the most expensive price or in book sales.
Most of my good books including cookbooks are from Goodwill and they are no more than $2.
Years ago,a 2min trailer of an untitled,unfinished film were distributed
to theologians,evangelical groups,Christian universities and big-wigs in Hollywood as a marketing strategy.When this was shown by the Carmelite nuns
at a spiritual retreat I was attending, the audience fell silent,I was stunned and got sick.When it was finally released 2 yrs after this incident,it was a box-office success….Mel Gibsons’ The Passion of the Christ.I didn’t see it.
There was a surprising revelation that some movie reviews are “fake”
Yes Connie,interior designers and decorators buy books for their clints
to give their house/rooms supposedly some personal touch and character.
Dexie and Viel, me too, I find cheap second hand hardcover cookbooks in such good condition from Book Sale — makes me think the original owners couldn’t manage to cook the recipes in them and just gave up hehehehe
MC, some books can’t be found in book sales but they’re so good that they’re worth the premium price. I’m still hunting for Andrea Nguyen’s “Into the Vietnamese Kitchen” and still can’t find it locally. Ah, if only there is an equivalent of Amazon here, hunting for second hands would be so much more convenient.
I also have that urge to be the first to see this, or read that etc. But the premium price has proven a difficult barrier to overcome on several occasions.
Of course it does have its own rewards, you can ruin your friends’ movie experience by suddenly blurting out spoilers before they go to watch it! LOL
oh ms connie you are so right… personally, i find it really annoying, the urge to always be ‘first in line’ for anything. i know exactly what you’re talking about because i have a friend who fits 100% of your description. she makes it a point to line up early in the morning at the cinema, on the first showing day (usually for big-budgeted films like transformers or 2012). she waits outside zara or rustans even before it opens, on the first day of a sale. she scours the internet for hot-off-the-grill showbiz and political chismis. if there’s a new resto that has opened and she finds out you’ve tried it already, hindi siya magpapatalo — she will immediately go and try it as well. i think it’s a matter of pride, for her to be able to boast that she’s ahead or more in-the-know than others. i really find it irritating, strange, and a total waste of time. sometimes, i find myself being influenced by her ‘got to be first’ mindset and also line up early on the first movie showing day or something. but more often than not, i wind up disappointed. i usually go home thinking, ‘i lined up early in the morning for this?? i should have just waited for the dvd!’ yes, you’re right, 99% of the time, everything is just hype and marketing, getting on the bandwagon. SO not worth your time and effort! mas masarap pa manood sa dvd, when i can put up my feet on the bed, cuddle beside my husband, rewind the parts i didn’t understand, and not have to contend with parking, lining up, exorbitant movie tickets, snacks, noisy moviegoers. that also goes for books. i have discovered a LOAD of good-quality children’s books at booksale (i once bought a book there for only P80, in fully booked it was P499! needless to say, my friend would rather die than buy at booksale or any similar stores.)
I borrow books (mostly for my daughter) from the Union church library in Rada st. Makati. Annual membership fee is P200. Best P200 i spent last year