Why Does David Fincher Love Netflix’s Quality Control So Much?
Last week, David Fincher’s new film The Killer was released on Netflix.It seemed like it was instantly in the Top 10, and the famously particular auteur seems to be enjoying his time working with the streaming giant. Netflix has been polarizing in the past. When it debuted and began buying movies, it felt like a haven for directors to ensure their vision. As Netflix pushed for Academy Awards, they also made a shift to more commercial blockbusters, but they limited the theatrical release of these titles.
But what Netflix has historically stayed consistent with is allowing directors the freedom to make the movies they see. That means not a ton of development and a lot of freedom as long as they stay within the budgets. It kind of feels like the Medici of old. Fincher has been working with them for a while on both films and television. He was recently speaking to Le Monde about his relationship with Netflix, whom he’s worked with on Mank, House of Cards, The Killer, and more. Fincher explained in the interview, “Let’s be honest. I have worked for most of the major film studios. When you tell them, ‘I have to do these special effects in 4K,’ their first response is, ‘Oh, gee, why do it so expensive?’ They balk at the slightest expense.”
This financial commitment is important. “Netflix has never struggled with these kinds of choices,” Fincher said. “They adopted industry standards that make sense to filmmakers. Netflix has by far the best ‘quality control.’ Fincher has been working with Netflix for more than a decade and has enjoyed great success with the streaming service. I think he understands that a place like this might be the only place where he can give people in his position a blank check to make the movies they want.Regarding the future of filmmaking, Fincher told Le Monde: “We’re not going to save movies as a culture by restricting the home distribution system. To do that, they’re going to have to be on the stump”edge places, and still are, with a few exceptions. You’ll save all the costs you need instead of a damp, smelly, and greasy place. I loved certain theaters like Grauman’s Chinese Theater and the Cinerama Dome in Los Angeles, but the technical conditions there were deplorable. We need to forget all this nostalgia and finally ask ourselves the right question: Who is offering the best representation today? ” The optimal distribution system for Fincher appears to be his Netflix at home. Still, I go to the movie theater for a common experience. You can’t get that at home. However, last year I noticed that there were movies being shown that overshot the screen or had problems with projection. That was in Los Angeles. That’s why I choose certain theaters that I know are great. But the average viewer won’t notice or care. This whole situation feels like it’s stuck in two different places. Netflix could be a great place to work and I would love to work there, but I also don’t want to miss out on movie theaters and communal experiences. So how do we achieve quality control in movies? Part of it has to do with training, better theaters, and the added costs that come with it, only increasing ticket prices.