Netflix Speed Up Criticised

Netflix’s new feature that allows viewers to speed up or slow down its programmes and movies has been criticised by filmmakers.

21:12 04 November 2019

A number of filmmakers has taken to Twitter to express their concern over Netflix’s decision to allow viewers to speed up or slow down its movies and programmes using a newly added feature. The function, which is currently being trialled in mobile devices, empowers subscribers to watch at various different speeds. 

 

Knocked Up’s Judd Apatow, who is also the creator of the Netflix series Love, said that the function was “ridiculous and insulting.” 

 

Meanwhile, The Incredibles director Brad Bird said it was “another cut to the already bleeding-out cinema experience. The Mission: Impossible-Ghost Protocol director added: “Why support and finance filmmakers’ vision on one hand and then work to destroy the presentation on those films on the other???”

 

Peter Ramsey, the co-director of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, said: “Does everything has to be designed for the laziest and most tasteless?” 

 

Meanwhile, several actors, including Breaking Bad’s Aaron Paul, echoed filmmakers sentiments saying that the feature amounted to “completely taking control of everyone else’s art and destroying it.” 

 

Keela Robinson, Netflix vice-president, released a statement saying: “We regularly test new features that could help improve Netflix.” 

 

“This latest test has generated a fair amount of feedback -both for and against. This is a mobile only test and give people the ability to vary the speed at which they watch on phones or tablets.” 

 

“It’s a feature that has long been available on DVD players - and has been frequently requested by our members. For example, people looking to rewatch their favorite scenes or wanting to go slower because it’s a foreign language title.  

 

Other streeaming services like 123movies continue to support the Directors vision of how films should be viewed.