We’re not just talking about the extreme examples of people actually answering calls - even the glare of a phone screen in the corner of your eye can prove a major distraction when trying to pay attention to the screen.
Critic Alex Billington was watching director Ti West’s The Sacrament at the Toronto Film Festival when he spotted someone using a mobile phone at the front of the theatre. By the sounds of it, the glare was hard to miss:
Hi @Ti_West I'm trying to watch your film but guy in front row keeps using phone and theater tells me he is allowed. Ruining the experience.
— Alex Billington (@firstshowing) September 9, 2013
Just told by TIFF that industry have the RIGHT to blatantly use phones in the film. They will 'take my complaints' but nothing can be done.
— Alex Billington (@firstshowing) September 9, 2013
I had to walk out and miss Ti West's The Sacrament because I had to deal with theater managers. Their offer - see it at public screening.
— Alex Billington (@firstshowing) September 9, 2013
Having unsuccessfully tried to sort the problem out with cinema owners and TIFF team, Alex took more drastic measures:
Alex's last trip to #TIFF MT @firstshowing I literally just called 911 & reported piracy to the police. This has been elevated to max.
— Germain Lussier (@GermainLussier) September 9, 2013
Billington admits the 911 dispatcher “laughed at me”, and they were unable to do anything about it since only texts and emails were being sent rather than any act of piracy. Billington later acknowledged the emergency call was an overreaction:
Ya I overreacted made heat of moment gaffe, should've called police dpt. Mea culpa. Full respect for responders, no intention to waste time.
— Alex Billington (@firstshowing) September 10, 2013
My mistake is my own lesson to learn. I contacted staff first for piracy, they did nothing. Attention should be on the policy, bigger issue.
— Alex Billington (@firstshowing) September 10, 2013
Billington also spoke to Buzzfeed about the incident, emphasising "my complaints at that time, based on their response, turned to the policy of TIFF and allowing phones to be used".
It may not have been the ideal way to confront the issue, but this writer completely sympathises with the annoyance facing film fans worldwide. Just put those phones away in the cinema - if the world really can’t wait for two hours, then just stick with a DVD.
