Pretty much what the title says. I understand that widescreen works in movie theaters, but the content will inevitably spend the vast majority of its life on the screens people have at home. Why lose so much picture real estate in favor of two thick black bars?
I’m sure there’s an obvious answer I’m missing, so please go gentle on me. I’m no cinematographer; this is just something that has been bugging me for quite some time. I feel like I’m not getting everything I could from movies/shows nowadays, because everyone seems to be determined to pursue this (imho pointless) “cinematic” look.
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Movie directors are not creating something for a television screen. They are making something for a movie screen, and they may have a specific aspect ratio that they want to use.
I understand your point; in your mind, the movie will spend most of its existence in a form that is watchable on television. But the director doesn’t really care about that phase of life; they want it to look good on the movie screen, which is their canvas.
It’s a bit like asking why the chef at a nice restaurant doesn’t design his meals to be easily microwaved at home. Yeah, he knows leftovers are a thing, but he’s designing something to be enjoyed in the restaurant, and that’s where his focus should be.
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