1. Authenticity in Online Streaming Film Presentations Rachel Campbell

2. Rationale: Authenticity on Netflix Streaming  Online streaming has become more popular  Issues of authenticity have arisen  Authenticity defined as how the film was shown in theaters; default to DVD  Buffering and freezing  Aspect ratio changed (1.85:1 to 1.33:1)  Due to the popularity of online streaming services and recent authenticity issues it is worth asking whether viewers are receiving the authentic film through online streaming

3. Previous Authenticity Studies  Sherman and Dominick (1988)  Subjects viewed film clips that were in their original black and white or colorized  Results were nearly split in half in terms of preferences  Neuendorf, Lieberman, Ying, and Lindmark (2009)  Subjects viewed film clips either in original widescreen or in pan and scan  Results were again split in half

4. Research Questions  RQ1: Are the aspect ratios changed for online streaming?  RQ2: How frequently do inconsistencies occur in films viewed through online streaming?  RQ3: Of the inconsistencies that occur, which are the most prevalent?

5. Sample  Population – all the films on Netflix streaming  Sampling Frame – A list of the top 50 films on Netflix streaming  From Instant Watcher.com  This list was recorded every day for a month  Only narrative films with a theatrical release will be considered for analysis  Films to be analyzed will be chosen randomly from the combined lists

6. Coding Scheme: Instructions  Unit of Data Collection – chapter of DVD  Chapter number  Time at beginning and end of chapter  Instructions  Use one coding sheet per chapter  Answers on the coding sheet should relate to the streaming version of the film  Transfer coding of all scenes for a particular movie to the spreadsheet  Do not code opening or closing credits

7. Variables  Aspect ratio  1.33:1 – full frame  1.85:1 – standard widescreen  2.35:1 – wider widescreen  Missing Information  Occurs when aspect ratio is changed  Characters, objects or printed material could be partially cut or missing completely  Reframing  Due to aspect ratio, specifically pan and scanning  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMJhM3So4y8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMJhM3So4y8

8. Variables continued  Interruptions  Due to buffering or freezing  Could be caused by the streaming site or streaming device

9. Variables continued  Editing  Scene could be shortened or cut completely  Visual or verbal censorship  Color  Black and white could be colorized; saturation

10. Variables continued  Picture Quality  Scale from “clear” to “heavily pixelated”  Sound  Higher or lower definition  Sound could be unclear or muffled  Streaming device could make noise  Sound might not sync with picture

11. Suggestions?  Are there any streaming issues that I left out?  Are the directions clear?