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- What is the Soap Opera Effect?
Ever notice how a movie at the theater looks way better than it does on your 4k TV?
To put it as simply as I can, movies are shot on film while everything else is shot with video cameras. If you’ve ever watch a movie in a theater, then watch it again on your TV, you may have noticed it just doesn’t look the same.
“When you go from what the director is filming it with to what you’re watching on TV, you’re going to get a lot of blur.”
Terrance Cole from Best Buy told me, it’s because new TVs are shipped with something called interpolation that smooths the picture. Great for ballgames and fast action,
“But on a movie, it can look a little weird… They call it the soap opera effect,” Cole said.
You can turn it off on newer TVs, but they haven’t made it easy. It’s way down in settings, then way down some more. With older TVs, you don’t even get the option.
It’s a big enough deal that Hollywood actors, like Tom Cruise are talking about it on Twitter
It’s a big enough deal that Hollywood actors, like Tom Cruise are talking about it on Twitter; here’s a Change.org petition, and talks are underway with TV manufacturers to make it easier to turn off and on.
Each TV brand has a different name for interpolation. To find out how to turn it off on your TV, the best way is to search it on Google.
Most people don’t care and they can’t tell a difference unless the TV screens are side-by-side. But film fans do care and want to watch the movies on their TV screens the way Hollywood intended.