In a Time when Earthworms Tasted Like Bacon and a place where Angelina Jolie Cried in Vain

Next to infomercials, there is no greater fascination than movie trailers. In both cases you're being seduced to buy something that may have little to no value.

Here's a fun game to play to prove it, go to the movies early and suffer through the 3 to 6 previews. Pay attention as you watch them. Then after the movie, see how many you can remember. Keep in mind each one of these 3 to 5 minute commercials cost about  a quarter of a million dollars or more to produce.

Advertisers will tell you it takes 5 to 15 impressions for something to sink into your mind. A more realistic way of approaching it might follow this path… What if the trailer told you that after the movie the first person to dial or text a particular number would receive $50,000, the second person $25,000 and the third person an autographed CD of Right Said Fred's 1991 smash hit "I'm Too Sexy For My Shirt".

The fact is commercials for needed products are very effective. Commercials for trash are soon forgotten.  Movie goers are not stupid they can tell all the jokes featured in the commercials for a Will Ferrell production are likely to be the only creative or clever or element of the film. Seeing Meryl Streep with any lace or linen  material in her hand, is a sure sign that wify-pooh's next girls night out is all but set in stone.

Would movies be better if you paid for them after you saw them. What if the amount you paid was based upon  your enjoyment of the film, like a tip.  This could change the world, for the better. 

In the dating world potential spouses could judge firsthand their compatibility. If the Datee loved it and thought "Gee this is a $50 a person movie.”  But the Dator only ponied $2.50, then obviously the core values are so askew… The love connection hopelessly lost.

In addition to streamlining  date night,  the Pay for Value Box Office Program would produce better movies. The trailers would show “interviews” with satisfied patrons explaining, “I thought I'd never pay $85 to see a movie, but CHiPs in 3D was really worth it."

If PT Barnum was right about the proliferation of suckers, this would further extract all available funds from their wallets and prepaid Visas,  thereby reducing the capital to reproduce.

What would happen if you were paid for the time you spent with your family, friends and coworkers based solely upon the quality of the experience? Would you be going to Ruth's Chris Steakhouse or having the bum  $.65 to order off of the McDonald's value meal?

The truth is we are paid for the great times we have with family, memories are golden. We also pay when we introduce drama in disaster into other's lives. The emotionally toxic are forgotten in a life of exile in plain sight.