[ithacaartist]

Theoretically, I was trained in communications media in the 70's.
What's operative in watching a film or TV is something called "the willful suspension of disbelief". Films should be designed, written, shot, and edited in a way that makes it easier for any of us to accomplish this. Some make a pretty good play, some drop the ball on occasion, and some throw it away entirely. Budget certainly figures into this for most large productions, but there is a lot to watch over in order that a scene be absolutely accurate.
I understand what alanit means because I've been tripped up in my "process" of suspending my disbelief many times in many films. Anachronisms, technical errors, and manifestations of outright ignorance are likely lurking in most any film, but it depends on the viewer's level of expertise and subsequent sensitivity to issues within each of these areas. Hey, my bugaboo is metal working. At one point I was pretty rampant any time someone was depicted arc welding with cutting goggles, grinding out a shower of sparks without proper safety equipment, or even using an oxy/acetylene torch while wearing a welding helmet--obviously created by a crew or organization that didn't know a MIG from a TIG (I swear, there are people in, say, metro New Jersey, or any other big city, for that matter, who have no idea where the hot water that comes from their tap gets there.) And I think it's largely a case of their NOT knowing what they do not know.
And truly, for most of it, it doesn't matter because it usually irks only our sensibilities. The main exception to this is when it's misinformation which would be dangerous to life and limb if applied; but I think this is rare.
Encountering a breach in continuity, whether it's a cigarette that mysteriously grows and shrinks between shots in a scene, or the improper use of historical or technical features, is experienced like a slap in the face by those who catch it, and know better. This "slap" yanks us right back from fantasy land, smack dab back to reality. And this is aggravating, to say the least.
Alanit, be proud of your quick eye to notice the screw-up, and your attentiveness to detail. The trick here is how to keep our own personal levels of intelligence and experience and knowledge from making a blessing into a curse. It's really hard sometimes when the media stack the deck against us. Try to be comforted by the level of expertise needed to find the folly--The more you really know, the more annoying it is to consume mass media. Rejoice because you know the difference, and can help educate family and friends. We need to pay less attention, despite ourselves, to the man behind the curtain, the elephant in the room, or these ubiquitous mistakes by filmmakers; giving them some slack may be less painful if we acknowledge their fallibility (human or financial) and thereby salvage what fun or drama remains in these things.
David Parker