Bum Barometer

Bum barometer is an essay by David Mamet on audience research and how it doesn't work. You should listen to the audience based on how they react, not with audience research. It's probably why amazing, challenging films don't seem to make it to the multiplex and what shows up on most screens is average, boring and somewhat grey. David Mamet is a playwright, screenwriter and independent filmmaker who carefully crafts stories with unforgettable dialogue and plots usually involving people who are not being completely honest.