Many of us are familiar with the unwritten bylaws of watching a film courteously in a cinema.

But what about watching a film in the home…?

Its common sense stuff, but its a sign of the times that it needs to be written down.

However, why shouldnt watching a film at home be subject to such criteria, too?

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1.

The trick to resolve this is some kind of pre-agreement.

This film is going on, it needs to play at a certain volume.

Its enough to send you out to the local cinema.

Wherever possible, films should be watched on a television, not on an iPad/iPod/laptop

Its not the same.

Film watching, sadly, gets relegated.

The reason for the rule, though, is this.

The beauty of the television is that it can only do one thing, at least in practice.

Occasionally, this pays off.

In the home, you’re able to only be sure of doing this with a television set.

Until they start installing Twitter in the bloody things.

If youve watched the film before, then fair enough.

To give a film the best possible chance of working, it needs your attention.

The world will find a way to cope.

We can generally go for two hours of our lives without checking is someone has Tweeted/texted/rung/e-mailed us.

The same should be true at home.

Theres an added twist, though, in that a home tends to have a landline in it.

If you might, its worth taking it off the hook.

If you cant, then at the least switch the answerphone on or something.

We cant guarantee that it will end the distraction, but it might just minimise it.

If you could, turn the lights down

It actually makes a difference.

Get your food and drink beforehand

The rules of watching a film at home differ from the cinema here.

As long as it doesnt impinge on anyone elses viewing enjoyment, thats fair game.

And with that in mind…

7.

Treat the pause button as a last resort

When youre watching a film, youre being told a story.

If the kids are crying, or if theres a legitimate distraction, you stop reading the book.

You should also stop watching the film.

Were strong believers that the pause button offers too much temptation.

You should treat the pause button as an emergency machine.

The rule here is simple: only pause if you really have to.

But with that in mind…

8.

Sometimes, there will be an unavoidable distraction.

There will be something you cant control, or something you have to do.

In fact, wed go further: its a good move.

Bluntly, at that stage, all bets are off…