Have a news tip for us?
Just email . Ideas for stories, links to interesting articles, and press releases are welcome.
Another cell phone “innovation:” a movie that calls you
posted by
CSWalczak
on
March 18, 2010 at 7:40 am
First it was the cell phone application that let you know when an opportune moment in the film was coming up so you could quickly exit to use the restroom. Now someone has created software that allows a movie to become “interactive.” In connection with an upcoming German-made horror film, patrons can provide their cell phone numbers upon entry; one audience member will be called and, via the voice-recognition software, will assist a character in the film make life-and-death decisions with rest of the audience listening in on the conversation. Here’s the news item which includes a demo via YouTube:Movie Viral
Comments (9)
Does that work for adult movies as well?
Oh, that’s f*cking great! As if the mass of idiots who fill a movie theater these days aren’t disrupting things enough with their damn cell phones!
I must be dreaming.
Two things, though: (1) I’m not James Bond, and (2) I don’t mean that in a nice way.
This kind of reminds me though of an attraction that was at both Expo 67 in Montreal and at Hemisfair in San Antonio the following year called the KinoAutomat where at several points during the film the audience could vote on which of two routes the action or actors could take, using buttons at each seat. But at least annoying cell phone users were not involved and the film only ran a half hour or less.
Another thought: what if the person called uses foul language or makes inappropriate remarks to the character needing assistance? Does the voice recognition software translate everything?
Can anybody go to the movies anymore to get away from everyday life and forget all this high -tech B.S.Yes I said it B.S.Most people today cannot even go to the bathroom without their cell phone or i-pod stuck in their ear or somewhere else.
Just what we need, people intentionally leaving their cell phones on.
Reminds me of a live theatre experience with the unfinished Dickens work, Edwin Drood. The audience voted on who the villain would be and the play ended accordingly. The night I was there the guy in front of me was lobbying for a specific character since he’d experienced all the other possible endings.
Also, if you don’t like the way it’s going can you get a Mulligan? What if some wisea.. gives a response other than the one the screen character is requesting?
My guess is that the programming doesn’t permit much variation. For example, if the character says, “Right or left?” and the person called says anything other than “Right” or “Left,” the porgramming will have the character say something like, “I didn’t get that – should I go right or left?” If the person keeps giving alternative responses (such as “Up” or “Neither”) I think the programming would have the character say something such as “We have a bad connection” and then call another patron.
Just what every movie going experience needs, more phone calls.
What? Who is this? I can’t hear. Yes, I am the screenwriter. There must be a bad connection. Call me back and I’ll tell ya, okay? No, he didn’t do it. What? I can’t hear you. It was the other guy. Yeah, forewing…Fuuushowwoing, F-O-R-E-S-H-O-W-I-N-G…FORESHADOWING! What do you mean what is that?
Is this really the future of the movies?