Essay on Interactive Movies
............................................................by John Gnotek
Since early 1998 when I first began discussing the concept of interactive storytelling, a common response has been, "Oh, like those children's Choose Your Own Adventure books." Having never seen one, I'd raise my arms in question, or would shake my head in agreement when told what they were. However, upon actually seeing one, the answer to an interactive movie being like a Choose Your Own Adventure book is a distinct and irrefutable, "No!" Nor is it an alternate ending gimmick. And, it's not something to be relegated to the "interactive arts," that is gaming. Interactive movies are movies! In every Aristotelian dramatic sense.
A distinguished indie writer/director/producer told me, "I don't want some viewer controlling my story." The filmmaker is still complete creator, still god of his world and in actuality even has a tremendous influence over the viewer. The president of a top talent agency stopped me short at a lecture, stating they have already tried interactivity, besides, "Nobody wants to jump between their TV and a computer." I agreed, "An interactive movie on DVD, on a TV." I was waved off withour further comment, "We've tried it." And another misconception is that it's too technological. Movie-making is technological. But watching movies is not, and neither is interacting with it.
What interactive movies are, or can be right now, is a movie like any other and more. It's engaging, but no more intrusive than an instinctive click of a button. Unlike Choose Your Own Adventure where the reader is yanked out of the story to make a contemplative decision, a viewer of an iMovie is alerted to an interactive moment in the movie via a leitmotif and psychologically influenced to subtlety make decisions that reflect their individual character. There is no time for a contemplative decision, the story doesn't pause and wait. There is no box that pops up asking, "If you want Dick to kiss Jane, then click the LEFT ARROW. If you want Jane to slap Dick, then CLICK THE RIGHT ARROW." No not all. That would be like Choose Your Own Adventure.
If this were the scene though, and a viewer is sitting on the couch watching the movie, controller in hand, then the prompts would be audio, subtlety alerting the viewer of an interactive moment. Clicking the PLAY button when intercutting on Dick leering at Jane would lead Dick to venture a kiss. Intercutting to Jane looking upon Dick in disgust and a button click would be a viewer suggestion for Jane to slap the perv. This doesn't necessarily mean the action would be immediate though. It may just put Jane on a divergent path that later when Dick runs into Jane she disses him or avoids him altogether. Or, they do jump in the sack right away. Or an interactive action may not create an entire divergent path, just a loop. That is, an extra bit of dialogue or action that may have a degree of relevance now or later.
On the script it would appear:
BEGIN INTERACTIVE LEITMOTIF:
Dick and Jane arrive at Jane's brownstone. Jane climbs the steps, catches Dick leering at her butt*. He follows her
to the front door, eyes still on her rear**. The door opens.
Dick leans in for a kiss**. Jane pulls back, pushes Dick away*.
....................................DICK
....................What? No good night kiss**?
....................................JANE
....................I don't kiss until the first date*.
END INTERACTIVE LEITMOTIF (*PROCEED, or **GO TO: C3).
The door slams.
On the script, (*) indicates continue reading. That is follow the default, main storyline; the path the movie would follow with non-interaction or being played in a movie theatre. To follow (**) in the script, simply drop the main script, pick up Script C3 which begins where you left off on the previous script--page number, action, even dialogue if it's not a scene break. The movie would proceed seamless at the end of the leitmotif, with the last interactive choice made during the interactive sequence.
If this was the extent of the interaction it may seem similar in essence to a Choose Your Own Adventure. But, interactivity can also direct a viewer into the genre of movie personally suiting them. Carefully placed and chosen dialogue and actions can lead a viewer into an action-oriented story, a family version or a more philosophical mode of the same story--all without the viewer's conscious awareness--using psychology. The same story could be told on different levels in an interactive mode--on DVD, of course. This obviously can't apply in a theatre setting. Perhaps TV at some point
Be that as it may, the DVD can be marketed from the theatrical release, particularly with a movie written to take advantage of this opportunity. "What if?" Find out with the DVD release. Plus, DVDs in and of themselves are coming of age. Many DVD movies make more money than their box office releases. 8 Mile, One Hour Photo, and Barbershop are a few examples. DVD players are found in more than half of US homes. And, this is yet a technology in its infancy.
Another aspect of iMovies is each divergent path can reflect a different perspective. Perhaps the protagonist, having taken a darker path, sees the action from the antagonist's perspective. The same exact action seen through a different path tells a different story. Preconceptions arrive by how and whom information is delivered. And, preconceptions are fickle, leading to emotional and illogical responses. Great for drama.
In addition, each divergent path may lend itself to the strength of different thematic approaches or provide additional bits of back story exposition. Watching the DVD multiple times gives added value in that each path is a different, full structured story, yet gives fuller meaning to the tapestry of the big picture.
From a production standpoint this may all seem overly excessive, with all the different paths, perspectives and themes. But, much of the footage is shared among the paths. Additionally, each progressive path is closer to the end, thus shorter.
In summary, interactive movies are a viable new approach to movie making, a new path to dramatic thinking and a great new tool for storytelling. Artistically, a creative venue with boundless dimension. The technology exists already and the hardware is nothing more than the DVD's remote.
Circa - 8-03
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