Hello all, Mad Dashiell here and thanks for joining me. Today we start with the question. How to make The Choose Your Own Adventure book series into a film franchise?
The answer to this question has been perplexing 20th Century Fox for the last few years, scattering announcements and false starts rumors to make a film based on the Choose Your Own Adventure books created by Edward Packard and RA Montgomery that swept over libraries in the 1980s. It was not long before the books had a fandom that spiraled out into many alternate versions of stories with the same device that allowed readers to dictate their own adventures be it an untimely demise or the seemingly endless other variations.
More recently, news broke at the company's CinemaCon presentation in Las Vegas recently as executives announced that they have cut a deal with Kino Industries. The interactive film company is now working on developing an app that will bring the necessary element of the books dusty pages to the big screens. Fox snapped up the rights from the publishers and Montgomery in 2013, leaving developers scratching their heads ever since. So now, in terms of cinema distribution, how are they going to replicate the experience breaking the age-old mold of linear narratives?
--The answer: even if it sounds like the initial steps in a nightmare to movie hell is that you will have your phones out and audiences will simply download the Kino app and from there they will dictate where the story goes with alternate experiences and alternate running times depending on audience choice. Certainly, an ambitious idea to be sure. Producers John Davis and John Fox are still involved in the project.
"Bringing game-changing, innovative technology to audiences and enhancing the cinematic experience has always been a cornerstone of the Twentieth Century Fox brand and our next venture is the outstanding CtrlMovie technology we are utilizing for Choose Your Own Adventure, ” Fox domestic distribution president Chris Aronson, said. “This interactive experience, and the passionate, creative team behind this project, allow the true spirit of the beloved book series to fall into the hands of fans around the world."
Let's point out a couple film's or even a game that might be seen as stages in the futurist's evolution of film mixed with audience participation--
“It’s time to vote!”
1961 (Mr.Sardonicus) -- Mr. Sardonicus was directed by William Castle. I feel like this is a good early example of how they were more than likely just teasing the audience with the idea that they have some power over the alternate endings of the film. When originally released, it was 'allegedly' distributed with two alternate endings. Which ending was shown at any given cinema supposedly depended upon the results of an 'instant poll' of audience members. Only one ending is available in existing versions that are known, and it's worth mentioning the existence of the second is 'unconfirmed'.
1981 (POLYESTER) This sardonic comedy was directed, produced, and written by Pope of Trash himself John Waters The film stars Divine, Tab Hunter, Edith Massey, and Mink Stole. This film featured a fun gimmick worth mentioning called "Odorama", whereby viewers could tune more senses into what they saw on screens through a scratch and sniff card.
1985 (Clue) --Keeping with the nature of playing the classic board game, the theatrical releases included three alternate endings. Theaters received only one of the three endings. In the film's home video release, all three endings were included. Cult following aside, it did poorly at the box office.
2013 (Beyond: Two Souls) --This is an interactive drama action-adventure video game. It stars Ellen Page who possesses supernatural powers through a psychic link with Aiden, a shared spirit connected since early adolescence. Willem Dafoe lends his talents to the character Nathan Dawkins, a researcher in the Department of Paranormal Activity and Jodie's surrogate-father-figure. I bring this up because despite being a video game, Beyond: Two Souls was premiered at the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival. The theatre was full and David Cage, the games writer and director was in the front row with a PS3 controller in hand, presented the film/game.
Mad Dashiells Space For Rant: This topic is close to my heart as I have been observing its evolution through the years. I talked about the potential of it all in the Forever Alone Filmmakers Podcast with M dot Strange, James Id, and Jimmy Screamerclauz's interview about 5 years ago by just using the chapter select technology built into DVD's. It is a topic I have heard the purists bleed their hearts all over whinging on about how they like classic cinema in its pure form as it is without any bells and whistles. I get that, I like classic cinema for what it is and even the stage actors that led to that prior. But I have always been fascinated by a Futurists vision of where cinema will be in years to come. I see a day where people will look at films that you cant control with the novelty we see black and white. True film lovers love both sure, but then there are those that will refuse to watch a black and white film just because they are put off by the idea of it being so dated.(These people shouldn't be your friends)
This new technology would possibly present problems with theatres run times if the story lasted longer through choices. So the time should remain roughly the same in that case for now I'm guessing. The idea of how much money they would make by repeated viewing of the same film is one reason I see this happening as soon as they can make it work. I am also remined of Disney's Futureworld ride where the passengers of the ride each select a different film to watch of the future. It cycles the most votes and boom, you see something different. So for that to evolve theatres would have to do so similar. All the seats would have buttons to your right.(Sorry leftys) And through your random choice that your friend doesnt even know you made (unless they are watching your hand) the film would cycle through the possibilites. That would cost everyone everywhere tons, but as things change maybe one day. For now I guess I see why they are going the phone app route as they pioneer new tech waters.
Today I leave you with one of my favorite futurist's film pioneer quotes, made by Alfred Hitchcock himself: "The audience is like a giant organ that you and I are playing. At one moment we play this note on them and get this reaction, and then we play that chord and they react that way. And someday we won't even have to make a movie- they'll be electrodes implanted in their brains, and we'll just press different buttons and they'll go 'ooooh' and 'aaaah' and we'll frighten them...Won't that be wonderful?"
