MuVChat Puts Texting and Twitter On Screen for Interactive MST3K-esque Moviegoing Experience
Cell phones have created a lot of headaches for the average moviegoer over the past couple of years. Although most people now seem to understand that a ringing cellphone is an unacceptable disruption during a movie, the latest annoyance is the practice of texting while in the theatre. Sure it doesn’t make any noise, but the glow of the screen is almost as bad. I don’t blame people’s attitudes necessarily, just the fact that young people are growing up with constant communication all around them, which makes it second nature. But what if, instead of fighting against this text messaging impulse that has become second nature, theatre owners could somehow embrace it?
This is what Rien Heald, the creator of MuVChat, is trying to do. He has invented a system that allows viewers to send text messages during a movie that are then relayed to the screen for all to see. Sort of “a mash-up of Mystery Science Theater 3000 and Twitter”, as he calls it. Thus far they have held some tests of the technology in St. Charles, IL during screenings of the Ben Stiller comedy Zoolander. They are also doing an upcoming screening of Dodgeball, and plan to do more cult classics like Army of Darkness and Office Space in the future.
I can definitely see this sort of gimmick being a hit with a certain demographic, and personally, as long as it to stays away from screenings of movies I actually care about, I might even consider taking part in the fun. The main issue as I see it would be providing some sort of filter for the messages being posted (profanity is already being blocked, but let’s face it, not everyone has the MST3K touch). Also, I imagine there would be a bit of a delay between sending the message and having it appear. What do you think, can you see this technology taking off? Is it a cool idea or possibly the most annoying thing you’ve ever heard of? (Thanks to Kurt from Row Three for the link.)
Comments (12)
Reminds me of how some networks like G4 and Spike sometimes have a chat feed from the internet with people’s real time reactions broadcast for all to see. Usually during shows like star trek or COPS. Seems more of novelty, and dont see this becoming popular
Posted by Matt on April 16th, 2009If it conditions even more people to crack out their cellphones during a movie, then I think we may be seeing the demise of the theatre-going experience, for this guy at least.
Posted by Wintle on April 16th, 2009Luckily there is hardly any problems with mobilephones where I go and I doubt this stupid new fad will reach Denmark before it’s gone again.
Posted by Kasper F. Nielsen on April 16th, 2009I can’t wait until companies realize the opportunity to put advertisements on the screen during the movie and then people complain.
Posted by Glendon on April 16th, 2009What an absolutely horrible idea. It’s bad enough you get jokers speaking during the movie now they have the ability to ruin the movie for everyone with their inane chatter.
Posted by swarez on April 16th, 2009I’ve been trying all day but cannot seem to think of a worse idea. As f’d up as the culture of this country is today, I’m sure it will be a hit. Give people a forum to show everyone else what a dipshit they are, and watch the line grow… I mean, just look at this website.
Posted by Shut-Up Ed on April 16th, 2009Cool idea (for select movies) but probably really depends on what kind of crowd you have. In a real theatre, I doubt it would work well. They already have something like this online… where you can group-watch some video content. I think it’s already out?
Posted by joe on April 17th, 2009I had someone removed from a theater for overdoing the texting. they’ll do that, its considered a distrubance by the theater in most instances. They were so mad, the person she was texting to was apparently right behind me.
Posted by Goon on April 17th, 2009in all seriousness, this is the dumbest invention of all time.
I think of the Simpsons episode when everyone was trying to be like Bart, constantly shouting one liners that werent funny. Even Bart got sick of it.
Posted by Goon on April 17th, 2009Narc!
Posted by Sean on April 17th, 2009This is one of the most idiotic ideas I’ve ever heard! These useless, stupid kids today couldn’t live without their precious fucking cellphones and their faggot-ass Twitter bullshit!
Posted by ZillaGod on April 23rd, 2009Only a few months back my company finished work on a new product for presenting twitter content (tweets) to a large screen. Way more than ‘web browser on a stick’ we have developed a two-part application suite designed to be robust in a live environment with full moderation capabilities. The first outing for the system was Eddie Izzard’s Stripped Tour (UK, Europe and USA 2009/2010). Please get in touch if you have other applications on +44 (0) 1438 360 058.
Posted by Quintin Willison on January 19th, 2010Leave a Reply