The films that are watching you

Titled ‘Before we Disappear’, the film, created by Dr Richard Ramchurn, Director of Albino Mosquito Productions, explores the concept of creating cinema that gives different narratives and outcomes based on live audience reactions. Something Dr. Ramchurn dubs ‘brain-controlled cinema,’ this is the second attempt of his to create an interactive film of this nature. As the audience watches the film, it is also actively watching them, reading their emotions, and levels of engagement, and adapts the story based on its findings.

“The interactive concept was to create a film that adapts to its audience. Unlike the traditional concept of interactive films, the audience doesn’t actively choose what will happen, instead, we use a camera and computer vision to adapt the narrative depending on how it is perceived the audience feels,” explains Ramchurn.

The film itself is a response to climate change triggered by humanity, challenging the audience to observe and accept the reality of the situation we are in, something that Ramchurn believes can trigger a wide array of emotions and responses.

Before we Disappear will be viewed whilst viewing its audience as a part of a number of events at Broadway, Nottingham, that are a part of the LEADD:NG (Live, Experimental & Digital Diversification) programme. The programme is a £1.6 million ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) programme that is pushing for the adoption of immersive technologies for small and medium-sized enterprises and is jointly hosted by the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University.

“We’re really excited to show the film as part of the LEADD:NG programme, the way we consume media is fast-moving and the event gives audiences a look at what the future may hold. We are constantly looking for ways to innovate with our filmmaking and the ambition for the technology and film is to eventually distribute it as an app,” comments Dr. Ramchurn.