Look out for the interactive cinema edit of Late Shift – the world’s first feature-length, multi-optional film. In other words, this is the best example so far of what filmmaking could become, by making full use of tablet and smart phone functionality. The movie follows one story but many storylines, with 180 decision points for the audience.
For the production, this meant creating four hours of film with seven possible endings. Take a look at the trailer here.
The movie launched this month in Apple’s App store, and a UK cinema premiere is due in London at the beginning of April.
Matt, a smart student, has to prove his innocence after being forced to take part in a heist at a famous London auction house. The action roams across London as he tries to escape the twisted web he’s caught in, discover the truth, and get revenge. How will viewers behave – with him or against him?
The audience makes decisions on behalf of the main character, watching the consequences unfold seamlessly, without a noticeable gap or edit.
The film never stops, so viewers are under the same time pressure as the protagonist. They can act together as a group, in theatres, or individually on an iPad.
CtrlMovie created Late Shift’s interactive film format.
We helped with the moody night filming on behalf of Lewisham and Southwark’s Film Offices, in May 2013. Keep an eye out for the Leathbridge Close Estate, off Lewisham Road, where police arrive to arrest a character who’s drunk and arguing with residents. They try to calm her down.
Our negotiations included the Met Police, who were on-hand in case any confusion was caused by the fake police.
The production made a kind to donation to the estate’s Tenants and Residents Association by way of thanks.
Along Deptford High Street, a police car pulls over and two police officers get out to try and help a young woman.
And on Quince Road in Lewisham the police officers watch young people walking past, from their parked car.
There’s a driving scene along Blackheath Road, under Deptford Bridge, Deptford Church Street, Griffin Street, Deptford High Street, Evelyn Street, Bush Road, around Surrey Quays tube station, then back along Evelyn Street.
In Southwark’s Warndon Street a police car pulls up and two officers get out to conduct a stop and search on a passing young person.
And along Southwark’s Rotherhithe New Road, a police car pulls-up and drops off a young woman who crosses the road and heads toward a block of flats.
FilmFixer manages the film office for both Lewisham and Southwark Councils. FilmFixer director Andrew Pavord says, “We are looking forward to this cinema release with a real interest in the impact this new approach to filmmaking might have.
“For some time now all of us in the film industry have been talking about interactive, multi-optional film making – but it has yet to really take off. CtrlMovie’s platform might just offer the tools filmmakers need to kick start a new approach.
“The arrival of iPad and all its functionality heralded new opportunities for filmmaking – but we have been waiting – until now – to see what films look like when all these options are incorporated into the experience.
“We were so happy to welcome and manage the filming on behalf of Lewisham and Southwark Councils. Despite the complications of late night filming, we applaud the production’s good behaviour and respect for residents. In particular we are grateful to them for a kind donation to Leathbridge Close Esatate’s Tenants and Residents Association.”