As folks who read my blog know, I'm keen on the idea of virtual movie watching. So I was pleased to get this press release from Dire Lobo announcing the opening of InWorld Cinemas, a place in Second Life where for a modest ticket price you can see full-length feature films for L$260 (about one US dollar). Their first offering starting Friday May 11 is the movie "Loverboy" (2005) a drama starring Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon.
Things I like:
- IT'S LEGAL: This is an in-world showing of a feature film that presumably has gotten all the rights clearances from the film studio. Check the SL event listings for quasi-legal showings of "Borat" and "Casino Royale" -- they're everywhere.
- The price point: L$ 260 seems pretty fair to me given the low resolution you get via quicktime internet stream in SL
- Kevin Bacon: you can never get enough Kevin Bacon
Things I'm not crazy about:
- The viewing "pods" don't emphasize what I like most about viewing in-world video, which is the interactive social aspect
- The Video-on-Demand model: see above
On May 11, they are giving away free tickets for their first film. After that, you have to purchase them from the ticket booth. See the full press release after the fold...
InWorld Studios, Inc. 450 N Roxbury Drive, Ste 602 p. 310 306-4057
Beverly Hills, CA 90210 f. 310 278-2220
www.inworldstudios.com
Press Release
Virtual World Content Creators Open INWORLD CINEMA in Second Life To Distribute Full Length Feature Films
Friday May 4, 12:00 pm PT
InWorld Studios, Inc. Opens Theatre With the Second Life Premiere of “LOVERBOY” (2006) Directed by Kevin Bacon and Starring Golden Globe Winner Kyra Sedgwick and Offers FREE Tickets Opening Weekend
LOS ANGELES – InWorld Studios, Inc. of Beverly Hills is a newly formed company which
specializes in 3D experiential content for online virtual worlds like Second Life. Among other
clients, InWorld has created projects for Universal Music Group in Second Life and is working on
a variety of projects ranging in concept from product promotions and eCommerce to
entertainment and original content production.
On Friday, May 11th InWorld Studios will open the InWorld Cinema with the Second Life world
premiere of Kevin Bacon’s “LOVERBOY”. InWorld Cinema is designed to screen full length
feature films on a pay per period (PPP) basis. Visitors to the vPod Theatre – a vPod is a personal
individual viewing station complete with reclining seat and private movie screen – will purchase a
ticket good for 48 hours. Avatars can select a chapter from the film from a Heads Up Display
(HUD) supplied with the ticket. This allows viewers to watch only part of the film and return later
to pick up where they left off.
As a way of introducing Second Life residents to the InWorld Cinema vPod Theatre we will be
offering FREE tickets for the entire weekend beginning Friday Morning at 8am SLT/PDT.
“LOVERBOY” was produced by Daniel Bigel of Bigel Entertainment, an independent film
producer based in Beverly Hills. Bigel Entertainment works closely with InWorld on a variety of
entertainment industry projects. The picture was directed by Kevin Bacon and stars Golden Globe
winner Kyra Sedgwick, and co-stars Kevin Bacon, Marissa Tomei, Sandra Bullock, Oliver Platt,
Matt Dillon and Blair Brown.
About InWorld Studios
InWorld Studios is a Los Angeles-based company dedicated to created experiential content in
online virtual worlds like Second Life. InWorld Studios is a full-service new-media marketing and
branding agency committed to leveraging the power of online 3D virtual worlds. InWorld Studios
also manages and produces in-world virtual conventions and events, produces original
machinima content, and, with the opening of LOVERBOY in Second Life, distributes a variety of
content from full length feature films to machinima video shorts, comedy and news analysis
programming produced within and for the virtual audience. To learn more about InWorld Studios
visit www.inworldstudios.com.
Contact:
InWorld Studios, Inc.
(310)306-4057
contact@inworldstudios.com
