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With the movie Bandersnatch we as the viewer can see some of the ways that “we approach making films and videotapes will drastically change.” I believe that not all movies or cinema will be interactive or be something that allows the viewer tactile interaction with the art form in the way that Bandersnatch does, but could be how to show or view ideas in a no linear format. Similar to how Hypertext works change how some view the way to write stories in a non linear way, this sort of interactive cinema can inspire writers and directors to approach their work in different ways.

All together I found Bandersnatch to an intriguing and entertaining way to experience a movie or video. There were times that I wasn’t wanting to make choices and watch how things play out but I feel that it didn’t hinder the experience as a whole.

I feel that in the coming future there can be a niche of video entertainment that can follow in Bandersnatch’s ways of interaction but could also interact with a sort of augmented reality were what each viewer is seen can be different and that some viewers can have a large difference between what they see.

Both the writing of Bill Viola and the Bandersnatch episode have similarities due to how there’s a connection between choice and outcomes. Both have references to memory and how memories can lead to making certain choices. After getting 4 of the 10 main endings, I was super entertained.

“It is of paramount importance now, as we watch the same education system that brought us through school (and the same communications system that gave us the wonderful world of commercial TV and AM radio) being mapped onto these new technologies, that we go back and take a deeper look at some of the older systems described in these pages. Artists not shackled to the fad and fashion treadmill of the art world, especially the art world of the past few years, will begin to see the new meaning that art history is taking on.” (Viola, Bill) I think this holds true to today and how things are evolving with ai technology.

I think this format is moving towards the video game industry. I think I see this playing out better for people who are sitting down to choose their own adventures and practice the multiple outcomes when they’re in a play a game kind of mood. Most people I know use movies to fall asleep to or watch for an escape.

-Quincy H

The interactive movie of Bandersnatch allows the viewer to take control of the narrative and allow them to create specific parts of the story by choosing between options. While some options are just basic decisions, a couple of the options end up changing the whole plot of the interactive movie entirely.

The beginning of the movie allows the viewer to learn how this movie works in comparison to regular movies by giving a simple “Which cereal do you want” choice between two different cereals. If a viewer does not choose fast enough, then it will proceed to choose for you. There is an option to reverse back to allow some options to be redone. This gives the viewer the choice to re-do some of the choices within the story and how the story is in the viewer’s hand to a specific degree. I ended up getting the first ending possible within Bandersnatch which is where the game releases but does not do that well. I then got sent back to try a different choice with the characters beginning to act differently. Viola states, “As a start, we can propose new diagrams, such as the “matrix’ structure This would be a non-linear array of information. The viewer could enter at any point, move in any direction, at any speed, pop in and out at any place.” (pg. 12). As it is shown within Bandersnatch, the viewer could reach one of the final endings at any direction, speed, and just enter in after completing one of the many endings. Thus, giving me, as a viewer, to attempt to see the different choices within the movie.

I feel like this will become its own form of storytelling within cinema through the use of creating a story that has multiple endings. What would happen if you choose one decision rather than the other one, or what are the different outcomes within the story? This could allow the viewer to choose how to “watch” a movie how they want. As long as the writers of these types of films make sure that the story is compelling to watch, then the viewers will enjoy viewing the story to get as many different endings as possible.

First of all, I enjoyed the story of Bandersnatch and the way that it breaks the 4th wall, allowing the user become part of the story. It was fun and engaging for the most part, but I don’t fully believe that this was the “data space” that Bill Viola was thinking of.

“When I had my first experience with computer videotape editing in 1976, one demand this new way of working impressed upon me has remained significant. It is the idea of holism. I saw then that my piece was actually finished and in existence before it was executed on the VTRs. Digital computers and software technologies are holistic; they think in terms of whole structures. Word-processors allow one to write out, correct, and rearrange the whole letter before typing it. Data space is fluid and temporal, hardcopy is for real—an object is born and becomes fixed in time. Chiseling in stone may be the ultimate hard copy.”

This movie is fixed in time, with a set number of pathways for the viewer to navigate and each pathway coming back to a fixed amount of endings. What I take from this quote is that the data space Viola is talking about is fluid, it has a structure that changes or has the ability to be changed. Yes, the film’s endings could technically be changed, but there are only a few different alternatives, and each alternative is still a fixed ending. I think a truly holistic data space would be something that can actually be changed, for example, code in a program or website. The writer of the code is exploring the data space in a way that the viewer is not when watching Bandersnatch by actually changing the end product and nothing is “written in stone.”

I don’t think that this format is something that will become standard practice for cinema because of how much work it takes to create these alternate endings and because the amount of paths possible is not infinite, but gives the user the illusion of being infinite unless the user goes through each path until they have seen them all. Just like Stefan, the viewer thinks they are making choices but in the end come back to a fixed ending. I, personally, would rather sit down and watch a well written, entertaining movie or video that is linear in appearance and I think that most people would agree with me.

Blog Prompt: Watch the above videos that introduce the popular video essay form and its history in the “essay films” from the past, and then look at some video essays on your own. Do a search on YouTube or maybe you have a favorite.

In a post, share the video essay along with your thoughts/opinions about the use of language (spoken and/or on-screen text) with image. How are voice-over, text, sound, graphics and video combined to explore an idea or make an argument? How would you begin “writing” your own video essay?

When my husband and I watch some of our favorite YouTube shows, we often get absorbed in informative essays about fishing techniques, prime fishing spots, and equipment. These videos blend footage of locations with close-up shots demonstrating knot tying techniques, all accompanied by informative voiceovers or explanations.

In creating my own video essay, it’s crucial to choose a compelling topic and plan the shots I want to capture. This typically involves brainstorming ideas on paper and sketching scenes I aim to portray. I particularly appreciate when creators incorporate music for smooth transitions, gradually fading it out to allow viewers to focus on the narration or explanation that follows. Also, making sure that the footage is matching along with the description of the voice over is also important.

This is a YouTube channel that I watch often, a person who goes by Filmento and makes essays explaining why some movies work or fail. In this video, he explains why Marvel Infinity War worked while DC Justice League didn’t.

Although he has points of humor to poke fun at scenes or weird writing he explains his reasoning as to his opinions well. He adds a well-thought-out and in-depth description of underlying tones or story beats you may not fully grasp or notice in the first viewing. The edits he has to help explain his ideas also really help you understand his points.

Although more of a documentary, I also want to recommend this video by Lemmino. A really great visual documentary about the Jack The Ripper murders. He has a perfect way of storytelling that grabs you attention. Along with unique animated visuals and music, he makes entirely for each personal project, including this video.

I played with the eleven labs voices for this video and it sounded pretty good. It struggled with a few words here and there but overall I was happy with how it turned out.