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The way we live is changing fast. Every fortnight in our new Future Focus series, supported by Volkswagen, we’ll look at how one aspect of everyday life could change in the coming years. This week: public transport.
THERE’S A WELL-KNOWN anecdote about one of the earliest films to ever be shown. Called L’Arrivée D’Un Train En Gare De La Ciotat (Arrival Of A Train At La Ciotat), it featured, well… a train.
Members of the audience in 1896 are said to have screamed and fled when the train approached the camera, supposedly believing that it was coming out of the screen directly toward them.
Whether it’s true or just an urban legend, doesn’t really matter, of course. It highlights the importance of cinema and film in showing new perspectives of the world, and it also makes us scoff at times gone by.
Obviously, cinema audiences have moved on quite a bit since 1876. But even at that, the visceral reactions to cinema that form parts of cinematic history – the mass panic, fainting, and vomiting from audiences at The Exorcist, the emotional punch packed by Schindler’s List – have been few and far between in recent years, largely because we’ve kind of seen it all before.
The end is nigh
With Netflix profits on the rise and numbers of cinema-goers going down, could we soon see the end of cinema date nights, overpriced but delicious popcorn and requesting “middle row, toward the back please” as we buy our tickets?
Thanks to 4K TVs, home cinema systems, improvements in the user experience and the ever-increasing range of choices easily available, it’s now pretty standard to sit back and have a cinematic experience right from your own sitting room.
Streaming services, popular as they already are, will likely grow even further in the coming years, pushing cinemas out of their share of the market in bringing new titles to audiences.
Take Netflix, for example. The company plans to spend up to €6.5 billion on content this year alone.
Even Scorsese is on board
It’s not just the numbers, because the quality of Netflix-original content is improving too:
Martin Scorsese’s next film The Irishman will reunite Al Pacino and Robert de Niro – and it’ll be produced and distributed via Netflix.
So how can cinemas avoid being pushed out of the market entirely? Well, it’s not a lost cause yet.
Even with streaming services on board, film production and filmmaking will likely continue in the same way it always has except with drones and other tech advancements to make shooting and editing easier.
As for how filmed are screened, there are plenty of new technological innovations that’ll hopefully help to keep cinemas in the black.
Dublin’s new water-shooting cinema screens
With the new 4DX screen coming to Cineworld in Dublin’s Parnell Street on April 26, perhaps the same immersive cinema experience that made audiences fear a train could crash into them might be rekindled.
Except this time, it’d be fear of the Hulk, as the first film screening in Dublin to use the technology will be Avengers: Infinity War.
The 4DX screen, first launched by South Korean company CJ 4DPLEX in 2008, matches your seat movement to the movement on the screen. It can also shoot jets of water, can release fog, scents and bubbles, and can mimic weather events like wind and lightning so that you truly have a 4-D cinema-going experience.
It’s already been launched in 50 countries around the world, and the numbers are growing.
“We can’t wait to see customers’ reactions,” Cineworld’s general manager Rich Barnes said of the launch.
“There’s nothing else like it in cinemas. Cineworld audiences in the UK have loved it so far.”
If the thought of sitting in your cinema seat while the 4DX screen shoots water at you doesn’t quite thrill you just yet, just wait until ScreenX makes its way to Irish shores.
Set to be showcased for the first time at CinemaCon in Las Vegas this week, the ScreenX 4DX combination uses multi-projection technology so that images are projected not only on the screen on front of you, but also on the walls on either side, for ‘270 degree’ vision.
With 3D not having had the revolutionary impact many assumed it would, it’s understandable that anything 4D related could be seen as a gimmick. However supporters of the technology would disagree, framing 3D and 4D as long-term solutions, not one-offs.
Interestingly, the CEO behind the 4DX technology, Byung-Hean Choi, cited the problems cinema has faced in recent years when announcing the company’s CinemaCon showcase.
“With box-office challenges, the rise of home entertainment options and new streaming services causing enormous strain on the movie industry, innovation is more important than ever, which is why it is at the core of everything we do,” he said.
Fully immersive video games
Dreamscape Immersive, meanwhile, is taking a different tack on the immersive cinema-going experience.
The company’s first production, Alien Zoo, straddles the line between film and video game, and recently finished an initial trial in LA.
Its features go beyond what we would currently consider as either film or gaming tech, making Alien Zoo more of an interactive film than a simple one-player or two-player game.
The user wears a laptop backpack, sensor-equipped gloves, and a VR headset to enter a 4D virtual world: a space zoo which houses creatures from all over the galaxy.
Players stand on a seemingly levitating platform on their tour, during which their avatars can interact with the “world” around them and with other avatars. Like 4DX, players will also feel physical effects like weather conditions. You don’t get much more immersive than that.
Unfortunately for gamers wanting to give the technology a go from their couch, this isn’t the type of 4D experience that will be able to be replicated at home – at least not yet.
The Alien Zoo trial took place in a specially-constructed VR facility on the top floor of an LA shopping mall. However, there are plans for the trial to be expanded to other locations in California as well as one in Dubai, and with backing from people like Steven Spielberg, it’s no amateur production.
With so many changes in how we consume film and other media, cinemas simply can’t survive as just plain old picture houses.
The transformation ahead could go the way of 4DX screens and immersive games, or maybe cinemas will just return to their low-tech roots, as with the recently reopened 1920s-style Stella Theatre in Rathmines, Dublin.
Whatever the movie screen of the future looks like, it’s clear that the event of going to the cinema has to become bigger, bolder and more exciting to prove its worth.
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Donald Trump really came across vary badly on almost every topic. His replies and answers to questions were embarrassing if not incomprehensible. Rants on old issues whether it was his release of his tax records / the birther issue / Iraq war/ future economic policies on taxation and job creation. Foreign policy / Nuclear proliferation. Dealing with Terrorism issues at home or abroad. Racism in America. The use of excessive force by the police when dealing with minorities. Immigration. Have I left anything out.
Hillary was by far the winner in this debate. She came across intelligently and let Trump rant on and instead of being drawn in she let him bury himself in his own crap.
There’s no point in having any more debates because the outcome will be the same. He comes iill-prepared. How embarrassing for the GOP.
In the last 40 minutes of the debate when Donald spoke I had to mute the sound it was so embarrassing to listen to. Such an idiot to make an absolute fool of himself in a national debate. Am I the only one who feels this way.
It’s a cultural thing.
Most Americans think he came across as intelligent, articulate, straight-talking and won the debate by a mile.
He also is healthily racially skeptical, 1950s sexist and bombastic. A winning formula for most Americans.
@Jim Kier: Trump slams Hillary for her political errors. Absolutely ripped into her face to face and now it’s an old issue? Why should they vote in a woman who has been in the office for 30 years and only promising a change now? Trump is at war with government corruption. You’re at war with your mental illness and unexplainable hatred for a political hero.
I thought he did very well. Unlike the media. Seems like the media want to bash him anyway. Hillary did come strong near the end but trumps economic plan was brilliant in my opinion. Nothing about that here. I also believe he won a few black votes last nite. Wait for round 2
Seriously lads ye can stop pretending now. He’s a barely comprehensible buffoon and early polls show 67% think Hilary won the debate.
Simply saying the Trump’s super-duper over and over doesn’t make it true.
Joe, how can you blame the media? The debate was live and unedited so people can make up their own minds. In my opinion people start pointing the blame when the person or thing they support lose.
I was thinking the same thing about you ..I got half way through yor comment then zzzźzzz
Tom. The media was always biased, not just last nite. And yes it was live and I watched it. Hillary hadn’t much to say on anything. All she wanted to do was attack. That will backfire.
Whatever you say of course must be gospel ..well.done genius
@simon: Even the fox news site is giving it to Hillary.
Yes, it’s all a conspiracy by the media to fact check…. Give us a break..
@Tom Kelly: Because Trump supporters are victims – that’s what unites them, the sense of victimhood he tapped in to.
Your obviously delusional and haven’t listened to the same debate I was watching at 2:00am.
Obviously you have to be a bit dumb or should I say stupid when it comes to non intelligent discourse from a narcissistic racist moron like Trump.
Even though I would not be a Hillary Clinton supporter. I rather have Hillary in the White House than the alternative.
Trump is a dope an embarrassment to the GOP. This is certainly going to be recorded in history as the pivotal period in political history of how the stupidest person could possibly run for presidential office.
You have now entered the TRUMP reality twilight zone. Do not adjust your sets what you are viewing is real and is coming to a universe near you. Please someone will you close the link to the Trump wormhole and cut this moron off from reality. He deserves to reside solely in the altered Trump universe and may all his followers collapse to nothingness.
The best response to Donald Trump rantings is to use quantum nonsense language and maybe just maybe he’ll turn out to be but just a bad dream come the election. One can hope.
Shucks I’m still awake.
I see Trump is already trying to blame a dysfunctional mic for his poor performance.
You’re thinking of Bill Clinton, Niamh Rosie O Keefe.
@Jim Kier: I would agree except for the embarrassment to the GOP. There’s a few cuckoos flying much higher than him in that party.
@Jimmy Rustle: She hasn’t been in office 30 years, but I never accused Trump supporters of being able to do basic math.
@Chris: Nope. Trump’s ex wrote in her book that he raped her. It’s there in a book if you need to factcheck it but I know you don’t like facts.
@Philip Gerard: OK that’s the second time this week and Irish person has said Math instead of Maths. Please don’t make it a thing.
Just when you thought he couldn’t sound more of a moron… Hilarious stuff.
That was a bit of a freak show alright, it’s like two background kids having a row in a Napoleon Dynamite dynamite scene.
Can the US not just skip having a President this term, maybe they can call in a sub agency, I’m sure there’s a few retirees around the world with nothing better to do.
Scratch one dynamite
When Donald harps on about making America great again, when exactly is he referring to? Was it when the country was being built on slavery after slaughtering the indigenous population? Was it when it was being torn apart by civil war? Was it when they were dropping atomic bombs killing hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians? Was it when they were fighting proxy wars in South America destroying countries for decades? Was it when they started invading foreign countries in the name of liberation but ended up creating messes that will haunt us for generations? I’d love to know.
@The Guru: You misheard, he said make America white again
@The Guru: Trumo means making America. “Uber alles” , the rhetoric of chauvinism, fascism, superiority and dominance.
Mexico is a beautiful thing.
Hillary looks stoned
Like that crazy aunt everyone has
@Anton Friendo: Maybe that’s just u Anton – i’d say its a family trait.
@Anton Friendo: That would make Trump the rapey uncle.
@Ken Pepper: Clinton, The bought candidate…https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CtVItxBWAAEoD5z.jpg
Kids dying in Aleppo and he’s talking about Rosie O’Donnell. There is only one choice if you want the world to actually remain viable.
Am I the only person who wants trump to win just for the craic to see what happens ?
he’s hilarious. def be more entertaining than clinton. Can’t see it happening though she took him down a peg or two last night
@karl:you’re not the only one. My 13 year old son said the same – but quickly followed it up with ‘ but, like, it’ll have no effect on us?’
@karl: Why not? As most people should know, the president doesn’t have any real power, just a figurehead. The system over there is set up like like that. Look at Obama in 08, he came from a much more liberal perspective than he is now, why? because having taken office he realised that being an idealist is all very well and good but the real world required pragmatism. Clinton comes across to me as smarmy and arrogant, not trustworthy, always did. The difference between her and Bill is that at least he has charm, in buckets, but they are peas in a pod.
How can Trump even question the stamina of a woman whom he claims has been fighting ISIS for the last 50 years?
Feckin’ eejit
I am voting for trump
Pretty funny when Trump asked Hillary why she’s only making promises and change now after she was 30 year in office. Media is too afraid to report on that because it’s overwhelmingly true and a great reason not to elect her. Their government does need change.
She was only a Senator for a few years and Secretary of State for a few. Where are you getting 30 years in office from? Yes, she has been working in public life as a First Lady, Attorney and rights campaigner but not in office, as you put it.
I just dont know who is worse, and yea I just dont know, what an absolutely dreadful choice to have to make….
Seems Clinton won but it was hard to even get to that fact without watching highlights and reading decent journalists’ articles. Social media is rubbish at times like this – just people saying who they wanted to win in online polls.
Even four years ago it seemed people still reported the fact that Obama lost when he did rather than bending the truth to fit their own narrative. Ah, the good old days when facts were facts…
Or you could just watch and decide for yourself? It will probably be on YouTube.
Watched it this morning. My views:
- Clinton won but Trump started well and hit some decent points on trade where he’s strong.
- Trump tailed off after 20 mins and his level of preparation showed at the end when his points were less coherent than at the start.
- Clinton held back at times but I think at the end she held back too much when good opportunities arose for her to deal a decent blow
- Trump was robust and interrupted a lot but wasn’t over the top really – maybe towards the end he looked less controlled
- Clinton’s preparation and experience showed overall, she won but it was no knockout and the remaining debates definitely matter
What you just said is exactly what most media outlets, radio shows etc are reporting. I dont see how you can accuse them of bending the truth unless you are too? I havent read one article or listened to one news report that says Hillary beat Trump from start to finish and she decidedly wont the debate. It seems to be consensus that it was tight until the last 40 minutes where Trump proceeded to lose the debate due to non sensical talk and lack of substance in his answers.
Jeez, Hilary Clinton is such a boring automaton. She’s never had an original idea in her life.
If I was an American I’d definitely vote for Donald Trump after watching that.
If only Sean Hannity was his running mate, Bill O’Reilly as Secretary Of State
Might as well have have crusty the clown as vice president if that tool gets elected
Thank God your not an American. There’s enough morons as it is voting for him. Idiot !!
@Sam Palmer: the real right wingers adore Trump to a level of uncontainable excitement and arousal.
@Sam Palmer
In an interview in the early 90s Trump said that if he was to run for president, he’d run on the Republican ticket because they’re idiots who’ll believe anything you tell them.
He was right, but it seems he was right about a lot of non-Americans too. If you support Trump not only does every right-thinking person think you’re an idiot, but Trump himself, by his own admission thinks you’re an idiot.
And that’s the funniest part. You love a guy who thinks you’re an idiot.
Who cares how rich he is. He owns billions worth in real-estate assets. That wouldn’t show on his W2
[REDACTED] would also look very wealthy on paper, but his tax return probably would show very little.
So why doesn’t he produce his tax records then?
One would expect Hillary Clinton to be sharper on detail since she has been on the Washington circuit for years. Her history whilst in high office is not very encouraging. In the last couple of years she has been mired in controversy about her emails (the hidden/destroyed ones), Benghazi, the Clinton Foundation and its accumulated billions, her many lies eg (landing in a hail of gunfire while she was actually shaking hands with people and receiving flowers), etc etc.
While he may be flaky on some details Trump does not have a track record of helping to destroy a whole region of the Middle East resulting in multi thousands of deaths and billions of dollars wasted.
With no other choice I would certainly prefer Trump to Clinton.
John, everything you mention there has been either explained or disproved as a Republican witch hunt. Bush and Rove destroyed 30 Million emails that were requested by the department of Justice, Colin Powell and Condoliza Rice both used used private servers for their email. No outrage for that?
FBI had to admit there was no wrongdoing on the part of Secretary Clinton re the emails.
Benghazi has been proven to be a fraud and waste of taxpayer money yet people like you keep repeating the false narrative in the face of overwhelming fact to the contrary.
Clinton foundation is an A rated charity. No impropriety there yet you ignore the illegal and indicted activities of Trump’s charity.
I get it, you hate Hillary. Fine. Just quit spouting lies and disproven conspiracy theories and come out and just say you don’t like her. You’d have more credibility then.
@John Campbell: What do you think about his policy for dealing with the Middle East?
Trump totally crushed Clinton, she is terrified of him.
Terrified? She spent the entire debate laughing at him, as did all rational, intelligent people.
I think you’re living in the same fantasy world as the Trump.
Clinton has more than 40 years debate experience. She might be old but that doesn’t mean she can’t still debate. It went like how I would imagine a round of golf between Jack Nicklaus and an OAP, who took up the sport last year, would go.
Alex Jones? Really?
@Gerard McAuliffe: Infowars is a alternative media company. Not Alex Jones. Also check the link the polls tell a different story. Media is desperately trying to stop Trump but I actually watched the thing and he destroyed her for the most part.
Good link cedar falls. Can see some media push it to say 1 won and some the other. I personally thought it was a joke when he 1st entered the race. I’m not laughing now. He has a fair shot at winning. Still it’s a bad choice either way.
No he didn’t Jimmy, and anyone with two brain cells to rub together could see him for the irrational, lying moron he is.
I know you fancy him, that wig and that orange skin who wouldn’t, but this isn’t like saying you believe in fairies, repeating it over and over doesn’t make it true.
You can stop lying to yourself now.
Jimmy, I watched the same debate as you I assume, and no matter which side you are on there is no way Trump wiped the floor with her. She was calm, measured and articulate while he was rambling, vague and petulant with constant interruptions.
While yes, he kept a lid on his usual rants, he still put forward no detailed policies and he was fact checked as false for most all of his statements post debate. Hardly a winning performance.
@CedarFalls.ie: Infowars?! Tell us, what did The Onion think?
Beavess and butthead come to life .
Trump said that he was ‘smart’ for his available tax returns showing him not paying any Federal taxes. How can it be ‘smart’ not to support any Federal spending? If he he supports the military he should support them with his taxes. If he doesn’t he is a leech and a parasite.
Meanwhile in the real world. The rescue of 5-year old Omran Daqneesh, pulled from the rubble of his bombed-out Aleppo, Syria, home Wednesday, was broadcast around the world, dominating front pages and drawing tears from television anchors.
Donald Trump it is- for POTUS.
Freek Show
He has a bit of a temper this guy, as Hilary said, why would you give the responsibility of Nuclear arms etc to a man with a short temper!
In the race to the bottom, Trump is miles ahead
Hillary came across robotic, unemotional, rehearsed,cold and unlikeable. Trump was the complete opposite – passionate, patriotic , sincere, authentic and likeable. Most importantly – I BELIEVED in Trump and had zero faith in Hillary. Trump won by a distance.
Delusional typical Trump type supporter probably lower than average intelligence -70. Dumb follows the dumbest always
@Chris/Ziggy – how can he be ‘patriotic’ when he pays no income taxes?
Trump was tremendously tremendous just ask Sean hannity, he won won bigly
Listen when you start repeating Trump like statements I created thousands and thousands of jobs. I’m really great. I make really great deals really great. Say no more unless it’s intelligible if you know what that means.
Was that one at me Jim
Trump… sincere?!! The man doesn’t even believe his own words
@Chris: How is live in cloud cuckoo land?
Clinton came across alot better and trump missed a few open goals.. He will need to do better next time… Although after last night i think neither will have won votes from each other…
predictably and hilariously (no pun intended) any slight hint of support for Trump gets all the red thumbs and all the greens for Clinton.
It’s not predictable or hilarious, it’s a greater majority of people going through the comments recognising him for what he is and his supporters for the idiots they are.
No one’s out to get you simply because you support Trump. You’re getting red thumbed because your support for Trump is indicative of your lack of sense, intelligence, or common decency.
Yawn zzzzzzzzzzZ
I wonder where the candidates stand on the indiscriminate bombing of civilians and murdering of children as well as women and men.
Although Russia and Syria are the prime offenders, the US and its allies have also engaged in this action in the proxy wars.
Fundamental moral issues can be useful in finding out the quality of candidates.
Why are the difficult questions never, ever asked?
@Gerard Heery:he needs to for his mouth
I was just taking p#$$ but seriously if trump becomes president he needs to be reigned in cause he could turn the world in more volitile place than it already is
Trump is like Mourinho and many others like him.
There is a saying, a looney would dig a hole as a trap for others but he himself falls into the trap he made. I mean, having a big mouth and trying to be smart, outdo others… only to make yourself look bad.
He should talk before he speaks.
I do not know if he is aware of what he is doing but politicians need to be careful of what they say and do. If you watch documentaries of war, discrimination, of hate… you realize how dangerous he is. If a leader stirs fears, worries, hate, xenophobia, discrimination to its people.. that’s a signal for a disaster.
I do not know if he intends it but the possibility of the pogrom happening again. When the Brexist referendum was happening, the hate crime happened more frequently against foreigners.
I can’t imagine the average joe going gathering a village mob against immigrants and foreigners. The images of pogrom still remain vivid.
have your say