Entertainment – Gordon Marantz

28 Feb

Metawhat?

What is the metaverse? That's the big question because different people and different companies define the metaverse differently. For some, it's the next evolution of virtual and augmented reality. For most, it's an immersive internet that you are part of. Meta (formerly Facebook) did not create the metaverse. Some think the metaverse was a concept that Zuckerberg and others came up with but that simply isn't true. The term metaverse can be traced back to Neal Stephenson and his dystopian novel Snow Crash. The novel was released in 1992. In this book, the metaverse is a combination of virtual reality, augmented reality, and…

15 Feb

TV or not TV? or OTT?

Television finds itself in the midst of continued disruption. There are shifts that are not only changing the consumption of entertainment but also creating new distribution channels. Here's what's happening in television today. What is OTT? Over-the-top (OTT) services refer to any type of video or streaming media that provides consumers access to movies or television shows by sending the media directly through the internet. SVOD (Subscription Video-on-Demand) - viewer sets up a monthly or yearly streaming subscription agreement for a flat montly feeTVOD (Transactional Video-on-Demand) - earns revenue via singular transactions aka "pay per view"AVOD (Advertising Video-on-Demand) - earns…

10 Feb

Appointment television is NOT dead.

It's been said that appointment television is dead. When content started streaming in bulk (e.g. Netflix, Amazon) media pundits started warning of the eventual demise of television. Well, television in the general sense, is no longer referenced as the electronic box that receives broadcasts via the air waves. Television is the old school network broadcast but it's also the cable provider and online streaming service enabling us to watch on a multitude of devices. We watch a lot of television these days and there's no sign of content consumption slowing down. Appointment television is what it sounds like: television watched…

26 Nov

UPDATE: Disney Stuntbots

It's official, Disney has announced it will be using its "stuntbots" at the new Avengers Campus which is planned to open at Disney California Adventure Park in 2021. We're going to see Spiderman brought to life like never before. Developed by the Disney Imagineering stickman project, fans will be able to witness advanced robotic technology capable of performing various acrobatic combinations of flips, twists and poses in mid-air. https://youtu.be/6BIMS8ZDBd0 Spiderman will be flying within the rooftops of the Spiderman attraction building. Aerial photographs have identified a load platform and landing area. I can't wait to see this technology in action…

09 Nov

Drew Baldridge – Innovation During a Pandemic

Think Big, Start Small I recently had the pleasure of attending a private, intimate concert performed by Drew Baldridge. Drew has taken a rather unique approach in fulfilling his love of performing in the midst of a pandemic. While most artists disappeared into seclusion and as states slowly began to "come out for air" (releasing restrictions), Drew Baldridge decided to change his approach in reaching fans with his music. It all started when a friend of Drew's called and asked if he would be interested in playing a private party at a Kentucky Lake. It was Drew sitting on a…

05 Jan

Location Based Entertainment Follow Up

This is a follow up to my post on Location Based Entertainment. I recently had the pleasure of experiencing the LBE-Virtual Reality facility Two Bit Circus. Two Bit's VR arcade is designed to take advantage of the technology gap and provide guests a VR headset, a VR backpack, and a custom-designed space enabling guests to move freely within their VR environments. They provide guests immersive VR experiences in a manner they wouldn't be able to experience in their own homes. In addition they've also incorporated technology to enhance their other experiences (e.g. escape room, space mission room, interactive gaming, etc.) Upon entering…

30 Aug

Location Based Entertainment

There are fully immersive experiences popping up all over the country where you can step into a live video game. Imagine you could go to a venue and physically step into a new world, being transported into a story combined with state-of-the art VR technology, physical stages and multi-sensory effects, including touch and smell, with Hollywood characters and storylines. Welcome to location based entertainment (LBE). What is location-based entertainment? The term LBE is applied to a whole group of entertainments, such as theme parks, large scale arcades, bowling alleys, pools, water parks, casinos, movie theaters and many others. Despite the…

20 Jul

Disney Stuntbots

Disneyland has been planning to have humanoid robots fly across stages posing as famous Marvel, Star Wars, or Pixar characters. Walt Disney Imagineering in Burbank, California, have been developing robots known as ‘stuntbots’ for a number of years now and is now close to coming into fruition. https://youtu.be/ENa98h7M7qY The stuntbots could also be used in live theatre performances at Disney owned resorts and themed parks. Autonomous Stuntronics are self-correcting aerial performers able to make on-the-go corrections during a high-flying stunt, to ensure that they land safely. Imagineering have made significant advances in the field of animatronics. Animatronics are static, lifelike robots that already entertain crowds…

24 Jan

Blockchain Technology in Entertainment

What applications are there for blockchain in the media and entertainment industry? Many entertainment and media companies are trying to ride the blockchain wave in order to raise more funds. Simply put, the blockchain technology enables a decentralized digital marketplace and ensures transparent transactions. In the entertainment and media context, blockchain will help with disintermediation, distribution, and royalties. For instance, live streaming hosts will be able to connect with fans without any intermediaries. The gaming industry has been the first in entertainment and media to integrate blockchain technology, with Ethereum-based game “CryptoKitties” being one of the most popular games. Despite…