Megalopolis, the new film from Francis Ford Coppola, is out this week. The movie features a live interaction element. We discuss here how it works, and whether it will occur at your showing.
What is the audience interaction?
The relevant scene unfolds while Adam Driver’s character attends a press conference. The film goes silent while Driver’s appears on screen, waiting for a question. Then, a live person in the actual cinema uses a microphone to deliver a scripted line to Driver’s character. It’s about 15 seconds long, and Driver then answers it.
We saw the film at the Australian Premiere during the Sydney Film Festival. At that screening, Alexei Toliopoulos—a podcaster who worked for the festival—delivered the line using a printed script and microphone. The houselights turned on, and he stood near the front the cinema and read the line aloud to the screen. Except he didn’t actually read it. He lip-synced the line while an audio recording played in the movie.
Will my cinema include the live interaction?
In the United States, any sessions labelled by the title “Megalopolis: Enhanced IMAX Experience” will include the live interactive element. As for other sessions, it’s up to each individual cinema to organise it.
Screen Brief reached out to multiple Australian cinemas for comment on whether their showings of Megalopolis will include it. Here’s what they told us:
- Dendy Cinemas told us that the live interaction will only occur on the opening night of 25th September. Their cinemas will have a staff member deliver the line. After the opening night, all other sessions will run without the interactive element.
- Hoyts Cinemas told us that their showings of Megalopolis will not include the live interaction.
- The Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace told us that their sessions will not include the live interaction. They also confirmed that the movie will not include a recorded version of the line.
As such, many cinemas have not organised for someone to deliver the line. That said, some have clearly taken the extra effort to provide it.
What happens if nobody delivers the line?
If your cinema hasn’t organised someone to perform the line, the scene will still occur. In fact, several sources confirmed to us that the line is in fact recorded. The live performer simply lip-syncs while standing at the microphone. So if you’re cinema doesn’t have anything go up, you’ll still here the line even if you don’t see anyone performing it.
Of course, this doesn’t stop a brave volunteer from delivering the line themselves! However without a microphone, it may be hard to hear. But don’t let that stop you — be bold! Seize your moment and be part of the movie!
What is the actual line?
Finally, here is the question from the script that you can ask Adam Driver:
“Mr Catilina, you said that as we jump into the future, we should do so unafraid. But what if when we do jump into the future and there is something to be afraid of?”
If you’re seeing Megalopolis this week, please share your experience with us! Comment below or Tweet us @ScreenBrief.
