Storytelling and imagination know no limits.
So say filmmakers Steven Spielberg and George Lucas and Microsoft’s Interactive Entertainment Business President Don Mattrick, who participated in a panel on the future of entertainment at the University of Southern California (USC) on June 12.
The panel, moderated by CNBC’s Julia Boorstin, celebrated the opening of a new hall on campus dedicated to interactive experiences, the School of Cinematic Arts Interactive Media Building.
The trio covered some serious ground in the discussion. Both filmmakers gave accounts of how technology has evolved in their careers (Spielberg, who started out lighting his projects with Sears floodlights held in place by Scotch tape, went on to create digital dinosaurs in Jurassic Park). Lucas said his highly imaginative movies were impossible to achieve with the technology at hand, “so I had to come up with new technology that would allow things that were unthinkable before.”
Mattrick described how the blend of film, TV and interactivity is taking entertainment to the next level. Gaming is a newer but fast-growing form of entertainment, and Mattrick said he sees great benefits as the technologies become interconnected. Xbox is helping to pave the way in interactive television with a new Halo TV series and a groundbreaking deal with the NFL to move football into a new generation. Spielberg is the producer for the new Halo TV series.
“We know people spend the majority of their time watching TV, yet it hasn’t been an interactive experience,” Mattrick said. “We are creating a live community, making TV interactive and immersive with experimentation so great storytellers and creators will push the bounds. Interactive television will provide the ability to participate in the content in real-time, like changing the flow of the show based on your interests.”
To read more about this powerhouse entertainment and technology panel, including Spielberg’s advice for the students in attendance, check out the full Xbox Wire story.
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Jennifer Warnick
Microsoft News Center Staff