Following Live Theater is a Live Movie Streamed to Theater - The UpStream

Following Live Theater is a Live Movie Streamed to Theater

posted Sunday Dec 18, 2016 by Scott Ertz

The usage of live video has grown rapidly in the past 2 years. Between specialty services like Livestream and Twitch, and general services like Periscope and Facebook Live, consumers have encouraged the growth of the medium. The addition of professionally produced content, like NBC's Hairspray Live and FOX's Grease: Live on television have brought attention from producers and Rifftrax Live has brought the idea of live content to movie theaters.

It would appear that what is either the next logical step, or possibly the bazar conclusion to the process, is Woody Harrelson producing what he is calling a live movie production. The movie, titled Lost in London, is a telling of Harrelson's personal experiences being arrested in London in 2002. The movie will be live streamed to 550 movie theaters nationwide on January 19, 2017.

It will, obviously star Woody Harrelson, but will also include big name participants like Owen Wilson and Willie Nelson. But, how does this production separate itself from an NBC live musical? Apparently it will be the overall scale of the production. Unlike Hairspray Live, which took place entirely on Universal's Hollywood backlot, Lost in London will be shot in 14 locations across London with a continuous shot.

The real question that must be asked here is why is this happening? The idea of bringing live theater to your living room makes sense; it allows people outside of New York and other big cities to experience live theater. What does a live movie streamed to movie theaters bring to the world? Other than the danger of something going wrong, or schadenfreude, it seems like there is no benefit.

Is this idea one that seems destined to create a new genre, or a one-off vanity project? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

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