Black Mirror is known for its wild and bold predictions about future technology, with some things more conceivable than others. One area that it has frequently focused on is immersive entertainment, with Hotel Reverie the latest example of what may be possible one day.
In the episode, an actor steps into the world of a classic film. It’s an interesting concept, and one that could potentially happen as virtual reality and artificial intelligence advance.
Entertainment Industry Striving for Greater Immersion
In every corner of the entertainment industry, the aim of the game is to make people as immersed as possible in whatever content they’re consuming. The online casino industry is a great example of this, with slot games coming a long way during their history.
When these games were first invented, players were passive observers who pulled a lever to spin the reels. Now, there are thrilling slots online that aim to transport players to other worlds. Games like Dungeons & Dragons Power Combo and Vikings Unleashed exist in detailed settings, and when players play them, they feel like they are a part of those worlds.
In film, there’s been a steady progression towards greater immersion as well. Surround sound in cinemas was one of the first major developments, and now there are options like 4DX, which involve moving seats and effects such as wind.
It’s clear that whenever new technology comes along, entertainment producers will use it to make their offerings even more immersive. That’s why a scenario like the one described in Hotel Reverie could potentially happen.
Hotel Reverie Imagines Stepping Into a Classic Film
Hotel Reverie is one of the most visually stunning episodes of Black Mirror, regularly flicking between the modern world and the setting of a classic black and white movie set. In a series that’s often bleak and pessimistic, this instalment details a moving love story between an actor and an AI representation of a character from the fictional film, Hotel Reverie.
The technological premise of the episode is that there’s a new invention that allows production companies to put modern actors into old movies. Issa Rae’s Brandy Friday enters the production as the contemporary actor and finds herself surrounded by AI renditions of characters from the original film. Initially, she acts out the script word for word, but then the story begins to go off in a new direction.
Everyday People Could Become Film Stars
Black Mirror imagines one use of this advanced technology, which would be to remake old films with different actors. However, if this tech ever existed in the real world, it may be used for a different purpose. With immersion levels increasing in entertainment every year, surely something like this would be hugely popular for everyday viewers.
It’s highly likely that there would be a huge audience out there of people wanting to enter old films and star in them. This would be like a crossover between gaming and film, and it would give people a new way to enjoy the classics.
With VR and AI advancing rapidly and entertainment companies striving for greater immersion, it seems like the concept of Hotel Reverie could become a reality in the future. Countless people will jump at the chance to enter their favourite pictures and star as the main characters.
David Prior
David Prior is the editor of Today News, responsible for the overall editorial strategy. He is an NCTJ-qualified journalist with over 20 years’ experience, and is also editor of the award-winning hyperlocal news title Altrincham Today. His LinkedIn profile is here.
