At a Los Angeles cinema, aNeo clad in a trench coat arches backward to avoid bullets that whirl above the audience’s heads, while gunshots ring out from all directions.
This innovative immersive experience aims to serve as a wake-up call, enticing cinema enthusiasts away from their sofas during a period when the film industry urgently seeks to attract viewers back to theaters.
Cosm, which operates locations in both Los Angeles and Dallas, plans to debut its dome-shaped screens and 3D sets in June with an immersive take on “The Matrix.” This iconic 1999 movie features Keanu Reeves as a protagonist who discovers that his existence is part of a simulated universe.
“According to Cosm President Jeb Terry, we anticipate that the future will be characterized by greater immersion and experience,” he stated during a recent preview event.
Essentially, it aims to develop an addition—a fresh experience, preferably not cannibalizing existing offerings—so that the sector can flourish across various platforms.
When the Covid-19 pandemic struck, cinemagoers had been decreasing even before then, leading to theater closures just as streaming services were gaining massive popularity.
As larger and more advanced televisions become accessible for homes, cinema operators must provide an experience that audiences can’t replicate in their living rooms.
High-profile movies such as Tom Cruise’s “Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning” and Christopher Nolan’s Academy Award-winning “Oppenheimer” often choose the expansive views and enhanced picture clarity offered by IMAX.
However, Cosm and similar initiatives aim to take things a step further by partnering with designers who have experience at Cirque du Soleil to craft an immersive setting where viewers feel as though they are part of the movie itself.
According to Jay Rinsky, the founder of Little Cinema—a creative studio that focuses on immersive experiences—the key for filmmakers lies in positioning the cameras correctly and capturing sounds effectively.
He mentioned, ‘We develop settings similar to the Parisian opera, allowing the film to embody the role of the performer, adhering to the mood, and emphasizing the emotions… all conveyed via lighting, set design, and 3D environments.’
He mentioned that this method seemed especially fitting for “The Matrix,” describing it as “a cinematic masterpiece presented in a rectangular format.”
For those new to the story: Reeves plays Neo, a computer hacker who begins investigating a way of life that feels somewhat off-kilter.
A cryptic Laurence Fishburne presents him with two choices: a blue pill that allows him to stay as he is, or a red pill that reveals he is enslaved, with his body used by artificial intelligence systems while his consciousness exists within a virtual world created by computers.
Following this, there is extensive gunfighting, numerous scenes featuring martial arts, and elements of mysticism, as well as a romantic subplot involving Neo and Trinity, portrayed by the leather-wearing Carrie-Anne Moss.
In ‘The Matrix’ within the shared reality experience, participants begin by selecting from two cocktails — naturally, blue or red — while they sit amidst high-definition screens enveloping them.
Changing viewpoints transport you into Neo’s office cubicle, or appear as though in danger.
“They can be within the character’s mind,” explained Rinsky. “As you glance up and down, the world shifts with each truck approaching.”
The outcome delighted those who attended the early viewing.
Influencer Vince Rossi shared with AFP, ‘It didn’t really feel like an ordinary experience. It was more as though you were visiting a movie-themed amusement park.’
