Cinematic interaction: From<i>kinoautomat</i>to<i>cause and effect</i>

Abstract

Abstract The world's first interactive movie was created in Czechoslovakia and called Kinoautomat. After achieving world fame at the Expo'67 in Montreal, this pioneering work of interactive narrative quickly disappeared from memory. Inspired by my own long-standing personal interest in interactive film, I set out to discover as much as possible about the Kinoautomat, with the ultimate aim of making an interactive DVD from the original materials. Although the process has involved considerable archaeology it has proved ultimately successful, and has had the additional result of fuelling a new dimension to my own personal work – the 'live' performance of an interactive film show called Cause and Effect in which the audience are encouraged to interact in various ways with the different films presented. Keywords:: interactivityfilmvideocinemaperformancehistory Notes 1 Curated by Jeffrey Shaw and Peter Weibel of the ZKM. After exhibition there, Future Cinema toured to Finland, Japan. The 640 page exhibition catalogue was published by the MIT Press in 2003. 2 Michael Naimark was one of the few who actually made the effort to visit Prague in this respect. His article Interval trip report 5/26/98 – world's first interactive filmmaker, Prague is accessible on www.naimark.net and will be reprinted in the booklet that accompanies the Kinoautomat DVD. 3 Although Cincera created the concept, the project was a true collaboration between many talented team members. The four big names were Cincera, Jurácek, Rohác and Svitácek, with Miroslav Hornícek contributing much to the stage act and script. Prof. Jaroslav Fric developed the technical system and Josef Svoboda consulted on the stage design. 4 Keiko Sei has sought a new challenge, and is now developing independent media education in South East Asia. 5 Ceskoslovenský Pavillon Expo'67, directed by Rudolf Krejcik and others, Krátký Film Praha (Documentary) 25 minutes, colour 1967. Documents the entire Czechoslovak Pavilion, including Laterna Magika and unique behind-the-scenes footage of Diapolyekran, Polyvision and Kinoautomat (showing the control room and 3 projectors). Rudolf Krejcik heads the FFF teaching programme at Prague's FAMU film school and contributed an article to the booklet that accompanies the Kinoautomat DVD. 6 www.ahrb.ac.uk Mrs Cincerová was subsequently successful in attracting a grant of a similar amount from the Czech Republic's Ministry of Culture. 7 As much as possible Miroslav Hornícek, the main protagonist of the film, enacted the part of Mr Novák on stage as well as in the film, though other male actors took the role and acted on behalf of Mr Novák 'by proxy'. The on-stage actress was most commonly Zuzana Neubauerová (aged over 60 at the time of writing this paper and now based in Bratislava) who has contributed a text to the booklet that will accompany the Kinoautomat DVD. 8 As an example, the Laterna Magika theatre at Expo'67 also showed a film of a crazy rollerskate journey through Prague which was enacted with perfect timing by a real actor on skates in front of the screen. 9 This is the copy to appear on the DVD. Both soundtracks were completed with 3-channel sound in post-production, the English version dubbed in London by Cine-Lingual Ltd. The head of this company, Matt McCarthy, is still in contact with Mrs Cincerová and kindly gave his permission for the use of this soundtrack. 10 At the time of writing, the refilming has been delayed whilst additional funding is raised. 11 Within former Czechoslovakia, scant details remain of many of Radúz Cincera's other projects, as is the case with the innovative technical inventions of Prof. Jaroslav Fric. It was only in 2002 in Paris that a well-researched exhibition documenting Laterna Magika was put together. 12 These were current- or ex-students from the Medialab department of Helsinki's art and design university (UIAH)-all of whom I had previously taught on 'interactive film workshops'-prominent amongst them being Teijo Pellinen and Petri Kola. 13 The project was selected from a national competition in 1965, filmed in 1966, with post-production in early 1967. 14 A musical created in 1985 from the unfinished Charles Dickens novel, the cast ask the audience to choose a murderer, detective, and two lovers from amongst the stage characters just before the ending – which becomes one of 221 possible variations. 15 www.causeandeffect.tk 16 The often raised criticism that making choices in an interactive narrative made from pre-made segments is hardly more sophisticated than pressing the required combination of buttons on a hot-drink vending machine. 17 Diary entry, originally in Brecht's 'Arbeitsjournal' for 27 March 1942. Journals 1934-1955, Bertolt Brecht. Translated by Hugh Rorrison. John Willett (ed). Methuen, London, 1993, p. 214.