Member-only story
Shake, Rattle and Reel
My Movie Seat Just Punched Me In The Kidneys
4DX -just when you thought it was safe to go back in the theater
Scene: Messy office of a movie director, filled with movie posters and memorabilia. The director, GWEN, is seated at her desk, while the representative from 4DX, MIKE, stands enthusiastically with a tablet in hand.
GWEN: So, Mike, you want to turn my emotional, coming-of-age film into a rollercoaster ride? Like, an actual ride?
MIKE: Yes! Have you seen a movie in 4DX?
GWEN: No, because I hear the seats do stuff to the audience. They send shocks down your back and buzz your butt cheeks. Slam you around like a Tilt-A-Whirl. Spit mist in your face. It’s not a movie, it’s a crime scene. Are bad audience members sentenced to this?
MIKE: We prefer the word immersive. 4DX equipped auditoriums employ motion-enabled chairs that create strong vibrations and sensations.
GWEN: Stories should be immersive, OK? Creating strong vibrations and sensations is my job. I don’t want furniture telling my audience how to feel. Call me old school, but I believe a chair should sit still and shut up.
