Movie Tech: Disney’s “Second Screen”

Movie Tech is a  feature on Criticize This! that looks at how technology is affecting our movie-viewing habits. Have an idea for a Movie Tech feature? Email tips@criticizethis.ca.

Disney’s “Second Screen” technology is a feature included on some of their current Blu-ray releases, such as Bambi, TRON: Legacy, The Lion King, and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, that allows viewers to use an iPad or a laptop to access and interact with special features while the movie plays uninterrupted on their television. I’m always interested in new ways to gain knowledge about how films are made, but I never got around to trying the “Second Screen” feature before to see what it was truly all about. That all changed when Walt Disney Studios Canada invited me to a special breakfast in Toronto this week to test drive the “Second Screen” capabilities of their upcoming Blu-ray release of DreamWorks Pictures’ Real Steel.

For those that might have forgotten about Real Steel, it’s a futuristic robot boxing movie directed by Shawn Levy that stars Hugh Jackman, Kevin Durand, and young Canadian boy Dakota Goyo. I thought it was a lot of fun when I saw it in the theatre, and watching it again on Blu-ray has reignited my excitement for it. Seeing as though Levy is one of the most excitable directors I’ve ever met, I immediately understood why Disney held this event based around this title. Not only does Levy get how amazing the “Second Screen” tech is for viewers, he’s a champion for it on the disc and mentions it numerous times during his audio commentary. And like Steve Jobs, he truly sells it just by being so darn excited about it.

So, how does it work?

I should point out that “Second Screen” is best if used via an iPad as Disney makes a native app for each title with the “Second Screen” feature. On a laptop or an Android device, you access the feature via a web browser and it can make the overall experience unreliable. That said, it’s quite simple to setup no matter what device you’re using.

First, you have to sync your device with your Blu-ray player, which you do from the “Second Screen” menu on the disc. This can be done one of three ways: If you’re Blu-ray player is on your home network (either via WiFi or Ethernet) and your iPad or laptop is on that network, you can sync over BD-Live. You can also sync via an audio track (the TV sends a sound, the iPad or laptop hears it and makes the connection) or manually by entering a code into your device that’s displayed on your TV.

What can I expect to get out of using “Second Screen”?

While I’ve only used the Real Steel “Second Screen” feature, it appears you can expect a lot from this technology and I plan on checking it out now on Bambi, TRON: Legacy, and on the upcoming Platinum Edition of Lady and the Tramp. As noted by a few people, including Shawn Levy in his audio commentary, if you’re a film student or a major movie buff this is an exciting feature as it truly shows you EVERYTHING about how a movie is made.

With Real Steel you can see the raw footage on your iPad shot-for-shot with no effects while you compare it to the final version that is playing on your television. You can also see and interact with 3-D renderings of each robot from the film and get details on the smallest aspects of the movie. You could spend an entire day with the movie this way and come out knowing everything you’d need to know about making a movie. It might sound like overkill on a film like Real Steel, but on a classic like Lady and the Tramp or Bambi, it’s the closest you’ll get to opening up the archives at the Disney Studio and walking in and browsing.

Why is this different from other bonus features?

The big difference with “Second Screen” compared to say Warner Bros.’ “Maximum Movie Mode” (or just regular special features for that matter) is the interactive element it brings. Whether it’s images, artist renderings, or extra clips, you’re truly in control and taking it all in. The fact that it all plays literally on a second screen is nice too, since someone else could be in the room watching the movie and would not be bothered by your need to know every little detail about a movie like Real Steel.

Still not sold? Watch this short clip of Jonathan Hope, VP of Product Management at Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada explain it (or just buy the Real Steel Blu-ray when it comes out on January 24 and give it a try for yourself).

Does Disney’s “Second Screen” sound like something you would use? What other interactive features would you like to see in the future? Share your thoughts in the comments below.