-->
Save your FREE seat for Streaming Media Connect this August. Register Now!

Beyond 'Bandersnatch': Choose Your Own Inspiration at SME

Article Featured Image

When Netflix released "Bandersnatch," the long-awaited interactive episode of Black Mirror, fans thronged to … well, "watch" isn't quite the right word, since the whole appeal is that they could influence the trajectory of the story, which was itself about a game developer working on a choose-your-own-adventure project. Loaded with 1980s pop-culture references—for instance, one viewers' choice is between two cassettes, Thompson Twins' Into the Gap andNow That's What I Call Music II—it's all very meta.

But if most viewers were interested in what they would see next, streaming industry insiders were more interested in how Netflix made it work. A long delay after making a selection would frustrate viewers, so the stream switching had to be almost instantaneous, with no degradation in picture quality. If it didn't work on a technical level, it wouldn't work on a creative level.

Luckily, "Bandersnatch" wasn't Netflix's first foray into interactive storytelling; the SVOD service had already released two kids' shows in the format, Puss in Book: Trapped in an EpicTaleand Minecraft: Story Mode.  At Streaming Media East in May, Netflix Manager of Video Engineering Andy Schuler will deliver the closing keynote "Interactive Storytelling: Choose What Happens Next." He'll talk about how Netflix overcame the biggest technical challenges of the project (ie. mastering, encoding, streaming), how his team utilized SMPTE Interoperable Master Format (IMF) to streamline the process, and why the industry needs more formalized mastering practices for future projects.

Choose wisely—register for Streaming Media East today, and use the code ESRSUPER to get $200 off the current rate (that's the Super Early Bird rate until Febuary 15) for our most popular passes.

Streaming Covers
Free
for qualified subscribers
Subscribe Now Current Issue Past Issues
Related Articles

Netflix Goes to the Other Side of the Mirror With Bandersnatch

Learn the streaming challenges Netflix faced presenting Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, which gave viewers choices and advanced interactive storytelling.

Streaming Sites Crunch the Numbers on Interactive Video

Creating an interactive online experience, such as Netflix's Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, takes a lot of extra footage and budget. Viewers like it so far, but do the economics add up?

Hulu, Cheddar, and Netflix to Headline Streaming Media East 2019

The streaming world is expanding, and our conference is growing right along with it. This year, we bring you face-to-face with the area's most important players, including Roku, Nielsen, Adobe, NBC, CBS, Pluto TV, and many more.

Video: How Netflix Leverages VMAF, Part 2: Encoding Decisions

In Part 2 of this 2-part series, Netflix Senior Software Engineer Zhi Li explains how Netflix uses VMAF for encoding decisions in this clip from Streaming Media West 2018.

Video: How Netflix Leverages VMAF, Part 1: Codec Comparison

In Part 1 of this 2-part series, Netflix Senior Software Engineer Zhi Li explains how Netflix uses VMAF for codec comparison in this clip from Streaming Media West 2018.

More U.S. Households Now Have Netflix Than Pay TV, Says PwC

In a major milestone, adoption of the leading SVOD service now beats pay TV. Viewers have more choices than ever, and they're happy about that.

SME 2018: Netflix Bridges the Content and Technology Gap

At a Streaming Media East keynote panel, producers, colorists, and cinematographers spoke with Netflix's Christopher Fetner about the challenges and opportunities that come with creating in 4K and HDR