To go to Mars or Jupiter? In a science fiction film a space ship is running out of fuel and its captain faces two choices. At this time, the audience press buttons on their seat and the film's plot will follow the choice of the majority of the viewers.

On the 28th of April, the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum was doing a dry run of China's first interactive movie with an estimated release date to the public of May 14th.

The newly built "Space Cinema City" threw away the thick celluloid film required by traditional cinemas and instead uses six projectors to throw off a seamless 13-meter diameter spherical image. The image processing technology and image stitching technology in use represent state-of-the-art digital cinematography.

What is of particular significance is that films being screened here give the audience the ultimate "deciding vote" during critical plot points. The film's plot will follow the will of the majority of viewers.

At the end of the movie, the completely translucent screening room will make everyone gasp in amazement. There are no heavy-set film projectors. Instead, a computer-controlled channel will broadcast the film, directly downloaded from the producer via internet network.

(CRI.com, Xinhua News Agency May 4, 2005)