CD-Rom Review

Big Bucks, Big Stars,
Big Problems

"Steven Spielberg's Director's Chair"
a CD-ROM game

Reviewed by John Vitale

Are you questioned by your family and friends about what you do at work for fifteen hours a day ? Now you can bring home a simulation of your job in a CD ROM, 'Steven Spielberg's Director's Chair.', a PC/Mac multimedia video game that allows them to experience the stress and joy of creating a movie.

Host Steven Spielberg takes you through the different stages of the film making process: from pre-production through release. You are to direct actors Jennifer Aniston, Quentin Tarantino, and Penn and Teller, among others. There are three levels of directing that you need to climb before you become an expert. Your production assistant is there for you at all times to help you on your way. (She has been trying to get into the union for years). To get your P.A. just beep her.

You have to write the script with your writers, shoot your footage, make your posters and tickets, score the movie, and preview, etc. This is a lot to do with a budget of 845k (computer memory), and the studio is very strict with you about money. The audience will be the testing ground for your next movie. You need to make a profit to move to the next level of directing.

You are limited to six long shooting days and nights to get all the footage that you need to begin the next step. Through the first level you are given the master shot only. This makes it a good start for beginners. As you rise through the levels of the game you are given the privilege of using close-ups, dolly shots, etc. Then after your brief five or six day shoot, you begin cutting your film together. As you enter the editing room, Steven Spielberg says that he enjoys the editing process most and this is where he has the most control over his films. Editor Michael Kahn greets you, tells you about his background and gives you the key ideas for editing to make a film flow. You are challenged to cut your film on a flat-bed Kem and are allotted a generous five full days of cutting time. Each cut costs valuable memory, which is money to the studio. After you complete the assembly of the movie, you then go to the other side of the lot to cut in the sound effects for your movie, with sound supervisor Mark Mangini. You're set in a room full of boots, broken glass, bells and sirens, along with many sound effects that you will need to make your film complete for release. You are heavily involved with the breaking, walking, punching, whatever it is you need to get the right sound for the scenes.

Once you finish your film you have the ability to distribute your work through the Internet. You can send your movie file to audiences all over the globe. So you can direct, edit, score, write, and distribute worldwide for just under forty bucks!