Interfilm

Lore & Background

Interfilm was founded in 1992 by Bob Bejan. In August 1993, Interfilm Inc. filed an initial offering of two million common shares with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The company changed its name from Ediflex Systems Inc. on August 24, 1993, and agreed to acquire Interfilm Technologies Inc. prior to the initial offering. That same year, Interfilm signed a three-picture deal with Sony Pictures Entertainment, and Sony purchased 10 Interfilm systems for installation in their Lowes Cineplexes, bringing the total value of the deal to $6 million. The company went public in November 1993, resulting in $10 million of capitalization.

Reader's Guide

Interfilm produced three interactive films: I'm Your Man (1992), Mr. Payback: An Interactive Movie (1995), and Ride for Your Life (1995). A fourth film, Bombmeister, was never completed after Sony suspended production in 1995 following disappointing audience responses to Ride for Your Life. Interfilm subsequently announced intent to sue Sony for breach of contract, but the suit was dismissed in 1998. Critical reception was dismal; Roger Ebert gave Mr. Payback a half-star out of four, calling it 'the kind of film where horrified parents might encourage the kids to shout at the screen, hoping the noise might drown out the flood of garbage.' Ebert and Gene Siskel both noted that while the concept of combining film with interactivity has possibilities, they were not explored by Mr. Payback, which centered on bathroom humor and appealed to the audience's most sadistic urges. Outside of the novelty of interactivity, aspects such as writing, acting, and production values were noted to be of poor quality. Interfilm's commercial failure is credited with diminishing interest in interactive films for several years thereafter.

Did You Know?

• Sony Pictures Entertainment purchased 10 Interfilm systems for installation in their Lowes Cineplexes as part of a $6 million deal.
• The film Bombmeister was suspended by Sony in 1995 and never completed.
• Interfilm's lawsuit against Sony for breach of contract was dismissed in 1997.