Movie-Goers Getting Smells to Match Scenes

[Skink000 0]

Apr 12, 12:30 PM (ET)

By YURI KAGEYAMA

 

TOKYO (AP) - A theater audience in Japan will be sniffing their noses - literally - at a new Hollywood adventure film when it opens here later this month.

A new service from a major telecommunications company, NTT Communications Corp., will synchronize seven different smells to parts of "The New World," starring Colin Farrell.

A floral scent accompanies a love scene, while a mix of peppermint and rosemary is emitted during a tear-jerking scene. Joy is a citrus mix of orange and grapefruit, while anger is enhanced by a herb-like concoction with a hint of eucalyptus and tea tree.

The smells waft from special machines under the seats in the back rows of two movie theaters, which create different fragrances by controlling the mix of oils stored in the machines, company spokeswoman Akiko Suzaki said Wednesday.

In "The New World," which opened in the United States in December, Farrell plays American colonial leader John Smith, who is said to have been saved from execution by North American Indian princess Pocahontas.

Theaters will be able to download from the Internet different scent sequences for other films, Suzaki said.

The company began a similar service for homes in Japan last year. Owners of the $620 home version can download different programs to emit smells to accompany a horoscope reading or work as aromatherapy.

Owners must keep refilling the machine with fragrant liquids. NTT Communications would not disclose how many machines it has sold.

U.S. startups have developed similar technologies before, although at least one company had to shut down during the dot-com bust. 

This article is the property of AP.

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WOW, Any one for a remake of Back Draft or Towering Inferno ?

That was my first thought when I read this, could be one way to clear a theater in a hurry. 

Think it could ever come to laws preventing dangerous smells in public places like a theater? or maybe a Jim Carrey flick with a lot of flatulence? (perish the thought).

Any thoughts?

Have a great day all.

[Joesocwork 4]

I think I remember a Bugs Bunny cartoon where in the future "smellevision" was supposed to replace "television".

[MrCinatit 30]

I cannot see this being used in every film. The movie Saw comes to mind immediately.

[nealos101 20]

Indeed, a very twisted smell indeed - or in fact it could ruin the atmosphere...

[beebs 129]

Not gonna catch, I don't think. Kinda like 3D movies. They're neat but just not good enough.

[yoder7652 21]

Could lead to sensory overload. Some things on the screen are better seen/heard not smelled.

[Micah 16]

So what are they going to do next? Real objects? Just think if they re-made Twister!

Nah, this won't catch on. I don't even want to imagine the smell of King Kong or Alien.

[Easy Bakes 253]

What about those people with alergies?

Besides do you think their little sprayers are going to overcome the smell of the stale soda and rotten black Ju Ju bees that cover the floors?

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Might work in Japan.  Most movie houses I have been in had the combined smell of bodies, personal scents, makeup, and other unsavory items.

If they are going to do this at all, how about smellivating North of Superior?  I'd like to find out what they think a burned out forest smells like.

[nealos101 20]

Originally posted by: N_O_Body Might work in Japan.  Most movie houses I have been in had the combined smell of bodies, personal scents, makeup, and other unsavory items.

If they are going to do this at all, how about smellivating North of Superior?  I'd like to find out what they think a burned out forest smells like.quote>

 

Me too, me too.

Before they get to real atmosphere I think they'll get to virtual reality - where they input signals into the sensory parts of the brain so you could be in the movie...

Imagine that... cool...

[hamsterTK 93]

Smellovision has arrived!

now onto tastevison!

[justanothersim86 83]

I can see the budgets of films go even higher and higher trying to replicate the smell. But it might not catch on as said before.

Touchivision! "Ma! I'm putting my hand in a tornado! Huh!"

[DuskTrooper 314]

Now, before we move on to other forms of "O-Visions" why don't we try getting Hollywood to make some ORIGINAL, and CREATIVE movies, once again?

I don't want to see re-released smell-O-vision versions of the vile drivelish stuff that Hollywood has gotten away with in the past few years. We need creativity, not more gimmicks. If anything, the best gimmick yet is the dine in movie theatre, such as the chain called "Alamo Drafthouse" that has been doing relatively well here in Texas. I don't think the smell of rotting flesh, and feces would go over very well with a steak, or burgers.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

I tend to agree with DT.  Imagine sitting in a darkened theatre in an Imax situation panning over the result of a forest fire and smelling the burned and rotting corpses of all those dead deer and other animals, overlaid with the creosote, xylols , and other products of burned trees, while listening to the crunch of ashes as the camera pans.

Barf bag, anyone?

[hamsterTK 93]

it would be interesting, i mean, they cant just switch smells quickly without some serious ventilation system, and after a while the smells would get in the carpet and seats and all the different smells would clash and it would start to smell seriously nasty after awhile...

Props for the theater people for trying something new, though

[Compromise 1]

I knew they would do this eventually and for some things it may work but for others it won't. This reminds of that episode of Star Trek Voyager when they end up in the late 20th century and see a television working and wonder how people can watch it with out actually touching it. "You have been spoilt by the hola-deck" was the explanation.

[Joesocwork 4]

Let's say it' true. It would definitely have to be well controlled, esp. for the others scents in the room. Smell is a sense that is very powerful in evoking memories and emotions which is what Hollywood supposedly does best.

A floral scent accompanies a love scene, while a mix of peppermint and rosemary is emitted during a tear-jerking scene. Joy is a citrus mix of orange and grapefruit, while anger is enhanced by a herb-like concoction with a hint of eucalyptus and tea tree. quote>

Does love, joy, and anger always have the same aromas? I would imagine they (indie moviemakers & theatres) would experiment around like with other technologies until they get it right or blow it off as a weird fad. Hollywood, would watch until they sense money.

[Easy Bakes 253]

If Hollywood senses money in this it will be with product placement.

You see a Mc Donalds Bag on the table and the smell of Big Macs or fries fills the air,making you hungry ect,all sponcered by MCDs of course

people get in a car and New car sent fills the air, paid for by ford ect.....

If they realy wanted to inprove our movie going Experince they would stop showing comercials before the previews. They said it was to offset the cost of buying the moives but it seem ticket prices and consessions went up anyway.

[Duke87 1,070]

Originally posted by: Joesocwork I think I remember a Bugs Bunny cartoon where in the future "smellevision" was supposed to replace "television". quote>

Yeah, I have that one as part of a mini collection- on VHS!!!

Actually, the future in that episode was the year 2018. Elmer Fudd is an old man, and Bugs Bunny has a gray beard and walks with a cane. Fudd still hasn't managed to catch Bugs. Though instead of using his rifle, he's using a quick rabbit killing death ray. Heh.

But yeah, this is completely stupid. I don't want to smell what's going on in a movie. It might actually be more useful as a toggleable feature on a TV- where you could just turn it off if a smell you didn't like came on.

Hmm....

I wonder how long until the porn industry starts adding smells to their movies? Not long, probably.