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Netflix is adapting edgy social media reality TV show 'The Circle'
Social media-inspired reality TV show The Circle is coming to Netflix. First launched in the UK in September, the unscripted show sees eight people kept in isolation, only able to communicate with one another through The Circle, a faux-social media platform. A popularity contest ensues, and one by one the players are "blocked" by the group, with the last person standing winning a hefty cash prize.
You can’t make a reality game show out of social media
Technology's ubiquity has become a real problem for the entertainment industry because life is easier now. There's a reason that horror films these days always seem to feature a shot of someone discovering they're in a signal blackspot. Shows like Sherlock have found novel ways to incorporate technology into their narratives, but clearly, it's still a bit of a fudge. It's even worse in the world of reality TV, which often relies on throwing people into hostile situations and filming the results. Would-be victims can cope with the faux-isolation or trauma much easier if you're packing the sum total of human knowledge in your back pocket. It explains why so many big reality shows, like Jersey Shore, Big Brother and The Amazing Race ban the use of phones.
'The Circle' takes anti-tech paranoia to ludicrous heights
As a book, David Eggers' The Circle was a flimsy attack against modern technology culture with occasional bits of insight. As a film, though, it's so disjointed, ridiculous and dull that even Tom Hanks can't save it. Sure, it didn't really have much of a chance, given its source material. But as a fan of director James Ponsoldt's (The Spectacular Now, The End of the Tour) work, I had an inkling of hope that The Circle would translate better to the big screen. Unfortunately, practically nothing about the film works. And that's a shame -- more than ever, there's a desperate need for intelligent criticism of the technology industry today.
Apple to unleash "The Circle" concept tomorrow?
Wow, it's 6PM and we're only on our third semi-substantial iPod rumor for the day? Frankly, we're disappointed. The latest word to sweep the internets is that Apple is prepping to get all up in Zune's "The Social" grill with "The Circle." Unfortunately, that's the only word on the service / products so far, other than that it's going to be centered around video. So player-to-player video sharing? New branding for existing video products? Steve Jobs is starting a cult? Free Sesame Street song with every iPod? We really have no idea, but we'll be finding out soon enough.[Via PMP Today]
