How many options actually exist?
The interactive Netflix film Black Mirror: Bandersnatch has many points where the user has to choose the path the story will take.
Some of these choices make little difference to the overall path but still require different versions of the following scene to be shot. Others create extra complexity in the future by modifying future choices. Some seem to allow a very large number of viewer choices (one scene involves choosing a multi-digit (5 or 6 digits?) phone number which implies a very large number of choices and scenes to be shot.)
The combinations seem to create a large space of possible events with many possible outcomes. This implies a large number of scenes needed to be shot even if we ignore the choices where little is changed by the choice.
So, how much footage is there? How many possible paths exist? Will we ever find them all?
black-mirror black-mirror-bandersnatch
edited Jan 4 at 12:12
Napoleon Wilson♦
42.4k42273527
asked Jan 3 at 14:49
matt_blackmatt_black
12.9k1668141
|
show 4 more comments
The interactive Netflix film Black Mirror: Bandersnatch has many points where the user has to choose the path the story will take.
Some of these choices make little difference to the overall path but still require different versions of the following scene to be shot. Others create extra complexity in the future by modifying future choices. Some seem to allow a very large number of viewer choices (one scene involves choosing a multi-digit (5 or 6 digits?) phone number which implies a very large number of choices and scenes to be shot.)
The combinations seem to create a large space of possible events with many possible outcomes. This implies a large number of scenes needed to be shot even if we ignore the choices where little is changed by the choice.
So, how much footage is there? How many possible paths exist? Will we ever find them all?
black-mirror black-mirror-bandersnatch
edited Jan 4 at 12:12
Napoleon Wilson♦
42.4k42273527
asked Jan 3 at 14:49
matt_blackmatt_black
12.9k1668141
2
Downvotes are fine, but it is always helpful to know why. And for those voting to close because it is "opinion based", how so? This is quite like asking about the alternative versions of, say, Blade Runner: it isn't about opinion, it is about concrete material that exists and can be discovered.
– matt_black
Jan 3 at 15:26
17
I absolutely don't see why this gets downvoted and even less how it could remotely be seen as "primarily opinion-based". The amount of footage shot and number of possible paths is a straight fact, no matter if people uninvolved in the production will have a hard time finding out. The nature of this question isn't in any way different from the ones asking what ending is "canon" or how to achieve the "best" ending (which if anything seems more opinion-based than this one). I feel like I'm really missing something here, so maybe the close-voters could enlighten me what's wrong with it.
– Napoleon Wilson♦
Jan 3 at 15:26
1
@JasonPSallinger Yes there is. But it is clearly incomplete; it doesn't represent the complex way past choices influence future options and their content; and doesn't tell us anything about the total amount of content available.
– matt_black
Jan 3 at 16:42
1
There are several flowcharts already published - this terrible british sensationalist ;) newspaper, the Daily Mail links to several
– Tetsujin
Jan 3 at 16:42
2
@CanadianLuke I don't see how. It's related, though.
– Napoleon Wilson♦
Jan 4 at 12:13
|
show 4 more comments
The interactive Netflix film Black Mirror: Bandersnatch has many points where the user has to choose the path the story will take.
Some of these choices make little difference to the overall path but still require different versions of the following scene to be shot. Others create extra complexity in the future by modifying future choices. Some seem to allow a very large number of viewer choices (one scene involves choosing a multi-digit (5 or 6 digits?) phone number which implies a very large number of choices and scenes to be shot.)
The combinations seem to create a large space of possible events with many possible outcomes. This implies a large number of scenes needed to be shot even if we ignore the choices where little is changed by the choice.
So, how much footage is there? How many possible paths exist? Will we ever find them all?
black-mirror black-mirror-bandersnatch
edited Jan 4 at 12:12
Napoleon Wilson♦
42.4k42273527
asked Jan 3 at 14:49
matt_blackmatt_black
12.9k1668141
The interactive Netflix film Black Mirror: Bandersnatch has many points where the user has to choose the path the story will take.
Some of these choices make little difference to the overall path but still require different versions of the following scene to be shot. Others create extra complexity in the future by modifying future choices. Some seem to allow a very large number of viewer choices (one scene involves choosing a multi-digit (5 or 6 digits?) phone number which implies a very large number of choices and scenes to be shot.)
The combinations seem to create a large space of possible events with many possible outcomes. This implies a large number of scenes needed to be shot even if we ignore the choices where little is changed by the choice.
So, how much footage is there? How many possible paths exist? Will we ever find them all?
black-mirror black-mirror-bandersnatch
black-mirror black-mirror-bandersnatch
edited Jan 4 at 12:12
Napoleon Wilson♦
42.4k42273527
asked Jan 3 at 14:49
matt_blackmatt_black
12.9k1668141
edited Jan 4 at 12:12
Napoleon Wilson♦
42.4k42273527
asked Jan 3 at 14:49
matt_blackmatt_black
12.9k1668141
edited Jan 4 at 12:12
Napoleon Wilson♦
42.4k42273527
edited Jan 4 at 12:12
Napoleon Wilson♦
42.4k42273527
edited Jan 4 at 12:12
Napoleon Wilson♦
42.4k42273527
42.4k42273527
asked Jan 3 at 14:49
matt_blackmatt_black
12.9k1668141
asked Jan 3 at 14:49
matt_blackmatt_black
12.9k1668141
asked Jan 3 at 14:49
matt_blackmatt_black
12.9k1668141
12.9k1668141
2
Downvotes are fine, but it is always helpful to know why. And for those voting to close because it is "opinion based", how so? This is quite like asking about the alternative versions of, say, Blade Runner: it isn't about opinion, it is about concrete material that exists and can be discovered.
– matt_black
Jan 3 at 15:26
17
I absolutely don't see why this gets downvoted and even less how it could remotely be seen as "primarily opinion-based". The amount of footage shot and number of possible paths is a straight fact, no matter if people uninvolved in the production will have a hard time finding out. The nature of this question isn't in any way different from the ones asking what ending is "canon" or how to achieve the "best" ending (which if anything seems more opinion-based than this one). I feel like I'm really missing something here, so maybe the close-voters could enlighten me what's wrong with it.
– Napoleon Wilson♦
Jan 3 at 15:26
1
@JasonPSallinger Yes there is. But it is clearly incomplete; it doesn't represent the complex way past choices influence future options and their content; and doesn't tell us anything about the total amount of content available.
– matt_black
Jan 3 at 16:42
1
There are several flowcharts already published - this terrible british sensationalist ;) newspaper, the Daily Mail links to several
– Tetsujin
Jan 3 at 16:42
2
@CanadianLuke I don't see how. It's related, though.
– Napoleon Wilson♦
Jan 4 at 12:13
|
show 4 more comments
2
Downvotes are fine, but it is always helpful to know why. And for those voting to close because it is "opinion based", how so? This is quite like asking about the alternative versions of, say, Blade Runner: it isn't about opinion, it is about concrete material that exists and can be discovered.
– matt_black
Jan 3 at 15:26
17
I absolutely don't see why this gets downvoted and even less how it could remotely be seen as "primarily opinion-based". The amount of footage shot and number of possible paths is a straight fact, no matter if people uninvolved in the production will have a hard time finding out. The nature of this question isn't in any way different from the ones asking what ending is "canon" or how to achieve the "best" ending (which if anything seems more opinion-based than this one). I feel like I'm really missing something here, so maybe the close-voters could enlighten me what's wrong with it.
– Napoleon Wilson♦
Jan 3 at 15:26
1
@JasonPSallinger Yes there is. But it is clearly incomplete; it doesn't represent the complex way past choices influence future options and their content; and doesn't tell us anything about the total amount of content available.
– matt_black
Jan 3 at 16:42
1
There are several flowcharts already published - this terrible british sensationalist ;) newspaper, the Daily Mail links to several
– Tetsujin
Jan 3 at 16:42
2
@CanadianLuke I don't see how. It's related, though.
– Napoleon Wilson♦
Jan 4 at 12:13
2
2
Downvotes are fine, but it is always helpful to know why. And for those voting to close because it is "opinion based", how so? This is quite like asking about the alternative versions of, say, Blade Runner: it isn't about opinion, it is about concrete material that exists and can be discovered.
– matt_black
Jan 3 at 15:26
Downvotes are fine, but it is always helpful to know why. And for those voting to close because it is "opinion based", how so? This is quite like asking about the alternative versions of, say, Blade Runner: it isn't about opinion, it is about concrete material that exists and can be discovered.
– matt_black
Jan 3 at 15:26
17
17
I absolutely don't see why this gets downvoted and even less how it could remotely be seen as "primarily opinion-based". The amount of footage shot and number of possible paths is a straight fact, no matter if people uninvolved in the production will have a hard time finding out. The nature of this question isn't in any way different from the ones asking what ending is "canon" or how to achieve the "best" ending (which if anything seems more opinion-based than this one). I feel like I'm really missing something here, so maybe the close-voters could enlighten me what's wrong with it.
– Napoleon Wilson♦
Jan 3 at 15:26
I absolutely don't see why this gets downvoted and even less how it could remotely be seen as "primarily opinion-based". The amount of footage shot and number of possible paths is a straight fact, no matter if people uninvolved in the production will have a hard time finding out. The nature of this question isn't in any way different from the ones asking what ending is "canon" or how to achieve the "best" ending (which if anything seems more opinion-based than this one). I feel like I'm really missing something here, so maybe the close-voters could enlighten me what's wrong with it.
– Napoleon Wilson♦
Jan 3 at 15:26
1
1
@JasonPSallinger Yes there is. But it is clearly incomplete; it doesn't represent the complex way past choices influence future options and their content; and doesn't tell us anything about the total amount of content available.
– matt_black
Jan 3 at 16:42
@JasonPSallinger Yes there is. But it is clearly incomplete; it doesn't represent the complex way past choices influence future options and their content; and doesn't tell us anything about the total amount of content available.
– matt_black
Jan 3 at 16:42
1
1
There are several flowcharts already published - this terrible british sensationalist ;) newspaper, the Daily Mail links to several
– Tetsujin
Jan 3 at 16:42
There are several flowcharts already published - this terrible british sensationalist ;) newspaper, the Daily Mail links to several
– Tetsujin
Jan 3 at 16:42
2
2
@CanadianLuke I don't see how. It's related, though.
– Napoleon Wilson♦
Jan 4 at 12:13
@CanadianLuke I don't see how. It's related, though.
– Napoleon Wilson♦
Jan 4 at 12:13
|
show 4 more comments
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
"So, how much footage is there? How many possible paths exist? Will we ever find them all?"
"I don’t know how many endings there actually are — I think I’ve
forgotten,” Brooker, the creator and writer of the Emmy-winning
series, tells The Hollywood Reporter. When his producing partner,
Annabel Jones, suggests to THR there are five “definitive” ends,
Brooker interrupts: “No. There are more than that.”...
Even Netflix says that while there are five “main” endings, there are
multiple variants on each that they are daring viewers to uncover. And
Brooker and Jones are clear as to not “prescribe” one ending over the
others, especially because they couldn’t agree on what exactly defines
one.
This seems exceedingly hard to determine since everyone who worked on the project doesn't seem to agree or even know! Creator & writer Charles Brooker and Netflix claim there are about 5 definite endings, but producer Russell McLean says there are 10-12 endings, because some are less definite. Director David Slade mentions that we may never see every ending, because there are "golden eggs" that seemingly have yet to be "unlocked"
If you ask producer Russell McLean, there are 10 to 12 endings because
some are less definitive. And director David Slade says there are even
“golden eggs” that are so difficult to reach, they may never be
unlocked. “There are scenes that some people just will never see and
we had to make sure that we were OK with that. We actually shot a
scene that we can’t access,” Slade said when the team introduced the
episode to a group of reporters, including THR's, at Netflix’s
headquarters in Los Gatos, California.
But in terms of actual footage shot, there is seemingly 150 minutes of "unique footage" divided into 250 segments. Some stories are as short as 40 minutes, while the average run time is 90 minutes, however at least one story goes for 2 and half hours!
Bandersantch is presented as an interactive film. A brief tutorial,
specific to the device being streamed on, explains to the viewer how
to make choices. They have ten seconds to make choices, or a default
decision is made. Once a playthrough ends, the viewer is given an
option of going back and making a different choice. The average
viewing is 90 minutes, though the quickest path ends after 40 minutes,
and at least one path results in a 2.5-hour viewing experience.
There are 150 minutes of unique footage divided into 250 segments.
IGN reports that according to Netflix, there are five "main" endings,
with variants within each ending; such endings may be intercut with
credits, similar to other Black Mirror episodes. Producer
Russell McLean said there are between ten and twelve endings, some of
which are more vague as endings compared to others, and according to
director David Slade, there are a few "golden eggs" endings that may
take a long time before viewers figure out how to achieve them. No
ending is considered "prescribed" over any other, according to
executive producers Charlie Brooker and Annabel Jones, particularly as
they felt some endings were not truly endings in the traditional
sense.
answered Jan 3 at 15:21
Darth LockeDarth Locke
12k23074
11
"and at least one path results in a 2.5-hour viewing experience. There are 150 minutes of unique footage" So there's a path that shows all of the footage?
– Acccumulation
Jan 3 at 16:32
2
@Acccumulation you have to account for 10 seconds of "frozen time" between choices. They can quickly add up. Another source (see the answer by BCdotWEB) points at even more footage.
– Mindwin
Jan 3 at 17:14
1
@Mindwin I think you mean they can quickly accumulate.
– TheLethalCarrot
Jan 3 at 17:30
5
@Acccumulation That 2.5 hours of viewing includes a number of repeated scenes.
– Barmar
Jan 3 at 19:49
1
@Acccumulation This article says that there are nearly 5 hours of material spread over all possible views. The same can be read in the answer of BCdotWEB
– Kami Kaze
Jan 4 at 13:53
|
show 1 more comment
The makers decline to offer specifics:
If you ask producer Russell McLean, there are 10 to 12 endings because
some are less definitive. And director David Slade says there are even
“golden eggs” that are so difficult to reach, they may never be
unlocked. “There are scenes that some people just will never see and
we had to make sure that we were OK with that. We actually shot a
scene that we can’t access,” Slade said when the team introduced the
episode to a group of reporters, including THR's, at Netflix’s
headquarters in Los Gatos, California.
Even Netflix says that while there are five “main” endings, there are
multiple variants on each that they are daring viewers to uncover. And
Brooker and Jones are clear as to not “prescribe” one ending over the
others, especially because they couldn’t agree on what exactly defines
one.
“There were quite heated debates about what constitutes an 'ending,'”
says Brooker. “There’s a school of thought that says any time it stops
and you go back, that’s an ending. In Bandersnatch, there are endings
that are really abrupt that are still endings, in my mind.”
Besides, Jones points out: “In a world of parallel realities, maybe
there is no ending?”
iO9 adds:
While this might be frustrating, it doesn’t seem surprising. The
episode reportedly has about five hours of prepared footage. I played
through the entire thing, including all of these endings, to the best
of my ability and capped out around four hours. There are several
places where other Easter eggs could come into the picture, like with
Stefan’s dad’s locked box, or the phone number used to call the
therapist. Plus, some fan sleuths have pointed out behind the scenes
footage that could point to other scenes we haven’t even seen yet.
And for anyone looking to have all the answers handed to them at some
point, I’ve got some bad news: Showrunner Charlie Brooker confirmed to
THR that they will not be releasing a linear version of Black Mirror:
Bandersnatch. What we see now is all we’re going to get.
answered Jan 3 at 15:19
BCdotWEBBCdotWEB
29.1k485126
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
"So, how much footage is there? How many possible paths exist? Will we ever find them all?"
"I don’t know how many endings there actually are — I think I’ve
forgotten,” Brooker, the creator and writer of the Emmy-winning
series, tells The Hollywood Reporter. When his producing partner,
Annabel Jones, suggests to THR there are five “definitive” ends,
Brooker interrupts: “No. There are more than that.”...
Even Netflix says that while there are five “main” endings, there are
multiple variants on each that they are daring viewers to uncover. And
Brooker and Jones are clear as to not “prescribe” one ending over the
others, especially because they couldn’t agree on what exactly defines
one.
This seems exceedingly hard to determine since everyone who worked on the project doesn't seem to agree or even know! Creator & writer Charles Brooker and Netflix claim there are about 5 definite endings, but producer Russell McLean says there are 10-12 endings, because some are less definite. Director David Slade mentions that we may never see every ending, because there are "golden eggs" that seemingly have yet to be "unlocked"
If you ask producer Russell McLean, there are 10 to 12 endings because
some are less definitive. And director David Slade says there are even
“golden eggs” that are so difficult to reach, they may never be
unlocked. “There are scenes that some people just will never see and
we had to make sure that we were OK with that. We actually shot a
scene that we can’t access,” Slade said when the team introduced the
episode to a group of reporters, including THR's, at Netflix’s
headquarters in Los Gatos, California.
But in terms of actual footage shot, there is seemingly 150 minutes of "unique footage" divided into 250 segments. Some stories are as short as 40 minutes, while the average run time is 90 minutes, however at least one story goes for 2 and half hours!
Bandersantch is presented as an interactive film. A brief tutorial,
specific to the device being streamed on, explains to the viewer how
to make choices. They have ten seconds to make choices, or a default
decision is made. Once a playthrough ends, the viewer is given an
option of going back and making a different choice. The average
viewing is 90 minutes, though the quickest path ends after 40 minutes,
and at least one path results in a 2.5-hour viewing experience.
There are 150 minutes of unique footage divided into 250 segments.
IGN reports that according to Netflix, there are five "main" endings,
with variants within each ending; such endings may be intercut with
credits, similar to other Black Mirror episodes. Producer
Russell McLean said there are between ten and twelve endings, some of
which are more vague as endings compared to others, and according to
director David Slade, there are a few "golden eggs" endings that may
take a long time before viewers figure out how to achieve them. No
ending is considered "prescribed" over any other, according to
executive producers Charlie Brooker and Annabel Jones, particularly as
they felt some endings were not truly endings in the traditional
sense.
answered Jan 3 at 15:21
Darth LockeDarth Locke
12k23074
11
"and at least one path results in a 2.5-hour viewing experience. There are 150 minutes of unique footage" So there's a path that shows all of the footage?
– Acccumulation
Jan 3 at 16:32
2
@Acccumulation you have to account for 10 seconds of "frozen time" between choices. They can quickly add up. Another source (see the answer by BCdotWEB) points at even more footage.
– Mindwin
Jan 3 at 17:14
1
@Mindwin I think you mean they can quickly accumulate.
– TheLethalCarrot
Jan 3 at 17:30
5
@Acccumulation That 2.5 hours of viewing includes a number of repeated scenes.
– Barmar
Jan 3 at 19:49
1
@Acccumulation This article says that there are nearly 5 hours of material spread over all possible views. The same can be read in the answer of BCdotWEB
– Kami Kaze
Jan 4 at 13:53
|
show 1 more comment
"So, how much footage is there? How many possible paths exist? Will we ever find them all?"
"I don’t know how many endings there actually are — I think I’ve
forgotten,” Brooker, the creator and writer of the Emmy-winning
series, tells The Hollywood Reporter. When his producing partner,
Annabel Jones, suggests to THR there are five “definitive” ends,
Brooker interrupts: “No. There are more than that.”...
Even Netflix says that while there are five “main” endings, there are
multiple variants on each that they are daring viewers to uncover. And
Brooker and Jones are clear as to not “prescribe” one ending over the
others, especially because they couldn’t agree on what exactly defines
one.
This seems exceedingly hard to determine since everyone who worked on the project doesn't seem to agree or even know! Creator & writer Charles Brooker and Netflix claim there are about 5 definite endings, but producer Russell McLean says there are 10-12 endings, because some are less definite. Director David Slade mentions that we may never see every ending, because there are "golden eggs" that seemingly have yet to be "unlocked"
If you ask producer Russell McLean, there are 10 to 12 endings because
some are less definitive. And director David Slade says there are even
“golden eggs” that are so difficult to reach, they may never be
unlocked. “There are scenes that some people just will never see and
we had to make sure that we were OK with that. We actually shot a
scene that we can’t access,” Slade said when the team introduced the
episode to a group of reporters, including THR's, at Netflix’s
headquarters in Los Gatos, California.
But in terms of actual footage shot, there is seemingly 150 minutes of "unique footage" divided into 250 segments. Some stories are as short as 40 minutes, while the average run time is 90 minutes, however at least one story goes for 2 and half hours!
Bandersantch is presented as an interactive film. A brief tutorial,
specific to the device being streamed on, explains to the viewer how
to make choices. They have ten seconds to make choices, or a default
decision is made. Once a playthrough ends, the viewer is given an
option of going back and making a different choice. The average
viewing is 90 minutes, though the quickest path ends after 40 minutes,
and at least one path results in a 2.5-hour viewing experience.
There are 150 minutes of unique footage divided into 250 segments.
IGN reports that according to Netflix, there are five "main" endings,
with variants within each ending; such endings may be intercut with
credits, similar to other Black Mirror episodes. Producer
Russell McLean said there are between ten and twelve endings, some of
which are more vague as endings compared to others, and according to
director David Slade, there are a few "golden eggs" endings that may
take a long time before viewers figure out how to achieve them. No
ending is considered "prescribed" over any other, according to
executive producers Charlie Brooker and Annabel Jones, particularly as
they felt some endings were not truly endings in the traditional
sense.
answered Jan 3 at 15:21
Darth LockeDarth Locke
12k23074
11
"and at least one path results in a 2.5-hour viewing experience. There are 150 minutes of unique footage" So there's a path that shows all of the footage?
– Acccumulation
Jan 3 at 16:32
2
@Acccumulation you have to account for 10 seconds of "frozen time" between choices. They can quickly add up. Another source (see the answer by BCdotWEB) points at even more footage.
– Mindwin
Jan 3 at 17:14
1
@Mindwin I think you mean they can quickly accumulate.
– TheLethalCarrot
Jan 3 at 17:30
5
@Acccumulation That 2.5 hours of viewing includes a number of repeated scenes.
– Barmar
Jan 3 at 19:49
1
@Acccumulation This article says that there are nearly 5 hours of material spread over all possible views. The same can be read in the answer of BCdotWEB
– Kami Kaze
Jan 4 at 13:53
|
show 1 more comment
"So, how much footage is there? How many possible paths exist? Will we ever find them all?"
"I don’t know how many endings there actually are — I think I’ve
forgotten,” Brooker, the creator and writer of the Emmy-winning
series, tells The Hollywood Reporter. When his producing partner,
Annabel Jones, suggests to THR there are five “definitive” ends,
Brooker interrupts: “No. There are more than that.”...
Even Netflix says that while there are five “main” endings, there are
multiple variants on each that they are daring viewers to uncover. And
Brooker and Jones are clear as to not “prescribe” one ending over the
others, especially because they couldn’t agree on what exactly defines
one.
This seems exceedingly hard to determine since everyone who worked on the project doesn't seem to agree or even know! Creator & writer Charles Brooker and Netflix claim there are about 5 definite endings, but producer Russell McLean says there are 10-12 endings, because some are less definite. Director David Slade mentions that we may never see every ending, because there are "golden eggs" that seemingly have yet to be "unlocked"
If you ask producer Russell McLean, there are 10 to 12 endings because
some are less definitive. And director David Slade says there are even
“golden eggs” that are so difficult to reach, they may never be
unlocked. “There are scenes that some people just will never see and
we had to make sure that we were OK with that. We actually shot a
scene that we can’t access,” Slade said when the team introduced the
episode to a group of reporters, including THR's, at Netflix’s
headquarters in Los Gatos, California.
But in terms of actual footage shot, there is seemingly 150 minutes of "unique footage" divided into 250 segments. Some stories are as short as 40 minutes, while the average run time is 90 minutes, however at least one story goes for 2 and half hours!
Bandersantch is presented as an interactive film. A brief tutorial,
specific to the device being streamed on, explains to the viewer how
to make choices. They have ten seconds to make choices, or a default
decision is made. Once a playthrough ends, the viewer is given an
option of going back and making a different choice. The average
viewing is 90 minutes, though the quickest path ends after 40 minutes,
and at least one path results in a 2.5-hour viewing experience.
There are 150 minutes of unique footage divided into 250 segments.
IGN reports that according to Netflix, there are five "main" endings,
with variants within each ending; such endings may be intercut with
credits, similar to other Black Mirror episodes. Producer
Russell McLean said there are between ten and twelve endings, some of
which are more vague as endings compared to others, and according to
director David Slade, there are a few "golden eggs" endings that may
take a long time before viewers figure out how to achieve them. No
ending is considered "prescribed" over any other, according to
executive producers Charlie Brooker and Annabel Jones, particularly as
they felt some endings were not truly endings in the traditional
sense.
answered Jan 3 at 15:21
Darth LockeDarth Locke
12k23074
"So, how much footage is there? How many possible paths exist? Will we ever find them all?"
"I don’t know how many endings there actually are — I think I’ve
forgotten,” Brooker, the creator and writer of the Emmy-winning
series, tells The Hollywood Reporter. When his producing partner,
Annabel Jones, suggests to THR there are five “definitive” ends,
Brooker interrupts: “No. There are more than that.”...
Even Netflix says that while there are five “main” endings, there are
multiple variants on each that they are daring viewers to uncover. And
Brooker and Jones are clear as to not “prescribe” one ending over the
others, especially because they couldn’t agree on what exactly defines
one.
This seems exceedingly hard to determine since everyone who worked on the project doesn't seem to agree or even know! Creator & writer Charles Brooker and Netflix claim there are about 5 definite endings, but producer Russell McLean says there are 10-12 endings, because some are less definite. Director David Slade mentions that we may never see every ending, because there are "golden eggs" that seemingly have yet to be "unlocked"
If you ask producer Russell McLean, there are 10 to 12 endings because
some are less definitive. And director David Slade says there are even
“golden eggs” that are so difficult to reach, they may never be
unlocked. “There are scenes that some people just will never see and
we had to make sure that we were OK with that. We actually shot a
scene that we can’t access,” Slade said when the team introduced the
episode to a group of reporters, including THR's, at Netflix’s
headquarters in Los Gatos, California.
But in terms of actual footage shot, there is seemingly 150 minutes of "unique footage" divided into 250 segments. Some stories are as short as 40 minutes, while the average run time is 90 minutes, however at least one story goes for 2 and half hours!
Bandersantch is presented as an interactive film. A brief tutorial,
specific to the device being streamed on, explains to the viewer how
to make choices. They have ten seconds to make choices, or a default
decision is made. Once a playthrough ends, the viewer is given an
option of going back and making a different choice. The average
viewing is 90 minutes, though the quickest path ends after 40 minutes,
and at least one path results in a 2.5-hour viewing experience.
There are 150 minutes of unique footage divided into 250 segments.
IGN reports that according to Netflix, there are five "main" endings,
with variants within each ending; such endings may be intercut with
credits, similar to other Black Mirror episodes. Producer
Russell McLean said there are between ten and twelve endings, some of
which are more vague as endings compared to others, and according to
director David Slade, there are a few "golden eggs" endings that may
take a long time before viewers figure out how to achieve them. No
ending is considered "prescribed" over any other, according to
executive producers Charlie Brooker and Annabel Jones, particularly as
they felt some endings were not truly endings in the traditional
sense.
answered Jan 3 at 15:21
Darth LockeDarth Locke
12k23074
edited Jan 3 at 15:28
answered Jan 3 at 15:21
Darth LockeDarth Locke
12k23074
answered Jan 3 at 15:21
Darth LockeDarth Locke
12k23074
answered Jan 3 at 15:21
Darth LockeDarth Locke
12k23074
12k23074
11
"and at least one path results in a 2.5-hour viewing experience. There are 150 minutes of unique footage" So there's a path that shows all of the footage?
– Acccumulation
Jan 3 at 16:32
2
@Acccumulation you have to account for 10 seconds of "frozen time" between choices. They can quickly add up. Another source (see the answer by BCdotWEB) points at even more footage.
– Mindwin
Jan 3 at 17:14
1
@Mindwin I think you mean they can quickly accumulate.
– TheLethalCarrot
Jan 3 at 17:30
5
@Acccumulation That 2.5 hours of viewing includes a number of repeated scenes.
– Barmar
Jan 3 at 19:49
1
@Acccumulation This article says that there are nearly 5 hours of material spread over all possible views. The same can be read in the answer of BCdotWEB
– Kami Kaze
Jan 4 at 13:53
|
show 1 more comment
11
"and at least one path results in a 2.5-hour viewing experience. There are 150 minutes of unique footage" So there's a path that shows all of the footage?
– Acccumulation
Jan 3 at 16:32
2
@Acccumulation you have to account for 10 seconds of "frozen time" between choices. They can quickly add up. Another source (see the answer by BCdotWEB) points at even more footage.
– Mindwin
Jan 3 at 17:14
1
@Mindwin I think you mean they can quickly accumulate.
– TheLethalCarrot
Jan 3 at 17:30
5
@Acccumulation That 2.5 hours of viewing includes a number of repeated scenes.
– Barmar
Jan 3 at 19:49
1
@Acccumulation This article says that there are nearly 5 hours of material spread over all possible views. The same can be read in the answer of BCdotWEB
– Kami Kaze
Jan 4 at 13:53
11
11
"and at least one path results in a 2.5-hour viewing experience. There are 150 minutes of unique footage" So there's a path that shows all of the footage?
– Acccumulation
Jan 3 at 16:32
"and at least one path results in a 2.5-hour viewing experience. There are 150 minutes of unique footage" So there's a path that shows all of the footage?
– Acccumulation
Jan 3 at 16:32
2
2
@Acccumulation you have to account for 10 seconds of "frozen time" between choices. They can quickly add up. Another source (see the answer by BCdotWEB) points at even more footage.
– Mindwin
Jan 3 at 17:14
@Acccumulation you have to account for 10 seconds of "frozen time" between choices. They can quickly add up. Another source (see the answer by BCdotWEB) points at even more footage.
– Mindwin
Jan 3 at 17:14
1
1
@Mindwin I think you mean they can quickly accumulate.
– TheLethalCarrot
Jan 3 at 17:30
@Mindwin I think you mean they can quickly accumulate.
– TheLethalCarrot
Jan 3 at 17:30
5
5
@Acccumulation That 2.5 hours of viewing includes a number of repeated scenes.
– Barmar
Jan 3 at 19:49
@Acccumulation That 2.5 hours of viewing includes a number of repeated scenes.
– Barmar
Jan 3 at 19:49
1
1
@Acccumulation This article says that there are nearly 5 hours of material spread over all possible views. The same can be read in the answer of BCdotWEB
– Kami Kaze
Jan 4 at 13:53
@Acccumulation This article says that there are nearly 5 hours of material spread over all possible views. The same can be read in the answer of BCdotWEB
– Kami Kaze
Jan 4 at 13:53
|
show 1 more comment
The makers decline to offer specifics:
If you ask producer Russell McLean, there are 10 to 12 endings because
some are less definitive. And director David Slade says there are even
“golden eggs” that are so difficult to reach, they may never be
unlocked. “There are scenes that some people just will never see and
we had to make sure that we were OK with that. We actually shot a
scene that we can’t access,” Slade said when the team introduced the
episode to a group of reporters, including THR's, at Netflix’s
headquarters in Los Gatos, California.
Even Netflix says that while there are five “main” endings, there are
multiple variants on each that they are daring viewers to uncover. And
Brooker and Jones are clear as to not “prescribe” one ending over the
others, especially because they couldn’t agree on what exactly defines
one.
“There were quite heated debates about what constitutes an 'ending,'”
says Brooker. “There’s a school of thought that says any time it stops
and you go back, that’s an ending. In Bandersnatch, there are endings
that are really abrupt that are still endings, in my mind.”
Besides, Jones points out: “In a world of parallel realities, maybe
there is no ending?”
iO9 adds:
While this might be frustrating, it doesn’t seem surprising. The
episode reportedly has about five hours of prepared footage. I played
through the entire thing, including all of these endings, to the best
of my ability and capped out around four hours. There are several
places where other Easter eggs could come into the picture, like with
Stefan’s dad’s locked box, or the phone number used to call the
therapist. Plus, some fan sleuths have pointed out behind the scenes
footage that could point to other scenes we haven’t even seen yet.
And for anyone looking to have all the answers handed to them at some
point, I’ve got some bad news: Showrunner Charlie Brooker confirmed to
THR that they will not be releasing a linear version of Black Mirror:
Bandersnatch. What we see now is all we’re going to get.
answered Jan 3 at 15:19
BCdotWEBBCdotWEB
29.1k485126
add a comment |
The makers decline to offer specifics:
If you ask producer Russell McLean, there are 10 to 12 endings because
some are less definitive. And director David Slade says there are even
“golden eggs” that are so difficult to reach, they may never be
unlocked. “There are scenes that some people just will never see and
we had to make sure that we were OK with that. We actually shot a
scene that we can’t access,” Slade said when the team introduced the
episode to a group of reporters, including THR's, at Netflix’s
headquarters in Los Gatos, California.
Even Netflix says that while there are five “main” endings, there are
multiple variants on each that they are daring viewers to uncover. And
Brooker and Jones are clear as to not “prescribe” one ending over the
others, especially because they couldn’t agree on what exactly defines
one.
“There were quite heated debates about what constitutes an 'ending,'”
says Brooker. “There’s a school of thought that says any time it stops
and you go back, that’s an ending. In Bandersnatch, there are endings
that are really abrupt that are still endings, in my mind.”
Besides, Jones points out: “In a world of parallel realities, maybe
there is no ending?”
iO9 adds:
While this might be frustrating, it doesn’t seem surprising. The
episode reportedly has about five hours of prepared footage. I played
through the entire thing, including all of these endings, to the best
of my ability and capped out around four hours. There are several
places where other Easter eggs could come into the picture, like with
Stefan’s dad’s locked box, or the phone number used to call the
therapist. Plus, some fan sleuths have pointed out behind the scenes
footage that could point to other scenes we haven’t even seen yet.
And for anyone looking to have all the answers handed to them at some
point, I’ve got some bad news: Showrunner Charlie Brooker confirmed to
THR that they will not be releasing a linear version of Black Mirror:
Bandersnatch. What we see now is all we’re going to get.
answered Jan 3 at 15:19
BCdotWEBBCdotWEB
29.1k485126
add a comment |
The makers decline to offer specifics:
If you ask producer Russell McLean, there are 10 to 12 endings because
some are less definitive. And director David Slade says there are even
“golden eggs” that are so difficult to reach, they may never be
unlocked. “There are scenes that some people just will never see and
we had to make sure that we were OK with that. We actually shot a
scene that we can’t access,” Slade said when the team introduced the
episode to a group of reporters, including THR's, at Netflix’s
headquarters in Los Gatos, California.
Even Netflix says that while there are five “main” endings, there are
multiple variants on each that they are daring viewers to uncover. And
Brooker and Jones are clear as to not “prescribe” one ending over the
others, especially because they couldn’t agree on what exactly defines
one.
“There were quite heated debates about what constitutes an 'ending,'”
says Brooker. “There’s a school of thought that says any time it stops
and you go back, that’s an ending. In Bandersnatch, there are endings
that are really abrupt that are still endings, in my mind.”
Besides, Jones points out: “In a world of parallel realities, maybe
there is no ending?”
iO9 adds:
While this might be frustrating, it doesn’t seem surprising. The
episode reportedly has about five hours of prepared footage. I played
through the entire thing, including all of these endings, to the best
of my ability and capped out around four hours. There are several
places where other Easter eggs could come into the picture, like with
Stefan’s dad’s locked box, or the phone number used to call the
therapist. Plus, some fan sleuths have pointed out behind the scenes
footage that could point to other scenes we haven’t even seen yet.
And for anyone looking to have all the answers handed to them at some
point, I’ve got some bad news: Showrunner Charlie Brooker confirmed to
THR that they will not be releasing a linear version of Black Mirror:
Bandersnatch. What we see now is all we’re going to get.
answered Jan 3 at 15:19
BCdotWEBBCdotWEB
29.1k485126
The makers decline to offer specifics:
If you ask producer Russell McLean, there are 10 to 12 endings because
some are less definitive. And director David Slade says there are even
“golden eggs” that are so difficult to reach, they may never be
unlocked. “There are scenes that some people just will never see and
we had to make sure that we were OK with that. We actually shot a
scene that we can’t access,” Slade said when the team introduced the
episode to a group of reporters, including THR's, at Netflix’s
headquarters in Los Gatos, California.
Even Netflix says that while there are five “main” endings, there are
multiple variants on each that they are daring viewers to uncover. And
Brooker and Jones are clear as to not “prescribe” one ending over the
others, especially because they couldn’t agree on what exactly defines
one.
“There were quite heated debates about what constitutes an 'ending,'”
says Brooker. “There’s a school of thought that says any time it stops
and you go back, that’s an ending. In Bandersnatch, there are endings
that are really abrupt that are still endings, in my mind.”
Besides, Jones points out: “In a world of parallel realities, maybe
there is no ending?”
iO9 adds:
While this might be frustrating, it doesn’t seem surprising. The
episode reportedly has about five hours of prepared footage. I played
through the entire thing, including all of these endings, to the best
of my ability and capped out around four hours. There are several
places where other Easter eggs could come into the picture, like with
Stefan’s dad’s locked box, or the phone number used to call the
therapist. Plus, some fan sleuths have pointed out behind the scenes
footage that could point to other scenes we haven’t even seen yet.
And for anyone looking to have all the answers handed to them at some
point, I’ve got some bad news: Showrunner Charlie Brooker confirmed to
THR that they will not be releasing a linear version of Black Mirror:
Bandersnatch. What we see now is all we’re going to get.
answered Jan 3 at 15:19
BCdotWEBBCdotWEB
29.1k485126
answered Jan 3 at 15:19
BCdotWEBBCdotWEB
29.1k485126
answered Jan 3 at 15:19
BCdotWEBBCdotWEB
29.1k485126
answered Jan 3 at 15:19
BCdotWEBBCdotWEB
29.1k485126
29.1k485126
add a comment |
add a comment |
2
Downvotes are fine, but it is always helpful to know why. And for those voting to close because it is "opinion based", how so? This is quite like asking about the alternative versions of, say, Blade Runner: it isn't about opinion, it is about concrete material that exists and can be discovered.
– matt_black
Jan 3 at 15:26
17
I absolutely don't see why this gets downvoted and even less how it could remotely be seen as "primarily opinion-based". The amount of footage shot and number of possible paths is a straight fact, no matter if people uninvolved in the production will have a hard time finding out. The nature of this question isn't in any way different from the ones asking what ending is "canon" or how to achieve the "best" ending (which if anything seems more opinion-based than this one). I feel like I'm really missing something here, so maybe the close-voters could enlighten me what's wrong with it.
– Napoleon Wilson♦
Jan 3 at 15:26
1
@JasonPSallinger Yes there is. But it is clearly incomplete; it doesn't represent the complex way past choices influence future options and their content; and doesn't tell us anything about the total amount of content available.
– matt_black
Jan 3 at 16:42
1
There are several flowcharts already published - this terrible british sensationalist ;) newspaper, the Daily Mail links to several
– Tetsujin
Jan 3 at 16:42
2
@CanadianLuke I don't see how. It's related, though.
– Napoleon Wilson♦
Jan 4 at 12:13