MGM bets on tech startup Interlude to bring game-like interactivity to film

Traditional media companies are looking to cutting-edge technologies to give them an advantage in the future of content production, and that doesn’t always mean virtual reality or mobile games.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios (MGM), the company responsible for James Bond and Creed, announced today that it led an $18.2 million investment round in technology startup Interlude. This new company is developing a video tech that can understand a person’s emotions and interests and respond appropriately to them. While MGM led the investment round, it also saw participation from Warner Music Group and Samsung along with Sequoia Capital and Intel, which both put money into Interlude in a previous round. The big leap forward here is that traditional film companies can focus on the things they do best, such as character development and storytelling, while also getting the advantages of an engaged audience that interactive mediums like video games enjoy.