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{{distinguish|Social problem film}}
A '''social film''' is a type of [[Interactive cinema|interactive film]] that is presented through the lens of [[social media]]. A social film is distributed digitally and integrates with a [[social networking service]], such as [[Facebook]] or [[Google+]]. It combines features of [[web video]], [[social network game]]s and social media.

== Key elements ==
Social films are a recent phenomenon and, in turn, there are few precedents for their format. Regardless, the medium has certain identifiable elements:
*Casual entertainment
*Social media
*User-generated content
*[[Game mechanics]]

Using a combination of these factors, a social film engages viewers to interact directly with the work, be it through social media functionality like comments and ranking or adding directly to the narrative itself.

Just as with [[Internet meme|memes]], social film distribution relies on the [[viral phenomenon|viral]] spread enabled by social media. This is based on the viral expansion loops model,<ref name="My Film Has a Virus? WTF?">[http://blogs.indiewire.com/tedhope/archives/guest_post_hal_siegel_my_film_has_a_virus_wtf/ Guest Post: Hal Siegel “My Film Has a Virus? WTF?” > Hope for Film]</ref> in which a viewer benefits from sharing the application with friends, exponentially creating new viewers compelled to share the application.<ref name="The Four Viral App Objectives (a.k.a., “Social network application virality 101″)">[http://framethink.wordpress.com/2008/01/15/the-four-viral-app-objectives-aka-social-network-application-virality-101/ The Four Viral App Objectives (a.k.a., “Social network application virality 101″) « FrameThink]</ref>

== History ==
The first social film, ''[[Him, Her and Them]]'' was produced and released by [[Murmur (company)|Murmur]] in April 2011. It was distributed exclusively through Facebook and promoted as the first “Facebook film.”<ref name="Him, Her and Them — The First Ever Facebook Film">[http://www.thecreatorsproject.com/blog/ihim-her-and-themi-mdash-the-first-ever-facebook-film Him, Her and Them — The First Ever Facebook Film | The Creators Project]</ref> The film is composed of short video clips and interactive slideshows, integrating Facebook's [[Social Graph]] API. Users participate via text-based additions to the story, which are viewable only by friends within their social network.

Other examples of social film include ''[[lonelygirl15]]'', which used YouTube posts to create an interactive video series about a fictional character, and Ron Howard's ''[[Project Imagin8ion]]'', where a photo contest was used as the basis for a short film.

In July 2011, [[Intel]] and [[Toshiba]] partnered together to create Hollywood's first Social Film experience, a thriller called ''[[Inside (social film)|Inside]]'', directed by [[D.J. Caruso]] and starring [[Emmy Rossum]]. The project is broken up into several segments across multiple social media platforms including [[Facebook]], [[YouTube]], and [[Twitter]]. In this instance, the audience is challenged to help Emmy Rossum's character, Christina, safely make it out of the room she's been trapped in.<ref>[http://www.fastcompany.com/1766296/intel-and-toshiba-partner-for-social-film-experiment Inside Intel And Toshiba's Social Film | Fast Company]</ref> This particular form of social film is a major undertaking in that it combines social media activity with A-list acting talent to create a user experience that all happens in real time.

Although not quite the same idea, Hollywood has been experimenting with the idea of interactive and [[crowdsourcing|crowd-sourced]] films. For example, [[Ridley Scott]]'s ''[[Life in a Day (2011 film)|Life in a Day]]'', is a documentary style feature, which strives to be the largest crowd-sourced feature film ever created.

In August 2012, Intel and Toshiba partnered again to create ''[[The Beauty Inside (2012 film)|The Beauty Inside]]'', directed by [[Drake Doremus]], starring [[Mary Elizabeth Winstead]] and [[Topher Grace]]. It's Hollywood's first social film that gives everyone in the audience a chance to play Alex, the lead role. The experience will be broken up into six filmed episodes interspersed with real-time interactive storytelling that all takes place on Alex's Facebook timeline.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.fastcocreate.com/1681288/director-drake-doremus-seeks-the-beauty-inside-for-toshiba-and-intel | title= DIRECTOR DRAKE DOREMUS SEEKS "THE BEAUTY INSIDE" FOR TOSHIBA AND INTEL|work=Fast Company}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url= http://creativity-online.com/work/inteltoshiba-the-beauty-inside-trailer/28559| title= Another Social Film Experience|work=Creativity Online}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url= http://mashable.com/2012/07/25/topher-grace-intel-toshiba/| title= Topher Grace to Star in Intel and Toshiba's Social Film|work=Mashable}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url= http://adage.com/article/creativity-pick-of-the-day/intel-toshiba-team-social-film-project-beauty-inside/236283/| title= INTEL AND TOSHIBA TEAM UP FOR SECOND SOCIAL FILM PROJECT, "THE BEAUTY INSIDE" |work=AdAge}}</ref>

In August 2013, Intel and Toshiba released their third entry into the category, ''[[The Power Inside]]'', directed by Will Speck and Josh Gordon and starring Harvey Keitel, Analeigh Tipton, and Craig Roberts. It's Hollywood's first social film that asks the audience to audition to help save or destroy the world. The experience is broken up into six filmed episodes interspersed with user-generated content and interactive storytelling on the main character's Facebook timeline.

In 2015, Intel partnered with [[Dell]] for their fourth entry, ''[[What Lives Inside]]'' directed by [[Robert Stromberg]] and starring [[Colin Hanks]], [[Catherine O'Hara]], and [[J. K. Simmons]]. The first of four episodes was released on [[Hulu]] on March 25, 2015.

== References ==

{{Reflist}}


[[Category:Film genres]]
[[Category:Social media]]
[[Category:Films about social media| ]]

Social film - Revision history

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article