Netflix now lets Android users speed up movies – to the outrage of filmmakers
Netflix is testing a feature that lets you watch movies and TV shows at up to 1.5 times the normal speed – and the film industry isn’t happy about it.
The option to tweak playback speed is currently being tested with Android users, reports Android Police. It lets viewers play videos between 0.5 and 1.5 times the usual speed.
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The ability to view in slow-motion will be welcomed by eagle-eyed viewers who want to capture every moment of a scene, or for anyone wanting to check a minor detail. Alternatively, if you’re pushed for time and looking to cram in as many episodes as possible into a weekend, faster playback will be a real boon.
Filmmakers fight back
Filmmakers, however, are not pleased. Angered auteurs include Peyton Reed, direct of Ant-Man, who expressed his frustration on Twitter.
Reed isn’t alone in his disapproval of Netflix’s tinkering with artists’ work. Actor Aaron Paul was similarly shocked, saying: “Stop. As the person talked about in this article I felt the need to speak out. There is NO WAY Netflix will move forward with this. That would mean they are completely taking control of everyone else’s art and destroying it. Netflix is far better than that. Am I right Netflix?”
Filmmaker and actor Judd Apatow didn’t mince his words expressing his opinion of the idea, either.
It’s important to note that, at the moment, this is not only limited to the Netflix Android app, but also that it is an experiment; it may not be around for long, and it ma not make its way to iOS and web users.
In a statement about the feature, Netflix said: “We’re always experimenting with new ways to help members use Netflix. This test makes it possible to vary the speed at which people watch shows on their mobiles. As with any test, it may not become a permanent feature on Netflix”.
It remains to be seen whether viewers like the idea of being able to speed through seasons of shows faster, or believe Netflix should stop playing with time.