In Praise of Play
If you would like to experience one of the most awkward social situations, try to involve a crowd of friends and family — or complete strangers for that matter — in a parlor game. Yes, well, perhaps they are no long called parlor games. I believe the new marketing term of choice is home entertainment. Be that as it may, I take you understand the gist of my premise: getting people to participate is a challenge.
Growing up, my parents shunned the television set and encouraged us, their loyal brood, to play. No, not video games — not computer role-playing games — but play games. We were treated to games of charade, recitations of Shakespeare, and your ubiquitous selection of board games. Perhaps this is indicative of the times, or my parents deep distrust of popular culture, but something extraordinary happened on the frequent occasion that they hosted a soiree: people played games.
There is a fine art to choosing the right parlor game to fit the temperament of the crowd. Should your guests be more of the wall flower type, you would be ill-advised to start an animated game of charades. No, for the timid a rollicking few rounds of pictionary are in order. Should your guests be a tad more adventuresome, you may want to consider karaoke, or a few rounds of Yoostar.
Certainly many of you are familiar with pictionary from its day time incarnation as Win, Lose, or Draw. Most of you, I’m sure, may not understand what a game of Yoostar entails. First and foremost, I am simply using the brand name to refer to a game that I have extrapolated from the service. This service involves the use of a green screen and easy-to-use software to figuratively beam yourself into the film.
You and your guests can choose which film excerpt to cue up. Presently, there are approximately 20 clips to choose from, including the perennial Casablanca. Now, you assign roles in any colorful, random manner, and then position the actors in front of the green screen. Once the software is prepared, someone yells action and the first actor to flub his or her lines is out of the competition. Yes, it is the best of charades set to a cinephile’s wildest dreams. Enjoy.
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