The unique buying proposition of a service like Yoostar unique, above and beyond its proprietary green screen technology, is how it markets its clips. By way of an explanation, the company distributes one to four minute clips of various movies that have a significant following. This means, someone using their service could buy a John Belushi “four pack” of clips, allowing said person to project himself or herself into four of Belushi’s most beloved clips.
For all intents and purposes, this means, the subscriber has access to four scenes of John Belushi’s character, Jake Blues, in The Blues Brothers. This access entails transposing Mr. Belushi to play out his dialogue and mannerisms via green screen. While this may strike some people as rather odd, after all, you paid good money to watch Belushi act, it would be more advantageous to view this as something of new kind of karaoke.
In much the same manner as a karaoke machine, the software that comes standard with this kit allows the user to follow the dialogue and time his response appropriately. The lines play out on screen, like a karaoke machine and the end result is a strange kind of third product. What is rendered on your PC or Mac is a version of your favorite film, but starring you or someone you love. While it can be disorienting, ultimately, it tends to be quite a crowd-pleaser.
Surrounding this nifty gadget is a social media community that rates and comments on the submitted clips. If your turn as Jake Blues was lacking gusto or timing, you are quite sure to hear from the online community. It is not too unlike a kind of YouTube for the green screening crowd.
Strange as it may sound, as one may be inclined to think celebrities would not want to see themselves transported, these units have made the rounds of celebrity gift baskets and morning talk shows alike. Perhaps this is a testament to our unbridled fascination with film and the possibility of being projected into one. The power of film, in the end, is the power to pull us into a narrative and desire to be a part of that world.
The only way to truly understand and appreciate what Yoostar is trying to do is to sample it and become a member of its online community.