UPDATE Friday 1:50 PM ET: This is a disappointment. The webcast is poorly produced. There are all sorts of difficulties with the audio. Mics are overmodulated or poorly placed. Cameras are shaky. This is a major event for a high-profile film, but the production is simply unacceptable. Fans are voicing their displeasure:
Who is the 8th grade class handling the audio & video production of this #AskRogueOne live stream? #RogueOne
— jack tinker📎 (@jacktink) December 2, 2016
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Please fire the sound guys #RogueOne
— Tom Roy (@thejustonemore) December 2, 2016
The audio quality of this @starwars #RogueOne live Q&A is pretty crummy. Was this feed stolen by the Rebels or something??
— Ryan Tomko (@TomkoRyan) December 2, 2016
PREVIOUSLY: Star Wars fans take note: Twitter will be livestreaming a special event Friday ahead of the premiere of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. And it sounds pretty cool. Twitter is teaming up with Disney and People for the show, which will start at 1pm ET/10am PT. Twitter says you can expect footage that hasn’t been seen before from Rogue One, along with Q&A with the film’s director and cast members. According to the Twitter press release:
Fans can submit questions on Twitter for the cast to answer during the event by Tweeting with #AskRogueOne. Fans can also Tweet with the following hashtags and a Star Wars Twitter emoji will automatically appear: #RogueOne, #DeathStar, #StarWars and #StarWarsRogueOne.
The event will be streamed at RogueOne.Twitter.com, in Twitter Moments and at the Twitter handles @StarWars and @People. The Star Wars feed is offering this option for a reminder:
RT to receive a reminder when the #RogueOne: A @StarWars Story cast goes LIVE on Friday, 12/2 at 1PM ET. pic.twitter.com/40pOjRRi5M
— Star Wars (@starwars) November 29, 2016
This is another big test for Twitter as it continues to push into live video. The past few months have seen successful efforts in streaming the NFL and presidential politics. This event is an exclusive – and a smart move from all parties concerned. Rogue One has big shoes to fill. Last year’s Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens set all sorts of box office records, including the fastest film to gross $1 billion. This is the first “spinoff” Star Wars film, part of a bigger plan Disney made when it acquired Lucasfilm in 2012 for more than $4 billion. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story opens in theaters December 16. Pre-sale tickets are available now.