20 Minutes into the Future
Encyclopedia
Max Headroom: 20 Minutes into the Future is a 1985 cyberpunk
television movie
created by Chrysalis
Visual Programming Ltd. for Channel 4
in the UK to provide a back story for Max Headroom
, a computer generated TV host. A British produced, yet American broadcast, television series, Max Headroom
, was later developed from the original film.
), a television reporter trying to expose corruption and greed. In the movie, reporter Carter discovers that his employer, Network 23
, has created a new form of subliminal advertising (termed "blip-verts") that can be fatal to certain viewers.
While attempting to flee the network headquarters with proof, Edison suffers a serious head injury, caused by striking a low-clearance sign labeled "Max. Headroom". Believing him killed, the network's chief executive orders Bryce Lynch, an adolescent genius working as a scientist for Network 23, to digitally record Carter's mind. The recording will then be used to create a computer-based replacement for Carter in order to hide his death.
However, Bryce's programme is flawed and apparently broken — burbling "Max Headroom" over and over again (from the last object Carter saw before being knocked out, and the first thing the albeit-primitive Max says while twitching into what would become his smooth latex form). Bryce instructs his hired goons to dispose of both Carter and his virtual clone, but they simply sell them on — Carter to a body bank, and the machine copy to pirate television station owner Blank Reg.
After a bit of nurturing from Reg, the resulting program achieves a somewhat eccentric life of its own, crackling out rapid fire gags, hosting his own show, and sending Reg's ratings through the roof.
Meanwhile, a merely unconscious Carter escapes from becoming a premature organ donor. With the help of colleague Theora Jones (Amanda Pays
), and the distraction provided by Max, Carter eventually defeats Network 23.
television series was developed, titled Max Headroom
. It lasted fourteen episodes during the 1987 - 1988 television season. It was broadcast on ABC. For at least the first episode, some footage from the original Channel 4 movie was used, while others were reshot with American actors. Jeffrey Tambor
was cast as Edison's boss Murray, in the American version. Pablo Cruise guitarist Cory Lerios provided the theme.
The first six episodes (Season 1) were released on VHS and LaserDisc in Japan by RCA/Columbia Home Video Japan (now Sony Pictures Home Entertainment) shortly after ABC cancelled the show. It was released on DVD by Shout! Factory on August 10, 2010, although this set does not contain the original 20 Minutes Into the Future film. According to Shout! Factory, the original film elements have been lost and only standard-definition
tapes exist, so a release on Blu-ray disc
or other high-definition
media is unlikely.
Max Headroom was adapted and used in 1987 by the American cable channel Cinemax
for their own Max Headroom Show called The Original Max Talking Headroom Show.
Cyberpunk
Cyberpunk is a postmodern and science fiction genre noted for its focus on "high tech and low life." The name is a portmanteau of cybernetics and punk, and was originally coined by Bruce Bethke as the title of his short story "Cyberpunk," published in 1983...
television movie
Television movie
A television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...
created by Chrysalis
Chrysalis Group
Chrysalis Group is a UK media company. It was founded by Chris Wright, who remains chairman and was listed the 1,000th richest person in the UK in The Times Rich List 2009...
Visual Programming Ltd. for Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
in the UK to provide a back story for Max Headroom
Max Headroom (character)
Max Headroom is a fictional British artificial intelligence, known for his wit and stuttering, distorted, electronically sampled voice. The character was created by George Stone, Annabel Jankel, and Rocky Morton in the mid nineteen eighties, and portrayed by Matt Frewer as "The World's first...
, a computer generated TV host. A British produced, yet American broadcast, television series, Max Headroom
Max Headroom (TV series)
Max Headroom is a British-produced American science fiction television series by Chrysalis/Lakeside Productions that aired in the United States on ABC from March 1987 to May 1988. The series was based on the Channel 4 British TV pilot Max Headroom: 20 Minutes into the Future...
, was later developed from the original film.
Plot
The film introduces Edison Carter (Matt FrewerMatt Frewer
Matthew "Matt" Frewer is a Canadian American stage, TV and film actor. Acting since 1983, he is known for portraying the 1980s icon Max Headroom and the retired villain Moloch in the film adaptation of Watchmen.-Life and career:...
), a television reporter trying to expose corruption and greed. In the movie, reporter Carter discovers that his employer, Network 23
Network 23
Network 23 may refer to:*Network 23 *Network 23 , a defunct British video game development company*Network 23, a fictional television network on the TV series Max Headroom*"Network 23", a song on the Tangerine Dream album Exit...
, has created a new form of subliminal advertising (termed "blip-verts") that can be fatal to certain viewers.
While attempting to flee the network headquarters with proof, Edison suffers a serious head injury, caused by striking a low-clearance sign labeled "Max. Headroom". Believing him killed, the network's chief executive orders Bryce Lynch, an adolescent genius working as a scientist for Network 23, to digitally record Carter's mind. The recording will then be used to create a computer-based replacement for Carter in order to hide his death.
However, Bryce's programme is flawed and apparently broken — burbling "Max Headroom" over and over again (from the last object Carter saw before being knocked out, and the first thing the albeit-primitive Max says while twitching into what would become his smooth latex form). Bryce instructs his hired goons to dispose of both Carter and his virtual clone, but they simply sell them on — Carter to a body bank, and the machine copy to pirate television station owner Blank Reg.
After a bit of nurturing from Reg, the resulting program achieves a somewhat eccentric life of its own, crackling out rapid fire gags, hosting his own show, and sending Reg's ratings through the roof.
Meanwhile, a merely unconscious Carter escapes from becoming a premature organ donor. With the help of colleague Theora Jones (Amanda Pays
Amanda Pays
-Personal life:Pays was born in London, England, the daughter of Joan , an actress, and Howard Reginald Pays, a talent agent and former actor. She is the niece of former child actress Mandy Miller, after whom she is named. Her first marriage, from 1984 to 1987, was to Peter Kohn, production manager...
), and the distraction provided by Max, Carter eventually defeats Network 23.
Television series
After this film was made, an AmericanUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television series was developed, titled Max Headroom
Max Headroom (TV series)
Max Headroom is a British-produced American science fiction television series by Chrysalis/Lakeside Productions that aired in the United States on ABC from March 1987 to May 1988. The series was based on the Channel 4 British TV pilot Max Headroom: 20 Minutes into the Future...
. It lasted fourteen episodes during the 1987 - 1988 television season. It was broadcast on ABC. For at least the first episode, some footage from the original Channel 4 movie was used, while others were reshot with American actors. Jeffrey Tambor
Jeffrey Tambor
Jeffrey Michael Tambor is an American actor, perhaps best known for his roles as George Bluth Sr. and Oscar Bluth on Arrested Development and Hank Kingsley on The Larry Sanders Show.-Early life:...
was cast as Edison's boss Murray, in the American version. Pablo Cruise guitarist Cory Lerios provided the theme.
The first six episodes (Season 1) were released on VHS and LaserDisc in Japan by RCA/Columbia Home Video Japan (now Sony Pictures Home Entertainment) shortly after ABC cancelled the show. It was released on DVD by Shout! Factory on August 10, 2010, although this set does not contain the original 20 Minutes Into the Future film. According to Shout! Factory, the original film elements have been lost and only standard-definition
Standard-definition television
Sorete-definition television is a television system that uses a resolution that is not considered to be either enhanced-definition television or high-definition television . The term is usually used in reference to digital television, in particular when broadcasting at the same resolution as...
tapes exist, so a release on Blu-ray disc
Blu-ray Disc
Blu-ray Disc is an optical disc storage medium designed to supersede the DVD format. The plastic disc is 120 mm in diameter and 1.2 mm thick, the same size as DVDs and CDs. Blu-ray Discs contain 25 GB per layer, with dual layer discs being the norm for feature-length video discs...
or other high-definition
High-definition video
High-definition video or HD video refers to any video system of higher resolution than standard-definition video, and most commonly involves display resolutions of 1,280×720 pixels or 1,920×1,080 pixels...
media is unlikely.
Max Headroom was adapted and used in 1987 by the American cable channel Cinemax
Cinemax
Cinemax, sometimes abbreviated as simply "Max", is a collection of premium television networks that broadcasts primarily feature films, along with softcore erotica, original action series, documentaries and special behind-the-scenes features. Cinemax is operated by Home Box Office, Inc., a...
for their own Max Headroom Show called The Original Max Talking Headroom Show.