Former MoviePass CEO and co-founder Stacy Spikes is trying his hand at PreShow, a new film platform that would allow users to get free, invite-only movie screenings in theaters.
So far, the company has raised more than $18,000 to solidify its launch and surpassed its $10,000 funding goal on its KickStarter campaign.
To get free movie tickets, users select which film they want to see in theaters within the app, and PreShow plays a 15 to 20-minute video of branded content.
PreShow provides users with a digital credit card that the company uploads money to each time a customer watches an ad. After the card is credited, users can use it to order movie tickets online with no restrictions or blackout dates within the app. Users are free to attend movie showings on Fridays and weekends without worry.
Here’s the catch: PreShow will use facial recognition to track if users are actually watching the ads. The AI monitors the range of attention users are giving to ads. The app will also use facial recognition to unlock, according to CNET.
The video ads will usually contain content from up to three of PreShow’s partners. The company also ensures that although the ads will be tailored to users, their private information will not be shared.
“Privacy is a top concern. Nobody is recorded, no personally identifiable data is shared, all data is aggregated and anonymized to brand partners,” the company said on its KickStarter page. “If a member chooses to opt into a brand offering, they will be connected directly to the brand.”
“Consumer brands increasingly value opportunities that tie to experiences,” Spikes said on his Kickstarter page. “That’s what PreShow offers to [consumers], and that’s how we want Preshow to be perceived.”
PreShow will be available on iOS and Android and is set to officially launch in July.
