Want to see the future of film? Check out "The Onyx Project." A small independent film company has made a film for computer viewing that blends the standard cinematic storytelling with the popular shuffle feature in iPods. It's an experiment in nonlinear storytelling. Whaa?

The film tells the story of one Col. Robert Henderson who undertakes a rogue mission in Afghanistan that goes terribly wrong. Henderson is played by David Strathairn who won an Oscar nomination last year for his role as Edward R. Murrow in "Good Night, and Good Luck." Nice.

Using a new software program called NAV, viewers are constantly being presented with fresh links to click (some are highlighted to encourage heading in a particular direction, or a shuffle link can be selected) that serve as a departure point from one scene to the next. One idea behind the venture is that no two viewers may see the movie unfold in the same way.

Choose your own adventure meets the digital age? We're for it. Even at the price of $23.95, there's nothing like being on the cutting edge of film. The movie is meant to use fairly straightforward software concepts to take storytelling beyond such interactive stalwarts as video-gaming and bonus features on DVD's. It's a movie YOU create.

The New York Times has a great article on the whole project, which we're shocked about. The NYT is always so behind - always. Bravo.

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