Several filmmakers and actors have expressed their anger towards Netflix over a new feature that allows viewers to speed up or slow down its shows and movies.
The feature, which is currently on trial and allows mobile users to view Netflix content at different speeds, has invited criticism and anger from filmmakers and actors.
According to Knocked Up's Judd Apatow, who is also the creator of the Netflix series Love, the said feature was "ridiculous and insulting". Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse co-director Peter Ramsey added: "Does everything have to be designed for the laziest and most tasteless?"
Meanwhile director Brad Bird, whose films include The Incredible and Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, tweeted: "Whelp— another spectacularly bad idea, and another cut to the already bleeding-out cinema experience. Why support & finance filmmakers visions on one hand and then work to destroy the presentation of those films on the other???"
Breaking Bad actor Aaron Paul wrote in a tweet: "Stop. As the person talked about in this article I felt the need to speak out. There is NO WAY @netflix will move forward with this. That would mean they are completely taking control of everyone else’s art and destroying it. Netflix is far better than that. Am I right Netflix?"
In response to the issue, Netflix vice-president Keela Robinson released a statement saying: "We regularly test new features that could help improve Netflix. This last test has generated a fair amount of feedback - both for and against. This is a mobile only test and gives people the ability to vary the speed at which they watch on phones or tablets."
"It's a feature that has long been available on DVD players - and has been frequently requested by our members. For example, people looking to rewatch their favourite scene or wanting to go slower because it's a foreign language title," Robinson added.
