Watch, laugh, text

Thursday, Jan. 26 — It’s a common experience among moviegoers to notice that one guy who uses his phone throughout the entire film. Well, maybe it’s not always a guy, and maybe she’s only occasionally checking her phone — but it’s still annoying when, quite frankly, you’d rather be paying attention to the on-screen kiss.
However, cell phone usage at the Laugh Out Loud Short Film Fest is more than encouraged: It’s asked for.Fest director Joe Edick has decided to incorporate text messaging as a way for viewers to vote on which films will be awarded the best short comedy and audience-choice awards. Patrons will, however, have to wait until the end of the program to do their texting.
Edick has compiled 17 short comedies from six countries and the total running time is just under two hours.
The Laugh Out Loud Short Film Fest shows at 3 and 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and at 3 p.m. Sunday at Celebration! Cinema, 200 E. Edgewood Blvd., Lansing; and at 11 p.m. Friday, 11:15 p.m. Saturday, and at 7 and 9:30 p.m. Wednesday at NCG Eastwood Cinemas, 2500 Showtime Dr., Lansing.