The inspiration for Easter eggs can be traced to one of the most commonly used key combinations in the computer world, Ctrl-Alt-Delete, which restarts a computer and was developed by David Bradley, one of the original 12 designers on the IBM PC. Bradley inserted the command code for programmers, but a magazine published the shortcut, and the public embraced it. The 4.7GB capacity of DVDs gives developers and film directors more storage space to insert more than just shortcuts. Easter eggs can include segments that weren't part of the theatre release, such as video clips, deleted scenes and messages from directors. James Rocchi, a spokesman for DVD rental Web site Netflix, gives the example of "American Pie 2," in which the uncovered Easter egg shows stars of the movie throwing eggs at the screen. Another example is in the movie "Mallrats." In the DVD movie's system menu, going to the Deleted Scenes icon and pressing the right arrow key on a DVD player lights the eyes of a robot that is in the corner of the screen. If a viewer presses Enter, a video clip of director Kevin Smith starts up in which he chastises viewers for having nothing better to do with their time. "If you're watching this, I bet you thought this was going to be an Easter egg, something hidden. No, nothing, just us sitting here laughing at you as you lie there looking for Easter eggs on a D-V-D," Smith scolds on the DVD. "God almighty, get out there, live, smell the air, sniff a dog...You're looking for Easter eggs? No, no, no. What you should be looking for is apparel." And yet there is another Easter egg on the "Mallrats" DVD: a music video of two key characters in "Mallrats," Jay and Silent Bob, dancing to the song "Build Me Up Buttercup." Going to the MCA Soundtrack Presentations icon and watching the presentation through to the end reveals the hidden video clip. Rocchi called Easter eggs "garnish," adding that the eggs aren't enough of a feature to make a mediocre movie good, but depending on how the eggs are hidden and what they contain, they can make a mediocre movie into an interesting DVD. Besides, there's room on the disc. "One of the exciting things about DVDs is that you can add new features to them, just like with software applications," he said. "And through word of mouth, consumer interest in DVDs can increase."
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