Cal made a little wincing face. "Well, there's been more of a focus on live plays, and holovids lack some of the color and vibrancy of what I've seen from movies," he said. "But we also have a regime in place that cares less about people's happiness and more about control, so there aren't advancements being made in anything except weapons right now."

It wasn't the best small talk, but he didn't want to be dishonest.