ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

9 years, 8 months ago - Karel Bata

"compelling at first, but got old after awhile"

Those of us working in 3D are well familiar that. And I do wonder if, without some very compelling content, VR will suffer the same peak and trough.

To me good film-makers are like novelists - they lead you by the hand: look at this; now this; see how this person reacts; now take a closer look... And it's all done with shot selection and editing. With VR you throw a lot of that away.

A lot of people talk about how sound will step in and save the day. I really don't think so - you're asking a LOT technically, there's huge variance in people's ability to resolve 3-dimensional audio stereo images correctly (and with only a pair of domestic headphones?), and to punctuate dramas periodically with noises that grab your attention would get annoying very quickly.

Here's a couple of recent examples of interesting VR (click and drag inside the screen):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePf7mQJ3IvE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7EH4K2UJ0g

The first is fun and has caused some excitement. It took a lot of takes. There's a 'making of' link there. I think this would be great as a promo for a feature, but from a narrative point of view in a longer drama it's somewhat limiting.
The latter is made by a friend of mine. Most of it from a drone! 6/7 GoPros. He's working on a 3D rig.

9 years, 8 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

Just watched a 'Clash of Clans' VR animated advert on my phone. No idea where I'm supposed to 'look' so see stuff after it passes, and was in a constant state of knowing I was likely missing something in the other ~300° field of view the whole time. Seemed a great example of how not to do it,

9 years, 8 months ago - Andy Conway

The experiment began long before Lady in the Lake. Reuben Mamoulian directed a large section of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde in first person POV in 1931.

9 years, 8 months ago - Dan Selakovich

Lady in the Lake. Wow, brings back memories. Love Chandler. Saw this film ages ago. If I remember correctly, compelling at first, but got old after awhile.

9 years, 8 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

First person storytelling, a bit like 'Peep Show', only entirely different! (Incidentally, I don't know really why Peep Show maintain that gimmick, it's the writing and acting that make it funny - it's not like Armstrong and Bain haven't got other great writing credits)

I'm a bit unsure how you can tell a story when you can't direct the concentration of the watcher - I'm guessing careful use of surround sound can give audio cues where to look, so might be good for the audience being attacked by zombies!

I guess my problem with VR as I've seen it is that it's quite a solitary experience within a shared world, so not really a cinema thing. I think augmented reality is an interesting advancement, that could have more legs. If nothing else it'll be interesting to see how people approach trying to make it a real platform

9 years, 8 months ago - Karel Bata

That's the problem. I'd rather be a passive observer.
Maybe there something immersive on a deeper level about that..?

9 years, 8 months ago - Susi Arnott

Sound and perspective/point of view: https://vimeo.com/104596232 'Timecode' from Mike Figgis played beautifully with some of these ideas, and at some screenings he live-mixed the 4 interweaving soundtracks to attract attention to specific points of view in turn. Would be interesting to see it on a more wrap-around screen!