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Issue link: https://digital.macdirectory.com/i/1134553
are developing a nice niche. "Imagine you're on a long flight to somewhere, you've watched a 2.5-hour film, an episode of your favorite hour procedural episodic and you have 15 minutes until landing. Now you'll have something to watch before you land! Please Tell Me I'm Adopted!" VR Episodic We've watched VR (Virtual Reality) grow from a fun curiosity into a wide-ranging informational, educational, entertainment solution over the past four years to the point where it is widely accepted by professionals, filmmakers and viewers. But what really convinced us was the Doug Liman's (The Bourne Journey) release of a VR episodic series, Invisible, that was done by Lewis Smithingham, of 30 Ninjas. Invisible broke a lot of new ground for VR filmmaking and Lewis and his team had to develop a lot of the hardware and software tools for the project, which have since been refined and are standard fare for the RV filmmaker. If you haven't seen it, grab an HMD (head- mounted display) and enjoy, http://tinyurl.com/y68m6mr6. "Invisible broke new ground and established new rules," Smithingham said. "It proved you can script a VR storyline and give the viewer audio/visual cues to guide him/her through the story. Tolerance for editing is directly related to the quality of storytelling but it isn't easy, even with the improved and advanced tools we have now. Even now, there are things that happen in Invisible you don't see in other VR series. Fast editing, action, immersive lighting and parallel editing are things folks are comfortable with today." For the project, Liman gave Smithingham the freedom to break all the established VR guidelines and define new rules that would deliver something new, different and refreshing for the viewer. Because of the constant iteration, the shooting schedule was 25 days over 7 months. Smithingham explained that in the VR universe people are able to look in any direction, which can be a little disorienting but that Liman and he had developed new ways to guide the viewers gaze/experience using sounds, images and transitions throughout the film. The series is set in modern- day Manhattan where the dynastic Ashland family has passed on a gene that gives them an extraordinary ability to accumulate vast amounts of power and wealth until the "unique ability" is threatened to be exposed. Lewis noted that "standard" techniques are still being developed as people like Andrew Shulkind, Andy Cochrane and 30 Ninjas keep pushing the envelope on the technology, what it can do and what VR filmmakers can do. "We're increasingly blending VR, AR and MR as well as delving into volumetric production, which is opening up breathtaking new opportunities for viewer involvement and interaction," he said. "Invisible has stood the test of time and it is still a series of VR shorts that people enjoy visiting again and again; but in the next few years, we will take people to a new environment, a new world that they couldn't imagine--even in their wildest dreams. "It's awesome and will be even more exciting and immersive for people who experience it," he said. "It's a dimension beyond dimensions and I think it's going to be the go-to place for people that short-form episodics will enable them to visit for 10 minutes, return to the real world and then jump back in to a new experience or continue on the path they were on before. If you liked Ready Player One, which was great to watch tomorrow's VR and volumetrics, will deliver all of that and more." We're not sure about you, but we're looking forward to experiencing the new work…10 minutes at a time! Rethinking Ads The combination of fast, condensed storylines, a shorter attention span and a continued interest in free content have made channel partners and marketers rethink the design and flow of ads to make them effective. Go Together – The focused message of a sizzling steak and Texas says all meat lovers need to understand … that steak and bourbon just might make the perfect meal. Source – Ralph Smith Entertainment