{"id":8455,"date":"2015-11-30T13:40:57","date_gmt":"2015-11-30T13:40:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dev.wordpress\/?p=8455"},"modified":"2015-11-30T08:00:01","modified_gmt":"2015-11-30T08:00:01","slug":"virtual-reality-doc-sparks-conversation-about-vr-storytelling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/virtual-reality-doc-sparks-conversation-about-vr-storytelling\/","title":{"rendered":"Virtual Reality Doc Sparks Conversation About VR Storytelling"},"content":{"rendered":"

Virtual Reality remains an untapped power in popular entertainment media, but it\u2019s already drawn huge investments from major companies like Disney and Facebook. And while its place in video games seems like a natural fit, the role of live-action VR in narrative-based storytelling remains to be seen.<\/p>\n

One pair of documentary filmmakers, Eline Jongsma and Kel O\u2019Neill (Jongsma + O\u2019Neill), have recently gained attention for their newest project, \u201cThe Ark,\u201d<\/a> which uses VR technology to tell connected, overlapping stories simultaneously. The project could point to a natural path for storytelling in the immersive new medium.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Ark\u201d centers around the world\u2019s most endangered animal, the Northern White Rhinoceros (only four remain). It juxtaposes two conservation efforts separated by half a globe: one at the San Diego Zoo<\/a> and the other at Kenya\u2019s Ol Pejeta Conservancy. The two storylines, which take drastically different approaches to keeping the rare white rhino alive, are told concurrently, allowing the viewer to alternate as they wish between the timelines.<\/p>\n

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Strategies for VR Storytelling: Juxtaposition and Immersion<\/h4>\n

\u201cThe Ark\u201d represents one of two emerging trends in VR storytelling; both involve overwhelming the audience visually and allowing viewers to choose which details to pay attention to.<\/p>\n

The trend exemplified by the \u201cThe Ark\u201d brings together multiple storylines in a cohesive, overlapping format that allows for an interactive viewing experience, in that the viewer can choose when to pay attention to a particular storyline over another. For instance, Jongsma + O\u2019Neill created a format for a previous project, \u201cThe Empire,\u201d<\/a> where the viewer watches two separate scenes stacked on top of one another. The top scene draws their focus, while the bottom scene is flipped upside down. The audio for the top screen is loud and clear, but the bottom scene can also be heard faintly in the background, making its presence constantly known. The viewer can then alternate the position of the scenes as they like.<\/p>\n

The other type of narrative takes advantage of VR\u2019s immersive quality, creating a 360-degree experience meant to replicate reality. Several mesmerizing projects already exist in this genre. One project, \u201cEVEREST VR,\u201d<\/a> will use 300,000 high-res photos to recreate the experience of climbing Mt. Everest, with the added benefit of not having to risk freezing to death.<\/p>\n

Another VR company, Alchemy, has partnered with Sir David Attenborough to create what promises to be a visually stunning wildlife documentary recreating living organisms over 500 million years ago. Here\u2019s the first trailer for \u201cFirst Life.\u201d<\/p>\n

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'First Life' Trailer: Watch David Attenborough In Virtual Reality<\/div><\/div>
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