‘Invisible’: A rousing all-round thriller in virtual reality
Here's a series that aims to break rules in every direction.
Though it unfolds in 360-degree virtual reality, "Invisible" is a scripted tale of sci-fi corporate treachery that draws from a century's worth of 2-D filmmaking lore.
The first season of five six-minute episodes is a co-production of Samsung, Jaunt, Conde Nast Entertainment and 30 Ninjas, and, sponsored by Lexus, is available free.
But even as it lets viewers roam its panoramic 3-D canvas, "Invisible" spins out a narrative governed not by each viewer but by its filmmakers.
The "Invisible" producers have declared a few of the VR "rules" the series defies in favor of mainstream Hollywood technique: Never move the camera. Never cross-cut between scenes occurring at the same time. Avoid split-screens. And keep the camera poised at a normal eye level. (Instead, at one point, "Invisible" hovers overhead for an aerial shot while, at another moment, it plants the viewer gazing up from a freshly dug grave.)
"Everything about VR is different," says Liman before swiftly backtracking: "If scripted VR was going to work, we knew we were going to have to bring in some of the vocabulary from traditional storytelling."
Like edits.
"I liken VR to being on a subway car, where there are conversations going on all around. You could eavesdrop on any of them. But for someone who wants to tell scripted VR, one of those conversations will be essential—and it has to be so compelling the viewer will be sure to zero in on it and on those characters."
How to spare the viewer from distractions? It all comes down to writing, staging and performances, Liman explains.
"Our goal wasn't a proof of concept for VR," Liman agrees. "It was to tell something fun and entertaining."
See the full story here: http://phys.org/news/2016-10-invisible-rousing-all-round-thriller-virtual.html