Embrace the VR Future
By: Anthony Zangrillo
“VR is a religious experience.” I often heard this phrase on Kinda Funny’s PS I LOVE YOU XOXO podcast. Every week video game aficionados Colin Moriarty and Greg Miller would faun over the media-changing virtual reality technology. At New York Comic Con, I had the opportunity to experience a short tidbit of this interesting tech in the “Locke and Key” demonstration presented by Audible. I thought it was impressive, but felt it was a little gimmicky and was not entirely sold on the lasting impact of the VR movement. Now, after experiencing the “Virtual Arcade” at the Tribeca Film Festival, I am a full convert to the “Church of VR.” Every virtual experience at Tribeca taught me new ways that VR can transcend the public’s current consumption of media. This exhibition has thoroughly convinced me that VR is the wave of the future.
When I first entered the display floor, I noticed a fascinating demonstration devoted to the outer space star Pluto, presented by the New York Times. This feature involved the Oculus software that utilizes a smartphone in its presentation. I was shocked by the total immersion, resulting from the snippet of this adventure into outer space. From the onset, audiences will feel involved in the demonstration. As a satellite careens through the depths of space, you are in total control of where to look. Do you gaze upon the imminently approaching satellite or let your mind wander into the depths of the abyss? Throughout the presentation, I greatly preferred this medium of educational information than the epic but slowly paced IMAX features. Thankfully, I was seated in a fully rotational chair, otherwise, I would’ve wanted to skip along the rocky surface of this gargantuan star.
With an excited smile on my face, I walked away from the experience without a hint of dizziness. Moreover, there was no doubt in my mind that this movement was not a marketing fad, like 3-D. VR is a key element of these experiences and transforms a mere visual display into a living, active experience. I had the great opportunity to experience other visual demonstrations that enabled me to walk on the coral reef as I heard about the dangerous eradication of the ocean floor and walks along Skid Row, witnessing a cultural renaissance in painting. Both of these demonstrations had a culturally resonant message that amplified the importance of this technology. If videos convey certain messages better than audio alone, imagine the potential of the VR medium. Not only will certain images stay in your mind after the credits roll, but you will remember your own personal involvement with the story’s presentation.
Some may question whether this tech can have the same impact in a typical narrative presentation. To that skepticism, I would suggest experiencing “Holidays: Christmas VR,” featuring Seth Green. For a portion of the feature, you are in a virtual movie theater watching the film. Yet when a character in the piece utilizes a VR headset you see exactly what they experience. This “thriller” provides snippets of every type of experience you can imagine, ranging from a space walk on Mars, a night-time fantasy, a victim of a medical emergency, and even a little horror mutilation. The editing of these scenes amplify the storytelling techniques of the piece. When I first witness a specific careless act, my reaction was much tamer compared to my view of the despicable act from the victim’s point of view. While I shamefully did not have time to experience “Killer Deal,” this horror VR had exhibited screams and shrieks from its booth throughout the course of the day. MPC correspondent Andres remarked that even he was scared from the demonstration at one point, tempting him to close his eyes.
All of these features prepared me for the interactive encounters also residing on the show floor. My first interactive experience of the day transported me to the middle of a psychedelic dance party in “Old Friend.” Tyler Hurd the creator of the experience described it as a “reactive” endeavor, advising me to “have a lot of fun.” This feature completely blew me away. As soon as the short started, I gazed down to find myself transformed with stretchy arms and legs that wobble with the beat of the music. After that shocking revelation, the presentation slowly amplifies in intensity utilizing a kaleidoscope of vivid colors. As a marching band leader leads the goofy dancers, VR users will have no choice but to submit to the music and dance along with the fun and trippy presentation. Latching onto one of the dancers provides a funny effect, which should delight users. The climax of the presentation showcases strong narrative elements combined with a wide scope of VR’s possible display. After “Old Friend,” I want to experience all music videos with the help of VR, placing myself in the middle of the lively music.
Another interesting animation piece that had consistently popular lines was the “INVASION!” demonstration, featuring the voice of Ethan Hawke. As you put on the headset, you are transported to outer space immediately outside of Earth’s orbit. A UFO speeds past your display, when suddenly you are brought to an icy lake back on Earth. Noticing a Pixar-style bunny across the lake, I looked down to discover a similar bunny body replacing my arms and legs. As the UFO descends, a comedic sketch occurs between these space invaders and the fluffy protagonists. While I didn’t feel that this feature revolutionized the underlying material, it was still a fun experience.
Finally, my favorite VR experience was Dragonflight. In this interactive demonstration, you bow before a dragon and ride on top of the mythical beast, reducing fortified castles to ash with fireballs from the skies above. This experience provided the greatest level of interactivity. I felt totally in control of the scaly dragon, fighting amongst other dragons in the limitless skies. This “simple” demonstration has enormous potential in the video game and theme park landscape. Just imagine a VR-dedicated attraction in the “Wizarding World of Harry Potter” at Universal Studios, further immersing audiences into the fictional universe.
To conclude this article, I will leave you with a quote from Genna Terranova, Tribeca Film Festival Director: “Today, virtual reality offers a new landscape for creating world and stories. At its best it can be a powerful vehicle for magically transportive explorations that test the limits of ours imaginations and psyches.”
Also, here’s a clip of Tribeca Film Festival Founder Robert De Niro discussing VR on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon:
