Immersive virtual-reality experiences could well be the future of cinema, writes Mathew Scott
THE CUTE LITTLE ALIEN seems doomed.
It’s about five minutes into my first virtual-reality (VR) experience and so far I’ve twice walked into a (real) glass wall with my headset on. I’ve also been talking incessantly to myself and to a helpful VR trainer who has strangely fallen silent as I try to work out how to flick a switch that will save this little creature’s life.
And that’s why it seems like he doesn’t stand a chance. My coordination has failed me as I turn to try to help and I hit the (real) wall again — and swear.
Fortunately, out of the blue, another alien appears and takes control, throwing me a look, and what I can only take to be the interplanetary version of, “WTF!” He flicks the switch on the virtual wall in front of me and he makes sure his little mate survives for another screening.
The headset and hand controls are removed. The VR trainer is now laughing — loudly — and I retreat to the nearby coffee lounge to take stock of the whole VR revolution.
Stop waiting. It’s already arrived. The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) recently hosted what was billed as the largest programme of VR productions yet assembled in Asia — 36 feature films, documentaries and animations.
Step inside, pull on a headset and you can either immerse yourself inside the likes of documentary Under a Cracked Sky — which takes you under Antarctic seas — or experience productions such as Asteroid! that place the viewer inside an animated universe in which you can help save the life of a cute little alien — or at least try to, depending on your wits and your dexterity.
There are panels of VR-industry experts on hand to chart the future of an industry that estimates suggest will be worth around US$75 billion by 2021.
This story is from the January 2018 edition of Prestige Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January 2018 edition of Prestige Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Power To The People
Boucheron creative director Claire Choisne's latest high-jewellery creations are stylish statements of authority and achievement.
Walking into the Blue
Dive into luxury at Depth of Blue, Johnnie Walker Blue Label's first flagship bar in Southeast Asia. Dive into luxury at Depth of Blue, Johnnie Walker Blue Label's first flagship bar in Southeast Asia.
IN THE FLOW
For ANDRÉ FU, travel isn't so much a means of inspiration as it is a way to detach from everyday life to approach his work from fresh perspectives.
CHIC VOLUMES
Impractically oversized but utterly beautiful tomes featuring an eclectic subject, coffee table books serve to kick-start conversations in addition to being subtle avenues of sophisticated self-expression. Here are six titles to consider having on your living room table.
VICTOR OVER TIME
35 years after they broke convention as renegade art students, Phillip Lim catches up with eminent artist SUZANN VICTOR to reminisce about past escapades and how far the artist has come.
Circle of Friends
A Singapore family that has set up a second home in remote Kenya shares their connection with the local communities with guests of their lodge.
VIVE LA WEAVE
Chanel's latest high jewellery collection celebrates the innovation that put her squarely in the pantheon of legendary fashion designers.
VIEW BEYOND THE RACES
For Richard Mille, life in the fast lane is more than just performance-driven machines, it's a profound appreciation for excellence in various forms.
OFF TO THE FAIR
Watch clients are increasingly dropping into Watches and Wonders, a trade fair meant for retailers and media personnel. Here's why.
STEP LIVELY
In the original design of Hermès' Mon Premier Galop shawl by Chinese artist Tong Ren, a horse with an awkward yet happy gait is depicted in simple lines, colour blocks, and decorative-trimming inspired by traditional basketry.
