Smart Screen
Vast Media Smart Screen Round-Up: A VR Uprising, Presidential Tweets
Story Highlights
Here’s a run-down of recent second screen-related entertainment items, via Berlin-based research and consulting company Vast Media.
• On July 7, BBC debuted a 13-minute virtual reality documentary, “Easter Rising: Voice of a Rebel,” for the Oculus Rift and Gear VR platforms.
The doc takes viewers into the 1916 Easter Rising, when Irish Republicans declared themselves a new Irish Republic and occupied various spots in Dublin. The experience puts viewers in the shoes of rebel Willie McNeive.
BBC — which created the documentary with production firm VRTOV and filmmaking firm Crossover Labs — tested the VR experience in June, and offers a unique VR experience this time around, with “Easter” being both a documentary and a theater-like showing.
• Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” had fun with President Trump in June by setting up “The Donald J. Trump Presidential Twitter Library” in New York City. Now the comedy show has brought the experience online, allowing viewers the opportunity to tour the President’s best tweets in a VR-based exhibition hall.
The experience including a music track list for viewers to select from, a “Commander-In-Tweet” link, and clips from “The Daily Show.” Also featured is a floor plan for different areas of the VR exhibition hall.
• HBO’s four-part documentary series “The Defiant Ones,” which debuted July 9, was paired up with a web site that allows viewers to make statements about how they’re defying common stereotypes.
The interactive web site introduces viewers to other musicians who’ve defied stereotypes or expectations, and also features unique scenes from the doc. The main feature for viewers is the ability to upload a four-second video of themselves, which is turned into a customized piece of art.
• For the July 18 premiere of season two of “Shooter,” USA Network has released an immersive 360-degree clip that gives viewers a sneak peek at the new season, via a making-of video of one of the pivotal battle scenes in the upcoming season.
The one-minute clip features actor Omar Epps (sniper Isaac Johnson) who shares with viewers how the scene was made.
