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Hollywood Turns To Oculus Rift Virtual Reality(Sky News (UK) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) The initial focus of Oculus Rift may have been on virtual reality gaming but they are now making room for it in Hollywood. The Banshee Chapter is a horror film out just in time for an immersive Halloween scare - and it's also the first feature-length flick to use Oculus hardware. Produced by Star Trek actor and producer Zachary Quinto, its makers have teamed up with virtual-reality experts Jamwix to give the film a VR overhaul, creating software that gives the viewer the sensation of being inside the movie. Film critic Rebecca Perfect explained to Sky News why Hollywood are now experimenting with Oculus to boost the film experience. "I think it’s an exciting time. We are at the stage where we are trying it out on maybe not so well-known films at the moment but have so much hype to see how audiences take to it. "I think it’s a clever strategy. Whether or not it’s seen as maybe a gimmick to start off with is probably a surface reaction. "I'm sure that studios, directors, those who want to embrace new technology have more of a long-term strategy being played out to think about what we are going to want in the future because everything is changing so often." Unlike the regular Oculus Rift experience, the VR version of The Banshee Chapter is limited to a 120 degree field of view, rather than a full 360 degree shot. This means you'll be able to look around a scene, but you won't be able to see behind the camera. Studios have also been experimenting with offering shorter virtual experiences to help market new releases. The Oculus Rift head gear was made available to people in cinemas to help promote Christopher Nolan's new sci-fi epic Interstellar. But with the added hardware costs needed for a headset-per-person viewing, can we expect virtual reality films to become more mainstream in the near future? Pocket-Lint news editor Luke Edwards told Sky News: "Oculus Rift headsets in cinemas isn’t something we are going to see soon in the way that 3D glasses are given out as you go in. I can’t see that happening for quite some years. "The Oculus Rift kit itself is still a developmental bit of kit and is not yet commercially available. "Maybe cinemas will adopt it, maybe that's a way of transmitting new types of film but, until there's film content to go on the headsets, I can't see cinemas spending the money on the hardware to implement something that isn't there." So if you’re hoping for a dose of virtual reality along with your popcorn and pick 'n' mix, you'll have to wait. The personal headsets are yet to hit the shelves and filmmakers are still dabbling with the idea of including it in the final cut. (c) Sky News 2014 |