Virtual Reality in Cinema

Cinema has allowed us to be transported back in time, explore unknown planets and even find out what our toys get up to when no one’s around. In recent years, technological innovation has meant cinemagoers can become even more immersed in the stories they see on screen. One development in particular is virtual reality (VR) and now, for the first time, film-makers have at their disposal a range of revolutionary VR tools to help craft their movies.

Marketers, broadcasters, engineers, artists and architects are already onto VR. But the question being contemplated by movie executives is whether the VR revolution will catch the imagination of the public – or will a future where we strap boxes to our faces in the cinema aisles be too embarrassing?

Cinema is a spectacle. It’s a social experience you simply can’t get at home. It’s why we pay a premium for it. While home entertainment systems have improved considerably in recent years, the cinema industry has also upped its game. It’s now common for film goers to enjoy advanced digital 3D and 4K projections, complete with surround sound. But today’s digitally-savvy consumers want more – as do the film-makers. This is where VR comes into play. We’re already seeing huge changes to consumer technology as a result of affordable VR headsets such as the Oculus Rift and the Samsung Gear VR. While originally designed for the gaming community, they represent a quantum shift in technology that’s already changing expectations and experiences of going to the cinema.

During the Sundance Film Festival, Oculus announced that they will be launching the Oculus Story Studio. They claim that they will be releasing their first VR movie, Lost. Also they hope to use this Studio to provide VR advice and expertise to those who are interested in hopes to make this technology accepted by the public. 

With creations like this, cinemas will inevitably need to respond. While the big Hollywood studios will still primarily decide what we get to watch, this technology will soon become to popular for them to ignore. Overall, we’re going to see some incredible, transformative technology incorporated into entertainment inside and outside the home and I can not wait to see the future of Virtual Reality, especially in cinema.