VR videos and movies are becoming increasingly popular these days. It may be common to see people enjoying their cinema time while wearing VR headsets and sitting on chairs that move and vibrate.
What makes VR movies popular? And what potential can VR movies bring to the world besides great entertainment?
VR movies are popular due to the immersiveness and realism it brings, enhancing the viewing experience. They promise to bring an additional dimension to storytelling, allowing viewers to make decisions that may have consequences for the story. VR movies may also be used in therapy and education.
This article explores VR movies and how they are different from regular movies. It will also explore why VR movies are becoming more popular with producers and viewers and the potential they bring to the world.
What is a VR Movie?
VR movies are extended VR videos intending to tell a story. It is usually watched wearing a VR headset. Some may be enjoyed better in VR theater, where seats may vibrate and move based on what is happening in the movie. VR movies offer exciting new possibilities for storytelling.
VR (Virtual Reality) movies are videos of movies that allow you to experience a deeper immersion and realism in a computer-generated environment.
When viewing VR movies, you may be able to view them live. This means you can view the environment and explore the virtual world, which is not doable in regular 2D movies. This is commonly done by moving the head around.
Many VR movies also feature a sort of interactivity, where you can make decisions during the movie, possibly affecting the outcome of the movie you are watching. This may be done using the hand controllers with your 3D headset.
One of the earliest VR movies produced was Henry (2015). It is about a hedgehog that is celebrating his birthday. It was produced by Oculus, one of the most popular VR technology companies.
The movie showcases how VR can change filmmaking in many ways, such as storytelling in a first-person manner and allowing users a very immersive experience.
How Are VR Videos Different From Regular Videos?
VR movies can differ from regular 2D movies, such as immersive experience, perspective, interactivity, viewpoint, production time, equipment needed, and cost. These differences eventually resulted in a different viewing experience and production challenges for moviemakers.
| Aspects | VR Movie | Regular 2D Movie |
| Immersive Experience | Allows you to experience a higher degree of realism. | Less immersive compared to VR movies. |
| Perspective | Fluid | Fixed |
| Interactivity | It may allow you to make decisions that may alter the movie’s storyline. | You merely spectate and do not have an influence on the storyline. |
| Equipment | Requires a VR vision kit such as a headset. Some VR movies may use specific chairs and speakers. | No specialized equipment is required. |
In general, VR movies and regular 2D movies are different in many ways and may affect the experience of movie watchers. The differences may also be a challenge to moviemakers and directors, as there are now additional factors to consider when producing movies.
Immersive Experience
Generally, VR movies provide a deeper immersive experience to the viewers and 2D movies. This is because, in VR movies, watchers can be ‘inside’ a movie’s character.
Perspective
In 2D movies, you are limited in perspective. You can only watch the movie or scene based on what the director gives you. VR movies allow you to change the movie’s perspective as you see fit.
Depending on your viewpoint during the scene in a movie, you may be looking at the scene from a totally different perspective.
Interactivity
In 2D movies, you simply become a passive spectator. You sit down, watch the movie, and exactly follow the storyline as the director wants you to see it.
With VR movies, you can actually make live decisions during the movie that may eventually affect how the story goes. You usually may be able to do this based on some of the actions you take as the character while watching the movie.
Equipment
For VR movies to be so immersive and high-tech, it required a wide array of tools and equipment to make them work. A VR headset is usually required, with additional gear such as controllers, earpieces, VR walking platforms, and VR chairs, giving a more realistic experience.
Some of the popular VR headsets include Meta Quest 2, HTC Vive Cosmos Elite, and HP Reverb G2.
Why Are Producers Making VR Movies?
Producers are making VR movies as the public has more interest in experiencing VR movies. VR gears are also more widespread, making them accessible to people. VR movies also promise different storytelling experiences, and isolation from Covid-19 made VR movies a better option for some interactivity.
More and more VR movies are being produced, highlighting their rising popularity. However, why are movie producers making VR movies, despite the cost and longer production time?
Growing Interest In VR
As VR becomes more popular, more have experienced VR movies’ immersive and interactive experience. This made them share their experience with others who also wanted to experience it.
This eventually snowballs into a surge of public interest in VR technology, such as in movies. VR movies are then made to cater to the demands.
VR Technology Is More Widespread
As VR headsets and gear became more popular, their prices also started to come down. This eventually means VR technology is becoming more and more widespread and available to more people.
This means more people may be able to use their VR gear to watch VR movies, which should help contribute to streams and sales of these movies. As a result, producers are more willing to invest more money to produce VR movies.
Unique Storytelling Experiences
Many movie producers and directors are excited at the possibility of what VR can do to cinematic storytelling. The possibilities are endless, from allowing a unique watching experience to influencing the storytelling.
This makes many producers and directors release movies as a way to experiment and explore how they can use VR to tell stories better.
Covid-19
Covid-19 has resulted in a reduction in social activities, and people tend to end up staying indoors. This means people may lack the opportunity to interact with people and may crave social interaction.
VR movies can somehow address this issue since it has interactive elements and allows viewers to view the movies from a first-person view. VR movies’ ability to do this greatly helped their popularity during the Covid-19 period.
What Are The Potential For VR Movies?
VR movies can be used for more than just entertainment. Combining storytelling and interactivity features, VR movies may be used in educational, training, and therapeutic settings.
VR movies are different from 2D movies in many ways. They may provide viewers a more immersive, interactive, and realistic experience. This means VR movies may provide a higher entertainment value than 2D movies.
However, by combining storytelling, realism, and interactivity, VR movies may be able to do more than just provide entertainment. These are some, but are not limited to:
Education And Training
Rather than sitting through long hours of lectures on theory, VR movies can be created to help teach something. It could be from telling things apart from one another to teaching the process of performing a task.
Suppose you find the diagram of tools used in auto repair boring. You can instead watch a VR movie where you are helping out a chief tech to repair a car. In the movie, you are asked to hand in tools. The VR movie indirectly teaches you to tell apart tools while providing some entertainment at the same time.
Medicine
VR movies could be used to provide medical treatment or support to patients. For example, you can watch a VR movie rather than drive to see a psychologist or psychiatrist.
In the movie, you get to ‘interact’ with the movie by making decisions. The psychiatrist may be able to make a diagnosis of your condition based on the decisions you make.
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