Unit 9

360 VR

For part of Unit 9 we are learning about 360 VR filming for use in the theatre industry, and have been having lessons with James to learn about this.

We started off by discussing the use of 3D and VR and the future of it within the theatre and film industry. We also talked about creating our own VR design of a to-scale Royal Opera House and then being able to use that in the design challenge or to create future to-scale sets for the company.

Next week we were experimenting using the 360 cameras. We went out to film footage to edit with. We decided to hire santander bikes as they are free for 30 minutes, tape the cameras to the front of the bikes and cycle around the nearby streets. We tried to travel in a variety of locations so that we had multiple shots to work with. We all tried a different setting, I took a time-lapse video, Tom took multiple videos and Vadim took photos. We will be editing them next week.

We went on a trip to the V&A to go to an exhibition about video games. There were lots of examples of games throughout the years and the effect it has on modern day people. For example there was a video of gaming designers and CEO's talking about the effect violence has on adolescents behaviour, such as increase in gun, knife, and violent crimes. Some say that this isn't due to video games whilst others say it is. We then went on to watch a video about the gaming networks, groups of people who are so crazy about gaming they make costumes for cosplay, they film videos creating minecraft worlds, take part in online competitions, and they all have huge online followings. I didn't really understand the gaming world and its not something I'm massively interested in but it was an eye opening exhibition.

I am going to use a 360 camera to film a walking tour of the royal opera house as my entry for the royal opera house design challenge. My plan is to walk around the royal Opera house with a camera on a friends head whilst I talk and give information out about the theatre and company. I will also add text and hyperlinks during editing to make it even more interactive for the viewer.

Royal Opera House Design Challenge

We have begun research on the Royal Opera House design challenge. The ballet this year is Romeo and Juliet. We started to read through the directors visions and visualise what each of them wanted to see from our designs. Some wanted to keep to the traditional aspects of the story and really embrace the history whereas others wanted a new twist and for the show to be modernised. We watched some trailers of different versions of the ballet to see the difference in set, costume, hair and make up designs. We then looked more at the different ballet versions of Romeo and Juliet and talked about the importance of certain aspects of a dancers hair styles and costumes, as these have to be taken in to consideration when designing. In the afternoon I began work on my sketchbook for the ROH design challenge. I found youtube videos the ROH had made a few years ago when the ballet was on last. This had interviews with the dancers, directors and designers. It gave me an idea of their views on the ballet and also what they want the audience to think and feel when they watch the ballet.

I have changed my area to marketing, strategy and design as this is something I feel more comfortable in and it suits my skillset better. I want to create either a poster or a series of trailers for the show, which could be a social media campaign (one of the things they ask you to create). I could use James’s lesson to help me with the editing as he has knowledge of the software, and Anna’s lesson to do the research. I have also come up with the idea of filming a 360 virtual tour of the royal opera house as this will tie in with our 360 VR lessons with James. I will liaise with the royal opera house before I continue with this idea incase I am unable to do this idea. 

I have started work in my sketchbook outlining facts about the royal opera house as it is part of the criteria to research the client. 

In our 360 VR lessons we have been looking in to creating a virtual tour of the royal opera house. This will be inclusive to everyone and can access it as we can publish it on the website and on youtube. I have been researching if this has been done before and also we have contacted the royal opera house to see if this can be done. Whilst looking at videos of the ROH I found the following:

https://youtu.be/yo2keosacZY
It is a 360 video taken from above the stage during The Nutcracker. This shows that the ROH are moving forward with their technology and trying to make theatre more immersive for their customers.

1 Analyze all the entry in this page

The page opens with an image from a dance at a show, presumably at the royal opera house. On the right hand side is a menu bar with options to take you to different parts of the page. As you scroll down there are eye catching images with links to take you to more information about that section.

2 How does the page open?

The page has a very eye catching image. On the right hand side is the menu bar. Below the image is a link to find an event.

3 Describe images:

The images are of dancers, food, events, outside events, social media links.

4 Are they quite contemporary? Are they classic?

The photos are all quite contemporty, they have used various editing techniques. One photo has used a long shutter speed to create a flowing effect. There is a classic image of ballet and an opera in the highlights section.

5 To which kind of audience do you think they speak/intend to speak

I think they are trying to reach a variety of audiences on this page. This is shown as it is clear to navigate around and there are eye catching images