Oculus recently announced that they would be launching three new projects from the Oculus VR for Good’s Creators Lab program. The program is now in its third year and pairs rising filmmakers with nonprofits to bring about positive social change through immersive storytelling. The three releases each feature rather unique narrative that explore a number of different subjects and are all available to enjoy now.
The first of the three is entitled Meeting a Monster, directed by Gabriela Arp and examines the life of former white supremacist Angela King. Through audio recordings, dramatic re-enactments, and present-day footage, the film invites the audience to experience how Angela was lured into the white power movement alongside the encounters that led to her getting out of it. The film’s director Gabriela Arp, co-founder of Rabbit Raccoon, partnered with the organization Life After Hate, which was founded to help former white supremacists and is dedicated to aiding individuals that leave behind a life of violence and hatred.
Next, is the Authentically Us Series is a 360-degree document series produced by Oculus which features transgender individuals at the heart of the narrative. In the trilogy, filmmaker and Fovrth Studios Creative Director Jesse (Jesus) Ayala teamed up with the Pride Foundation, a community organization which is devoted to the equality of LGBTQ+ people across the American Northwest.
The first two parts of the three part series are available now entitled We’re Still Here and She Flies By Her Own Wings. The former follows Aiden Crawford, a Two-Spirit artist and historian in Boise, Idaho, who struggles to preserve and revive his heritage. Two-Spirit is a cultural term describing the fluidity of gender identity and sexuality with respect to traditional tribal roles across the First Nations. Next for, She Flies By Her own Wings features Shannon Scott, and recounts the stories of transgender service people in the US Armed Forces.
Each of the three films are available now through Oculus Video, which is available to download now on Oculus Rift, Oculus Go and Gear VR. The three films join other Creators Lab projects Step to the Line and Out of the Blue within the same application. As the program continues to create interesting and thought-provoking narratives, VRFocus will be sure to bring you all the latest from the program in the future.
