Category: Hollywood Rooftop

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Lawnmower Man Director Brett Leonard To Screen 360 Series At SXSW

Lawnmower Man Director Brett Leonard To Screen 360 Series At SXSW

When people talk about the cultural touchstones that paved the way for VR, Brett Leonard’s Lawnmower Man is never far from thought. The 1992 movie envisioned a bold and terrifying future for the technology. Some would hold it in the same regard as Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One. Fast forward 27 years and Leonard is now making a series for VR. The first installment is set to screen at South By South West (SXSW) this month.

The series, named Hollywood Rooftop, will feature at the festival’s VR Lounge. As the name suggests, the series follows a group of actors. Each is trying to ‘make it’ in show business. They share their triumphs and turmoils with viewers. The piece if being filmed both in 360 degrees and with a 2D camera so that everyone can see it.

But, while the series can be watched in VR, Leonard is trying something different for SXSW. The first episode will instead be screened to a group using a 360-degree video projector. In a prepared statement, LeonardBree said he hoped the experience would “inspire an ‘Immersive New Wave’ of storytelling in this emerging medium”.

The wider VR Lounge area is run by VR Fest. It’s also set to feature virtual performances from Lady Gaga & Katy Perry and AR installations among other showcases. The site opens on March 13th at the Capital Factory inside the downtown Omni hotel. The screening of Hollywood Rooftop takes place that evening.

As for a wider release for the series? There’s no word just yet but we’ll let you know.

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CEEK VR Announce VR Series and Movie Called Hollywood Rooftop

With virtual reality (VR) and 360-degree video growing in popularity, even famous names in Hollywood filmmaking are getting in on the act. CEEK VR is working with several recognisable names to develop a VR series called Hollywood Rooftop.

Hollywood Rooftop will comprise several 10-minute VR short films along with a 2D feature film which will tell the story of a group of up-and-coming actors, set entirely on a rooftop in Hollywood.

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CEEK VR founder Mary Spio will serve as executive producer, along with Brett Leonard, who will also be the director. Edward Button will act as cinematographer for both the 2D and 360-degree parts of the project.

The two sides of the project will be shot simultaneously in a theatrical set within a fully immersive projection dome in Los Angeles. The cast is mostly comprised of young, European actors, including Börje Lundberg from the Academy Award nominated A Man Called Ove.

Digital Cinema pioneer and CEEK VR CEO/Founder, Mary Spio states, “Working with the iconic Mr. Brett Leonard is an opportunity to once again disrupt the movie industry. My work on Star Wars Episode II via Digital Cinema set a new standard that has now become the de facto for film distribution; now with Hollywood Rooftop, we are defining for the first time what a scripted VR episodic can look like. I am honored and excited to work alongside Brett on this groundbreaking and pioneering series.”

Brett Leonard adds, “It is tremendously exciting to be working with CEEK VR and the amazing Mary Spio on this ground-breaking project. Both Mary and I are on a mission to evolve and define this new medium for the mass audience, and our collaboration on ‘Hollywood Rooftop’ is a strong step in that direction”

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Filming is set to begin in Summer, with a planned release date some time in 2019. For future coverage of this and other upcoming VR projects, keep checking back with VRFocus.