Category: RSA Films

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Hammerhead Talks Vikings and VR

Yesterday, VRFocus reported on British virtual reality (VR) studio Hammerhead VR announcing a new project created in collaboration with The Viking Planet and Ridley Scott Creative Group’s RSA Films called Virtual Viking – The Ambush. A historical experience designed to take viewers back in time to a famous era in Norwegian history, VRFocus caught up with Hammerhead’s Head of Content, Erin Bower to find out more.

Virtual Viking

The studio was tasked with making a historically accurate scene for a VR experience which would be centre stage at the new Viking Planet Centre Oslo in Norway – which opens today. Using HP Reverb headsets, 40 guests at a time will be able to sit in a Viking longboat style arrangement, put on the head-mounted displays (HMD) and find themselves whisked back in time to view a Viking raid.

What makes the experience rather unique is the attention to detail and the volumetric capture. Actors were dressed in historically accurate clothing and given similarly matching props. They then acted out their scenes in Dimension Studios’ 360-degree greenscreen rigs, made up of 106 cameras which generate 10GB of data per second. This means that while the environments are computer generated, all the actual characters themselves are real, giving that extra sense of being there and seeing the virtual world come alive.

Virtual Viking – The Ambush was specially created for the Viking Planet Centre Oslo to enhance guests understanding of this famous period in history. At just 11 minutes long the experience is just a brief glimpse at the Viking way of life. Should the attraction prove to be popular Hammerhead VR did mention further additions could be on the cards.

Virtual Viking

Check out the full interview with Bower in the video below, as she goes into greater detail regarding Virtual Viking – The Ambush and how it was made. If you want to see it for yourself, then as mentioned, you’ll need to head to Norway. Or if you happen to be in Oslo then don’t forget to stop by and take a look at the new 1,600 square metre Viking Planet Centre. For lots more interesting VR use cases around the world, keep reading VRFocus.

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Become a Virtual Viking in The Viking Planet’s new VR Experience

Virtual reality (VR) has a unique way of bringing history alive, with museums and other institutions using the technology to help visitors visualise past events. And this is exactly what The Viking Planet has done for a new centre opening up this week in Oslo, Norway.

Virtual Viking

Central to The Viking Planet Centre Oslo will be a VR experience called Virtual Viking – The Ambush, sending guests back in time to board a Viking longboat as it goes on a raid. The project was created in collaboration between Ridley Scott Creative Group’s RSA Films, Hammerhead (ABE, Syren) and Dimension – Hammerhead’s London-based volumetric capture studio.

Using 106 cameras which generate 10GB of data per second, over 30 actors performances were captured in the studio for Virtual Viking – The Ambush, in a recording area only 8ft across. Meaning careful amalgamation was required to bring all the actors into each scene. And to give each actor and scene that look of authenticity Hammerhead used historically accurate weapons and props whilst employing Unreal Engine to bring the experience to life.

“We are extremely happy to have collaborated with RSA Films and Hammerhead on this ground-breaking production and look forward to offering the general public an opportunity to experience how it was to be on board a Viking ship more than 1,000 years ago in a very realistic and captivating way,” says Rasmus Ramstad CEO of The Viking Planet in a statement.

Virtual Viking

“RSA Films is continually looking for innovative ways to tell compelling stories. Through collaborations such as this unique volumetric capture experience we explore and embrace new technology to match our storytelling ambition,” adds Ridley Scott Creative Group CEO, Luke Scott. “The Virtual Viking – The Ambush project is a terrific example of the kind of immersive experience that challenges the future of storytelling. It is one thing to be a passive audience, it is quite another to be at the heart of the action.”

If you want to see Virtual Viking – The Ambush for yourself then you’ll need to head on over to Norway. The Viking Planet Centre Oslo is a 1,600 square metre interactive entertainment and education centre filled with holograms, interactive screens, and a 270° cinema to create a virtual portal to the era of the Vikings. And it opens tomorrow, 21st June 2019. For further updates from Hammerhead, keep reading VRFocus.

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Alien Director Ridley Scott Launches New VR Studio

Famed director Ridley Scott has long been known as the type of film maker who pushes the limits of technology, a reputation he seems to be determined to stick with as his company RSA Films announces a special division dedicated to virtual reality (VR).

Back in 2015, Scott announced he was working on a VR-related project, which would appear to be related to the announcement of the RSA VR studio. The first project that RSA VR will be working on will be a short VR experience to tie-in to the upcoming Alien: Covenant film, which has been previously covered on VRFocus.

Alien: Covenant is due out in cinemas on 19th May and is being directed by David Karlak with Ridley Scott as executive producer. The tie-in VR experience is being worked on by Fox Innovation Lab along with RSA VR and AMD and is expected to be released on ‘All major VR platforms’.

“We have been heavily involved in VR for the past few years, and having a dedicated stand-alone division underscores our commitment to immersive media in both the brand and entertainment space,” RSA’s president Jules Day said in a statement. “In addition to being one of the most well regarded producers in commercials and content, Jen Dennis brings hands-on experience developing and producing VR and is among the foremost influencers in the space. Ridley has a long lineage as a pioneer in creative technology, and RSA’s roster includes incredibly talented directors who understand the unique language of VR. We are pleased to offer this formidable resource to our clients.”

Dennis, Head of RSA VR said: “I am thrilled to head up our VR division. I think VR is one of the most exciting areas in the industry today, with potential to influence how we consume content for generations to come.”

Also announced was an episodic VR documentary created by underwater photographer Michael Muller, who is also known for producing the photography for a great many movie posters, including Captain America: Civil War and Deadpool. Details on what the documentary will cover are currently unavailable, but considering Muller’s skill set, it seems likely it will be an underwater experience of some kind.

VRFocus will bring you further information on other RSA VR projects when it becomes available.