Category: STXsurreal

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Robert Rodriguez Takes Viewers to ‘The Limit’ in his Latest Film

Fans of film director Robert Rodriguez (Sin City, Machete, Dusk to Dawn) will be pleased to know that he’s now entered the field of 360-degree cinematography, releasing The Limit in collaboration with virtual reality (VR) studio STXsurreal.

Starring the talent of Michelle Rodriguez and Norman Reedus, The Limit is a high-octane, 20-minute action movie where the viewer is a character. The story goes that you play a rogue agent with a mysterious past who enlists the help of enhanced super-assassin M-13 (Michelle Rodriguez) to retrieve your identity and strike against the deadly organization that created you.

“The launch of The Limit is a watershed moment in VR, and gives fans of premium scripted entertainment a compelling reason to put their headsets back on,” said Andy Vick and Rick Rey, co-presidents of Virtual Reality & Immersive Entertainment at STXsurreal in a statement. “In keeping with STX’s talent-driven model, we enlisted Robert, Michelle, and Norman, who collectively have millions of passionate fans across the globe, to break new ground and bring this category-busting cinematic VR film to life.”

The Limit will support Oculus Rift, Oculus Go, HTC Vive, Samsung Gear VR, Windows Mixed Reality, PlayStation VR and Google Daydream, available to purchase today from their respective retail platforms. For a limited time, there’s a 50 percent discount available, dropping the cost from $9.99 USD to $4.99 for PC-based headsets, and $3.99 instead of $7.99 for mobile platforms.

To celebrate the launch Robert Rodriguez will participate in a fireside chat via Oculus Venues on Friday, 23rd November to discuss The Limit through Oculus Go and Samsung Gear VR.

STXsurreal has further immersive content planned including a Jay and Silent Bob project from writer and director Kevin Smith, a crime-thriller from director Christian Gudegast, an untitled Dave Bautista action-comedy, and an underwater Sci-fi-thriller from Johannes Roberts. As further details are released on these projects, VRFocus will keep you updated.

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‘Sin City’ Director’s Immersive Action Film ‘The Limit’ Comes to All Major VR Platforms

STXsurreal, the immersive content wing of STX Entertainment, today launched their latest immersive VR video, this time directed by filmmaker Robert Rodriguez (Sin City). Called The Limit, the 20-minute action film stars Michelle Rodriguez (Lost, Avatar, Fast & Furious) and Norman Reedus (The Walking Dead, The Boondock Saints) in what promises to be a heart-pumping thrill ride.

In The Limit you step into the shoes of play a rogue agent with a mysterious past who enlists the help of enhanced super-assassin M-13 (Michelle Rodriguez) to retrieve your identity and strike against the deadly organization that created you.

Image courtesy STXsurreal

The Limit is said to feature something the company dubs an “all-new cinematic VR format,” that’s offered in both 3D and 2D variants at a slightly wider field of view than 180 degrees, but smaller than a full 360 capture.

Image courtesy STXsurreal

The company says The Limit represents the first in a series of live-action, immersive cinematic experiences from STXsurreal. Several other projects are currently in development, including a Jay and Silent Bob project from writer and director Kevin Smith, a crime-thriller from director Christian Gudegast, an untitled Dave Bautista action-comedy, and an underwater Sci-fi-thriller from Johannes Roberts.

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The Limit is available today as an app across major VR platforms including Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Windows VR, PSVR, Gear VR, Oculus Go, Daydream, and Cardboard. You’ll find it now on the Oculus Store, Viveport, Google Play, with links for Steam, the PlayStation Store, and iOS cardboard coming soon.

The post ‘Sin City’ Director’s Immersive Action Film ‘The Limit’ Comes to All Major VR Platforms appeared first on Road to VR.

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Academy Award-Winning Effects Studio To Work on VR Series

With high-quality visual effects being so much a part of modern blockbusters, the Academy Award for best visual effects is often considered the pinnacle of achievement for an effects studio. DNEG is not content to rest of its laurels after scoring that coveted award, however, and have launched into a new project involving virtual reality (VR).

STXsurreal is the immersive content division of Robert Simonds’ STX Entertainment, which will be partnering with accomplished SFX company Double Negative (DNEG) to finance STX’s upcoming original VR series, along with other planned VR content.

As part of the deal DNEG will be providing post-production visual effect and 3D conversions services on at least six projects. The content is planned to premiere on STX’s per-per-experience VR channel, SURREAL which will launch in Summer 2018.

“With the SURREAL channel, STX is revolutionizing what it means to create premium, original, narrative VR content,” said Rick Rey and Andy Vick, Co-Presidents of STXsurreal. “By partnering with DNEG, and utilizing their Oscar-winning visual effects expertise, we’re doubling down on our promise to bring audiences a truly cinematic and high-quality immersive experience featuring the most sought-after writers, directors and stars in the world today.”

The planned VR content will include a live-action, short form series called THE LIMIT, starring Michelle Rodriguez along with a new comedy from The Office star Ed Helms, an action comedy starring Dave Bautista and a Jay and Silent Bob project from director Kevin Smith.

“We’re incredibly excited to be partnering with STXsurreal to create this revolutionary new narrative VR content,” said Matt Holben, CEO, DNEG. “The combination of visionary filmmaking talent like Robert Rodriguez, STXsurreal’s ambition and expertise in the VR and immersive content space and DNEG’s creative pedigree and experience in visual effects makes for a dynamic collaborative partnership that is producing some truly outstanding premium VR content.”

Further news from STXsurreal and any other new and upcoming VR projects will be right here on VRFocus.

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‘Sin City’ Director Robert Rodriquez to Debut VR Action Series ‘The Limit’ This Summer

Robert Rodriguez, the director of films such as Sin City (2005), Planet Terror (2007), and the Spy Kids franchise, just wrapped production on a newly announced VR action series with The Fast and the Furious franchise actress Michelle Rodriguez. Called The Limit, the VR series is set to premiere this summer.

According to a Variety report, The Limit is a short-form first-person POV action series that was written, directed, and produced by Robert Rodriguez.

Michelle Rodriguez is said to play the role of a “genetically enhanced weapon of mass destruction hellbent on destroying the covert agency that created her.”

image courtesy Gage Skidmore via Wikimedia Commons

Immersive entertainment studio STXsurreal will be releasing the series on its app this summer. STXsurreal announced last year it had partnered with Google’s VR team to launch a new “pay-per-experience” app on the Daydream VR platform, which is said to host a selection of curated live-action 360 films. It’s uncertain at this time if other headsets besides Daydream will be included at launch.

Surreal, a cinematic VR company, was acquired by STX in August 2016. The company has produced more than 70 360 videos, some of which feature celebrities such as Gordon Ramsay, Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa, and John Hamm.

The post ‘Sin City’ Director Robert Rodriquez to Debut VR Action Series ‘The Limit’ This Summer appeared first on Road to VR.

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STXsurreal Partners With Google to Launch Pay-Per-View VR Video, Aiming to Become ‘HBO of VR’

STXsurreal, the immersive media division of STX Entertainment, is partnering up with Google’s VR team to launch a new “pay-per-experience” app on the Daydream VR platform, which will host a selection of curated live-action 360 films.

Casting it as the ‘HBO or Showtime of VR’, the deal allows STXsurreal to develop and produce multiple live-action scripted VR series coming to Daydream in the next few months. STXsurreal Co-Presidents Andy Vick and Rick Rey maintain the deal allows them to “bring the highest caliber of talent to this new medium and create a premium destination for VR.”

Setting itself apart from other 360 video apps, the company says they’ll be “highly selective with a true programming voice.”

Surreal, a cinematic VR company that’s produced more than 70 videos with over 35 million views, was acquired by STX in August 2016. The company has produced 360 videos featuring celebrities such as Gordon Ramsay, Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa, John Hamm, and many more.

The post STXsurreal Partners With Google to Launch Pay-Per-View VR Video, Aiming to Become ‘HBO of VR’ appeared first on Road to VR.

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World’s Largest Media Services Agency Launches VR Development Initiative

The world’s largest media agency, Horizon Media, has launched UNCVR. Partnering with STXsurreal, an experienced VR development studio, and OmniVirt, specialists in 360 video ads, the teams plan to expand development of virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR) and 360 video content.

Horizon Media’s President and Founder, Bill Koenigsberg, is excited about the new mediums; “We  are always looking to create the most immersive and engaging experience for our clients and their brands.”

Koenigsberg continues; “We can only do this if we are continuously looking around the next corner and evaluating the potential creative and business opportunities with every piece of new technology. UNCVR is a big step into the virtual space and we are excited to make this move with STXsurreal to unlock its potential.”

UNCVR’s name is inspired by the team’s ability to work with and innovate in new mediums, ‘uncovering’ new possibilities. STXsurreal’s involvement can’t be understated either – the studio has plenty of experience in producing videos for platforms such as YouTube and Facebook 360 Video.

STXsurreal’s Co-Presidents, Rick Rey and Andy Vick, are positive that UNCVR will open the door for new talent in the medium; “Data increasingly shows that VR/360 platforms deliver significant audience retention and engagement.

They go on to say; “As audience demand for compelling, premium content in the immersive space grows, this represents a huge opportunity to bring major talent into VR and help them engage their fan base in bold and game-changing ways.  We look forward to being the go-to VR partners of Horizon UNCVR’s influential and innovative brands, to unlock the next-generation of storytelling.”

UNCVR will hopefully introduce new talent into the medium, and increase the amount of VR, AR and MR content available to users.

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