By Kevin Shuster
So you’ve heard the buzz about “VR” and “360 Videos.” Or perhaps you’ve seen a couple of these experiences on YouTube or maybe even MilkVr.com – but what does this mean for you, the actor? What should you expect when you book a gig for a 360 shoot?
The following is a list that will help you when the times comes:
Always On
Unlike a typical video/film shoot, in scene means on camera. Actors are always visible. Since these shoots use multiple cameras/multiple lenses to capture 360, it doesn’t matter where you are standing (unless you are hiding behind something), the cameras will see you, and thus, the Viewer will see you. Think “Theater-in-the-Round.” The audience surrounds the stage making everything on that stage viewable. Unlike traditional filmmaking where scenes can be edited with different angles or close-ups, as a VR director, I have little control over where my Viewer is looking at any one point during the film. Always stay engaged, always be in character and remember that every facial expression and gesture is being watched whether you’re talking or not.
Long Takes
For VR shoots that do not include any forms of interactivity (i.e. selectable “hot spots), there will usually be one setup. The camera rig will be positioned as a first person POV, an object’s POV or a third person POV. For example, if I’m shooting with a six-camera rig, all the actors will run the scene from beginning to end without any interruptions. For the actor, flubbing a line or missing your blocking leaves the take unusable, requiring everyone to go back to first position. There is no way to edit in post-production. Be prepared for multiple takes!
Viewer is the Camera
The viewer can actually be an additional virtual character within the scene. Everything is seen from the POV of that character — so you’ll need to make sure you are looking into the correct camera(s) to get the eye line correct.
Where’s the Crew?
Again, because the cameras see all, no crew members, including the director, can be in the scene. The crew must be hidden or in another room. A work-around I’ve used is to connect iPads, via Wi-Fi, to the cameras in the room, allowing me to see what was going on without being in the room itself.
Where are the Lights?
For the most part, existing or practical lighting is all that will be present on the set. Any artificial lights, tripods, dollies, etc. cannot be on the set because they will show up on camera. This goes for booms too. Your actors will need to be laved (lavaliered).
A TV as big as a bed? With the holidays approaching, stores stock more supersize sets
For some television viewers, size apparently does matter.
Forget the 65-inch TVs that were considered bigger than average a decade ago. In time for the holidays, manufacturers and retailers are rolling out more XXL screens measuring more than 8 feet across. That's wider than a standard three-seat sofa or a king-size bed.
Supersize televisions only accounted for 1.7% of revenue from all TV set sales in the U.S. during the first nine months of the year, according to market research firm Circana. But companies preparing for shoppers to go big for Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa have reason to think the growing ultra category will be a bright spot in an otherwise tepid television market, according to analysts.
The 38.1 million televisions sold with a width of at least 97 inches between January and September represented a tenfold increase from the same period last year, Circana said. Best Buy, the nation's largest consumer electronics chain, doubled the assortment of hefty TVs — the 19 models range in price from $2,000 to $25,000 — and introduced displays in roughly 70% of its stores.
"It's really taken off this year," Blake Hampton, Best Buy's senior vice president of merchandising, said.
Analysts credit the emerging demand to improved technology and much lower prices. So far this year, the average price for TVs spanning at least 97 inches was $3,113 compared to $6,662 last year, according to Circana. South Korean electronics manufacturer Samsung introduced its first 98-inch TV in 2019 with a hefty price tag of $99,000; it now has four versions starting at $4,000, the company said.
Anthony Ash, a 42-year-old owner of a wood pallet and recycling business, recently bought a 98-inch Sony for his 14,000-square-foot house in... Read More