Wieden+Kennedy, Portland, Ore., teamed with director John X. Carey of Tool and VFX house Luma Pictures to create a couple of virtual reality pieces for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, enabling people with MS to experience their life’s passions in a new way. MS is an often disabling disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body. It can take things away from people, sometimes the things they love to do, or the ability to do them in the way they used to.
In the short VR film “Off My Wave,” we meet Steve Bettis, a local surfer from Ocean Beach, Calif., who has been living that lifestyle for 50-plus years. A few years after being diagnosed with MS, Bettis’ ability to balance and ride the waves started to fade. His good friend, professional longboarder Robert “Wingnut” Weaver, took to the waves with a virtual reality camera so that Bettis could once again experience the joy of being in the water again.
We see Bettis re-live his passion of surfing via VR.
In the other short titled “Exit Stage Never,” we meet Amy Meisner, a professional dancer who was diagnosed in 1997. She now dances with her wheelchair and choreographs others, but is unable to perform like she once did. LaTonya Swann, a fellow professional and BET’s Born to Dance winner, took to the stage with a virtual reality camera to share with Meisner a whole new dance experience.
The campaign encourages individuals to connect and share their solutions and passions with one another by posting their own videos across social channels with #WeAreStrongerThanMS. See these experiences and find out how you can share yours at WeAreStrongerThanMS.org.
Joe Staples, executive creative director, Wieden+Kennedy Portland, said, “Each person we met was working around their specific symptoms with dignity and passion. But equally, each had at least one action or hobby that they still talked of fondly, something they could no longer do. What became clear as we worked was how VR allowed these people to experience some of the things MS had taken from them. We aren’t doctors, we can’t cure MS, but for a little while we might be able to make it disappear.”
Director Carey related, “This project has really opened my eyes to the unique ways VR can help people affected by disabilities live their lives again. It was an incredible learning experience for me as a person and a director, with regards to both awareness of the physical and emotional challenges of people living with MS, and the power of 360 degree filmmaking.”
