Virtual reality production studio Scenic has named Jarrard Cole as its new VP of content. Cole will be producing and directing original VR content and developing VR series in conjunction with the studio’s collective of documentary filmmakers and creators. Cole is an Emmy-nominated director and veteran of VR and interactive video, who launched and oversaw the Wall Street Journal’s virtual reality storytelling unit. 

Scenic is hiring Cole after a successful partnership on three VR documentaries created for WSJ, on which Cole served as executive producer. Cole said, “The team at Scenic loves what I love: using new technology to tell superb stories.”

Scenic creative director/CEO Gary Hustwit said, “Jarrard is a huge addition to our team. He brings the technical experience, narrative chops, and original ideas that are essential to creating compelling virtual reality experiences. The VR industry is in dire need of more high quality content, and Scenic is expanding to keep up with that demand.”

Scenic is a collective of documentary filmmakers and visual artists exploring new directions in non-fiction storytelling. The studio covers a wide range of topics in art, culture, design and music with cinematic VR and 360° video to push the boundaries of immersive storytelling. Creators include acclaimed documentary filmmakers Amir Bar-Lev, Marshall Curry, Jessica Edwards, Heidi Ewing & Rachel Grady, Liz Garbus, Sam Green, Dawn Porter, and visual artist Lucy Raven. 

The studio’s current slate of original VR projects includes This Is What The Future Looked Like (directors Green and Hustwit), which had its world premiere at the 2017 True/False Film Festival and will be exhibited at the 2017 Hot Docs Film Festival; The Fastest Ride (director Edwards), which is also exhibiting at the 2017 Hot Docs Film Festival; and Funeral For A 747 (director Curry) which is available exclusively on the WSJ Google Daydream app.

Scenic is currently in production on a VR documentary series pilot from Ewing & Grady, among other new projects, and collaborations with leading art and media partners.