Samsung and Viceland drop VR viewers into the middle of Syria’s civil war
Technology giant Samsung has teamed up with Vice Media's television brand Viceland to plunge viewers directly into the maelstrom of Syria’s civil war via an innovative virtual reality documentary.
A newly released trailer for the production depicts a team of rescuers seeking survivors of a recent bombing within the ravaged city of Aleppo with the intention of helping audiences to empathize with the city’s remaining civilian population.
The White Helmets follows a group of Syrian volunteers who rush headlong into the mayhem in the hope of rescuing those who are trapped or injured. Rather than just employ traditional static cameras however a team of filmmakers used 360-degree equipment to capture the action from all angles.
Viceland creative director Trent Rohner said: “As virtual reality becomes more prevalent in journalism, we looked into how the technology is changing the way we experience the news. What is the new role of the reporter when the viewer can experience the event for themselves? Can journalism be more objective when there is no frame and they can see everything?"
To tell the story behind the making of the film, Viceland will air ‘Inside the Story’ which explains how VR and 360-degree video techniques can bring journalists closer to their audience.
Vice has promised to 'revolutionise advertising' with its cable TV channel.