Filmmaker and visual effects expert Matthew Gratzner - who played a crucial role in the special effects produced for the cosmic thriller Interstellar - previews the cutting-edge technology of 360 degree virtual reality in video games and movies. The latest inventions for VR glasses are also discussed, including the affordable Google Cardboard product.
Gratzner is one of the industry innovators in virtual reality (VR) being applied to film production, and he discusses his involvement with a VR short film called The Mission.
“What you have become is you (the viewer) are the camera. So as the director, how do I make you look where I want?” he said.
“It’s just a different style of directing. Is it impossible? No, it’s just different. But the audience, everyone I’ve shown The Mission to, they kind of look where I want them to look. So they get that it’s a very immersive experience in a sense. The whole purpose, though, is it puts you in a movie, that’s the difference – it puts you in the film.”
He said VR technology will be used in the future production of entire films, or also could be included a bonus features.
“This is virtual reality, but I also sort of think it’s kind of immersive reality. Because what we are shooting is real – something about The Mission and Kaiju Fury as well – both of these productions, and actually Black Mass, everything you see through the viewer is real,” with only minor CG effects added.
Watch the full episode to hear Gratzner talk about helping create mind-blowing visual effects for Interstellar and explore the differences between practical effects and CGI.
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