IMMERSE launches on World Oceans Day
Durham, NC (June 2019) — IMMERSE, a virtual reality (VR) 3D 360º film codeveloped by the Hydrous and Horizon Productions to generate awareness and scientific understanding of coral reefs, will launch on the Oculus Store for the Oculus Go headset, and through Viveport Video on June 8th, World Oceans Day.
The film takes the viewer on a virtual dive on coral reefs. During the dive, viewers are guided by marine biologist and Hydrous CEO Dr. Erika Woolsey. Additional scientists and young ocean advocates narrate the journey. The Hydrous goal for IMMERSE is to take one million people on a virtual dive and to educate viewers on the dangers our ocean faces and the inextricable connection between the ocean and human survival. The film is now available free of charge on the above platforms, and through Hydrous classroom programs, events, and festivals. Additional information can be found at: www.thehydro.us/VR
IMMERSE recently made its premiere at the International Ocean Film Festival and was the recipient of three 2019 Telly Awards in the Documentary, Not for Profit, and Use of 360º categories. Horizon Productions has been working with the Hydrous on the film since early 2018: Jason McGuigan, Horizon’s Chief Creative Officer, accompanied Woolsey and The Hydrous team to capture footage in Palau, including that of manta rays, sharks, corals, sea turtles, red snapper spawning, and famous Palauan dive sites. Additional footage was collected at the Philippine Coral Reef Exhibit at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco.
Woolsey and the Hydrous believe that VR can be a powerful tool to connect people to threatened marine ecosystems. "Technology like virtual reality allows people to visit places they’ve never been and may never go," said Woolsey. "Few people get to travel beneath the waves, and many perceive the ocean as scary or even empty, so how can we protect what we don’t see or think about?” In describing the Hydrous-Horizon partnership, Woolsey says “We were extremely fortunate to partner with Horizon Productions to tell the ocean’s story in a beautiful and compelling way. Jason and his team have been incredible collaborators from ideation to execution, and I was consistently amazed by their creative and technical talents, and deeply appreciated their unwavering dedication to our shared vision and mission.”
Throughout this project, McGuigan had the opportunity to work with scientists, including Dr. Woolsey. During this process he was further educated on the urgency of the crisis in our oceans and says “We need to take on unprecedented changes across all of society to protect ocean environments. Joining forces with Erika and the Hydrous gave Horizon the opportunity to work on an important project that helps further that cause.” McGuigan and Horizon overcame numerous challenges in underwater VR production. “The process of taking the footage we captured and then creating usable 3D 360º content that looks amazing inside of a VR headset is extraordinarily difficult.” said McGuigan.
Woolsey and McGuigan shared directing duties on IMMERSE, amongst other roles. Support for its development came from Lenovo, the Baum Foundation, Epic Games, Oxford University, and donations from individuals and private foundations.
Horizon Productions and The Hydrous had the opportunity to team up again recently for Manta Ray Eden, a sold-out live event at the National Geographic Museum in Washington, DC. Woolsey was on stage to live-narrate newly processed VR footage of coral reefs, manta rays, and the lands of Palau. McGuigan led the Horizon team to build four unique chapters for the event, that allowed 450 attendees in VR headsets to simultaneously go on a virtual dive with Woolsey. “It was very exciting for us to revisit our footage and expand our work for this special event. The format for this unique VR theater allowed us to share longer underwater clips, providing more time for participants to explore at their own pace,” added McGuigan. In addition to the main evening production, two student matinees were held to allow local schoolchildren the opportunity to see these threatened environments.
About Horizon Productions
Horizon Productions is a full spectrum media production agency that has been servicing Fortune 500 companies, non-profits, universities, and private organizations for more than 37 years. Based in Durham, NC, Horizon produces high quality interactive and linear virtual reality content, along with video, motion graphics, and audio productions. To learn more, visit: www.horizonvp.com
About The Hydrous
The Hydrous is a 501(c)3 non-profit, an international community of scientists, divers, designers, filmmakers, technologists, educators, and concerned citizens who love the ocean and want to share it to protect it. Since 2014, the Hydrous has been dedicated to analyzing and developing applications of emerging technologies for teaching, learning, research, and creative inquiry to inspire others to ‘See Blue, Save Blue.’ To learn more, visit: www.thehydro.us
IMMERSE Directors Dr. Erika Woolsey and Jason McGuigan at the Manta Ray Eden event, at the National Geographic Museum in Washington, DC.
Producer Rick Miskiv filming 360º stereoscopic footage of Palauan reefs with the VRTUL 2 camera system. Foreground: Moorish idols aggregate over healthy coral. Photograph by Bob Concannon.