SUNDANCE FILM FEST 2018 - VR Mobile Programs 1 & 4

PROGRAM 1

ISLE OF DOGS: BEHIND THE SCENES (IN VIRTUAL REALITY)

This short featurette is like no other behind-the-scenes look you've ever seen. In it, the stop-motion characters of director Wes Anderson's next feature Isle of Dogs discuss their individual trials and tribulations of being dogs in an environment overrun with garbage. We see the scenes that the dogs inhabit as they exist within the sound stage that the film was made on. Swivel around in your chair, and you can see time lapse footage of the artists working tirelessly to make sure their scenes are set properly. Very cool. Isle of Dogs is definitely on my list!

DINNER PARTY

One of the coolest short films I've ever seen, Dinner Party presents a unique spin on the true story of Betty and Barney Hill, who reported the first ever UFO abduction case in American history. The VR space is utilized best during the abduction scenes. Some mind-bending animation coupled with strong live-action performances from the lead actors make for a truly singular viewing experience.

EYES IN THE RED WIND

This VR film from South Korea was a little tougher to wrap my head around. It's sort of in the horror space, but it's never quite clear what we're seeing. And this film doesn't utilize the VR technology as effectively as others. We see a group of people on a ferry with a shaman in the middle doing some sort of artistic performance before eventually stabbing a man on the boat to death. It's like watching a really odd stage play, and in the VR space, that's a fundamental problem. Not my favorite.

THE SUN LADIES VR

Actress Maria Bello produces and narrates this short documentary about the "Sun Ladies" - a unit of the Iraqi army comprised exclusively of women. This was a harrowing experience that puts you right on the ground in Kurdistan and later Iraq. With action occurring all around the viewer, this was arguably the most effective use of the VR technology in Program 1. 

PROGRAM 4

THE SUMMATION OF FORCE

This experimental film examines the motion and physics of two neighborhood boys playing cricket in their backyard. Fractured/stilted imagery and unique use of motion-capture animation technology draw the viewer in and keep you hooked. The film blends the sensibilities of Stan Brakhage and David Lynch to present an experience that is at once both awe-inspiring and terrifying. 

ON MY WAY

The first VR music video I've ever seen. Verdict: Pretty cool. Rapper Yung Jake rides around in his Tesla as he performs his song "On My Way" and introduces some interactive elements around the beginning, middle, and end. There is serious potential for lesser known artists to make noise with a music video shot for VR. 

MICRO GIANTS

Micro Giants is an animated short film from visual effects group Digital Domain. It shrinks the viewer down to the size of an insect and follows a handful of characters in nature as the food chain ascends. Digital Domain did a lot of really cool things with this one. Love it.

YOUR SPIRITUAL TEMPLE SUCKS

A silly short film that follows Mr. Chang (you, the viewer) in an alternate reality where his guardian "The Thunder God" attempts to help him/you sort out his/your life. A couple of genuinely hilarious moments (including a pair of Shining twin impersonators that are scarier than the actual twins from The Shining) ultimately don't amount to much. It's just okay.