The Possible: Speed Machine

OCULUS RIFT EXPERIENCE ON WITHIN

Software
360 VR Film

Company
WithIN

Timing
9 minutes

Narration
 In “Speed Machine,” see Keith Copeland of Black Salt Racing, as he assembles his car and reaches top speed at 387MPH. Experience the vast, otherworldly expanse of the salt flats, the hoopla of Bonneville Speed Week—and the rush of hurtling across the earth at speeds normally reserved for jet planes. Keith speaks for most of the narration, at times “in real time” in the scene, and other scenes as a voice over. His girlfriend also speaks, but only when she is there speaking in “real time.”

Subtitles
There are no narration subtitles, but there are narration texts at the beginning and the end which are 2d white text on a black background. When they introduce a character, they have a 2d text next to them in the space of their name and relationship to the main protagonist.

Cinematography
360 film, not interactive. The quality is low res.

Framing and Point of View
It’s a bit like a documentary. You are not considered as a character, it’s more of a film set to a 360 space to give you a sense of the vast environment of the Salt Lake Flats. 

Color Palette
Real life film footage

Composition
Full range shots of either in the garage or on the course. Again, it is more of an adapted 360 documentary film, where with different points, we see different footage. Sometimes Keith and/or his girlfriend are in the space speaking directly to the camera. 

Looking Around
You are in the environment, and most of the time the interesting point of view is directly in front of you.

Storytelling
It was a linear story, no opportunity to fast forward, rewind or change your pace/location in the story. This was ok, I was not bothered by the lack of interaction since it read as a “film.” and not a user experience.

Sound
Sound was important for the authenticity. The narration is recorded separately from the footage (like a documentary) but sometimes it was in the scene in real time which was nice. This was effective in getting the 1st person narrative straight. There was a soundtrack of music underneath which was important for setting up the atmosphere and linking the whole experience because there were many different scenes and shots.