360 degree films awaken on Facebook with exclusive Star Wars clip
An exclusive Star Wars clip is among the first 360-degree videos to be posted on Facebook. The sequence, which is being released on news feeds from today, allows viewers to look in all directions as the camera whizzes through the action. Users alter the perspective by clicking a mouse or, if they are watching on a phone, by moving the device. Other 360 videos posted include content from Discovery, GoPro, NBC and Vice.
In the future, imagine watching 360 videos of a friend’s vacation to a small village in France or a festival in Brazil - you’ll be able to look around and experience it as if you were there
The 360-degree version of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, created by special effects experts at Lucasfilm, will allow viewers to feel like they are in the Star Wars universe, Facebook says. The 360 videos are to be rolled out on the web and Android soon and for iOS “in the coming months”, the social media giant added. Facebook bought Oculus VR for $2bn in 2014 and is eager to host and create virtual reality content. Eventually, it hopes its 360 video will support the as-yet unreleased Rift headset, which promises users a new level of immersive video experience.
I wonder if a 360-degree movie is going to be compelling enough as its own medium. We haven’t solved all the things we need to solve.
Rob Bredow, from Lucasfilm ILMxLAB team, on the future of 360 films
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