Using case study analysis to develop heuristics to guide new filmmaking techniques in embodied virtual reality films

Abstract

Filmmakers now have access to new cinematic pipelines that combine Virtual Reality (VR), allowing them to develop new immersive media for narrative and audience interaction. Traditional filmmaking approaches are limited when it comes to investigating the embodiment of VR and the underlying interaction between the user and the story in Embodied Virtual Reality (EVR) films. This study analyses four award-winning EVR films (Bonfire, The Line, The Key, and Wolves in the Walls) as case studies and proposes a set of heuristics to guide the production of new EVR films. The findings will be especially useful for independent filmmakers transitioning into EVR production, as well as the larger VR cinema community, in comprehending emergent VR storytelling.