The Spectator in VR – An Invisible-Present Operator

Abstract

This essay focuses on observations that belong to the storyline, mise en scène, and the creation of a character and acting with the 360-degree camera. Productions such as Carne y arena (2017) by Alejandro González Iñárritu, Cave of Forgotten Dreams (2010) by Werner Herzog, or Millions March NYC (2015) by Chris Milk and Spike Jonze, are performances that probe the real-time effect, in which the viewer in the VR environment “lives” in a film time both as a character and as an observer. We will follow the construction of the narrative with the camera and approaches to immersion in the virtual environment. Dr. TEX (2021) and One Flew over a Cuckoo’s Nest (2018) are two productions, one of VR 360-degree film and the other of VR 360-degree theatre, which aim to frame virtual reality in an artistic paradigm, which refers to one-dimensional time as the real one. Starting from Peter Brook’s theories and the observations made by Syd Field in the book The Movie Screenplay, we will analyse character construction techniques applied in both VR 360-degree theatre and VR 360-degree film. At the same time, we will follow the construction of the narrative with the camera and approaches to immersion in the virtual environment.