Visualise creates 3D 360 video experience for FT and Google Hidden Cities: Dublin Project
The Financial Times, in collaboration with Google, today launches their latest VR project, Hidden Cities: Dublin. Released as a dedicated website, Hidden Cities: Dublin will be published as a print supplement across Europe in FT Weekend on December 3. The website is now live and you can view the project here: https://hiddencities.ft.com/dublin/dublin-in-the-dark-the-story-of-emerald-noir
The Hidden Cities series provides an engaging experience, allowing viewers to discover fresh perspectives on some of the world’s cultural and political capitals. The series concept was created by Adam and Eve DBB and developed in conjunction with the FT. Virtual Reality production studio, Visualise, has filmed, edited and produced two VR pieces with the FT and Adam and Eve DBB.
This immersive VR documentary, entitled ‘Dublin in the Dark: The Story of Emerald Noir’, highlights the tensions between the city’s past and present, reflecting on the new wave of Irish crime writers and their relationship to Ireland’s world-famous literary traditions. The video is narrated by award winning Irish Crime writer, Tana French, who explores modern Dublin in her novels, and in this, shows viewers a different side of the city.
Shooting the 360 video in 3D meant that the scenes have real depth to them and feel more real. Visualise used a few different rigs for the shoot, including Google’s Jump, GoPro’s Omni and the custom-made ‘Johnny Five’ 3D rig. The ‘Johnny-Five’ camera allows for capture in very low light situations, meaning Visualise was able to capture the feeling and mood set by ‘Emerald Noir’ for real.
Natalie Whittle, FT Weekend Magazine, associate editor and editorial lead on Hidden Cities, commented: “Using VR technology has enabled us to be more creative in our documentary approach and enhance parts of the city that are normally inaccessible. Since the economic crash in 2008, crime writing has flourished in Dublin, and we were keen to show how this literary genre fits into the broader changes, both social and economic, that Dublin has experienced over the past 20 years.”
Henry Stuart, CEO Visualise, adds: “Dublin in the Dark is a deep piece of content that looks into one of the unexpected outcomes of the recession in Ireland. As such the locations we visited and the complexity of the story were far removed from typical 360 video productions. It was a pleasure to get our teeth into such a meaningful piece of VR content.”
About the Financial Times:
The Financial Times is one of the world’s leading business news organisations, recognised internationally for its authority, integrity and accuracy. Providing essential news, comment, data and analysis for the global business community, the FT has a combined paid print and digital circulation of 810,000. Mobile is an increasingly important channel for the FT, driving more than half of total traffic.
About Visualise
Visualise is an award-winning, international production studio that specialises in exceptional virtual reality and immersive 360-degree content for some of the best known brands and agencies in the world. A collective of the world’s leading virtual reality filmmakers, directors, producers, technologists and developers, the team is dedicated to combining the craft of traditional storytelling and filmmaking with pioneering technical 360 content production.
Over the past 4 years the studio has produced over 80 VR experiences for Thomas Cook, BBC, Lamborghini, Oakley, Audi, Samsung, The Economist, MSF-USA/Doctors without Borders, Wimbledon, Sennheiser, Sony, O2 and many more.
”Virtual reality isn’t just what we do; it’s our team’s purpose and passion.”
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