Apple released a trailer Submergedthe first scripted immersive video for Vision Pro. The short, written and directed by Edward Berger, follows the crew of a World War II submarine as they deal with a “disastrous torpedo attack.”
trailer of Submerged The film consists of behind-the-scenes shots and fisheye clips from the short film, as well as Berger’s narration claiming that the immersive format will “change the future of filmmaking.”
Berger also said that wearing the Vision Pro changes the way he “thinks about storytelling.” How the location, inside the cramped interior of a submarine, is both a technical challenge to overcome (it’s hard to film in a confined space!) and an answer to the disconnect that comes from feeling like you’re in space. You can see that it might be. You can’t actually move inside.
Submerged The film is part of a series of new releases in the Vision Pro exclusive format the company announced in July, including performances by The Weeknd and clips from the fall NBA All-Star Game.
So far, Vision Pro’s immersive videos have been short documentary-style episodes in a series such as: prehistoric planetadventure, or wildlife, MLS and NFL sports reels, etc. The video filled my entire field of vision and made me feel like I was right there with the people and animals.
But once you get past that neat trick, there’s not much going back.
Still, I’m intrigued by the idea of Apple applying this format to scripted programming. There’s more space to play with than the usual flat rectangles in typical TV shows and movies, so depending on how you do it, it might be worth rewatching a few times to see what’s happening at different points in the space. No.
Anyone who owns an Apple headset won’t have to wait long to find out if Berger’s lofty claims hold water. Submerged It will be released on October 10th. As someone who is still paying off the Vision Pro, I hope they do that.
