Storytelling for Virtual Reality Methods and Principles for Crafting Immersive Narratives

Storytelling for VirtualReality serves as a bridge between students of new media and professionals working between the emerging world of VR technology and the art form of classical storytelling. Rather than examining purely the technical, the text focuses on the narrative and how stories can best be structured, created, and then told in virtual immersive spaces. Author John Bucher examines the timeless principles of storytelling and how they are being applied, transformed, and transcended in Virtual Reality. Interviews, conversations, and case studies with both pioneers and innovators in VR storytelling are featured, including industry leaders at LucasFilm, 20th Century Fox, Oculus, Insomniac Games, and Google.

For more information about story, Virtual Reality, this book, and its author, please visit StorytellingforVR.com

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

FOREWORD

CHAPTER 1: A New Reality and How We Got Here

SPOTLIGHT ON DIRECTING: Storytelling in VR through Cinematic Directing

A Conversation with Jessica Brillhart, Principal Filmmaker for VR at Google

SPOTLIGHT ON CAMERAS: Storytelling in VR through the Lens

A Conversation with Paul Meyhoefer, VP JK Imaging/Kodak

CHAPTER 2: A Stone Bridge Covered in Microchips

SPOTLIGHT ON GAMING: Storytelling in VR through Video Games

A Conversation with Brian Allgeier, VR Game Designer, Insomniac Games

CHAPTER 3: Science and Technology behind Storytelling

SPOTLIGHT ON VR SCIENCE AND STORYTELLING: Storytelling Through Data and Neurology

A Conversation with Dr. Carolina Cruz-Neira, Director of the Emerging Analytics Center, the University of Arkansas, Little Rock

SPOTLIGHT ON STORY: VR Storytelling at the Oculus Story Studio

A Conversation with Jessica Shamash, Producer, and Pete Billington, Immersive Storyteller

CHAPTER 4: Storytelling Principles for Immersive Space

SPOTLIGHT ON IMMERSIVE THEATER: Storytelling through Immersion

A Conversation with Noah Nelson, Creator and Host of No Proscenium Podcast

CHAPTER 5: Designing an Immersive Narrative

SPOTLIGHT ON NEW FRONTIERS: A Master Storyteller

A Conversation with Chris Milk, Founder and CEO, Within

SPOTLIGHT ON ETHICS: Considerations for VR Storytelling

A Conversation with Steve Peters, Experience Designer, Host of StoryForward Podcast, and CCO of Mo Mimes Media

EXERCISES

CHAPTER 6: Characters in VR

SPOTLIGHT ON ACTING: Storytelling Through Drama in Immersive Experiences

A Conversation with Keight Leighn, Actress

EXERCISES

CHAPTER 7: Creating Narrative Structures

SPOTLIGHT ON VISUALIZATION: Cinematic Storytelling in VR

A Conversation with Chris Edwards, Founder, Chief Production Officer, and CEO, The Third Floor

SPOTLIGHT ON NARRATIVE: Fiction Versus Nonfiction Storytelling

A Conversation with Steve Peters, Experience Designer, Host of StoryForward Podcast, and CCO of Mo Mimes Media

EXERCISES

CHAPTER 8: Theory in Practice: Interviews and Case Studies

THE STORYTELLERS

INTERVIEW: Rob Bredow, Chief Technology Officer, LucasFilm

INTERVIEW: Tye Sheridan and Nikola Todorovic, Creators of Aether Inc.

CASE STUDY: Baobab VR Studios

INTERVIEW: Sarah Hill, CEO and Chief Storyteller, StoryUp

THE TECHNOLOGISTS AND PRODUCERS

INTERVIEW: Jonathan Krusell, Google Daydream Producer

INTERVIEW: Robyn Tong Gray and Andrew Goldstein, Founders, Otherworld Interactive

CASE STUDY: Light Sail VR

INTERVIEW: Tai Crosby, Founder and CEO, SilVR Thread

INTERVIEW: Adam Orth, Creative Director, Three One Zero

THE ARTISTS

INTERVIEW: Angela Haddad, VR Artist and Producer

INTERVIEW: Annie Lesser, Immersive Theater Director

CASE STUDY: Jaunt Studios and the Invisible VR series

INTERVIEW: Mark Cordell Holmes, Art Director, Pixar

THE VISIONARIES

INTERVIEW: Larry Rosenthal, VR Pioneer and Producer

INTERVIEW: Paul Debevec, Senior Staff Engineer, Google VR

CASE STUDY: Lucy VR series

INTERVIEW: Brian Rose, Google VR Team, Community and Outreach

INTERVIEW: Ted Schilowitz, Futurist, 20th Century Fox Studios

GLOSSARY

INDEX

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

John Bucher is an award-winning writer and narrative consultant based out of Los Angeles, California. He is a regular contributor to VirtualRealityPop.com, LA-Screenwriter.com, HBO.com, and MovieMaker Magazine. He co-hosts The Inside Out Story Podcast, The Westworld Watch Podcast, and currently teaches at the LA Film Studies Center, where he leads courses in Virtual Reality storytelling and filmmaking. A popular speaker, John has given talks on five continents regarding story, technology, and art. He is completing a PhD in mythology and depth psychology and is the author of several books including Master of the Cinematic Universe: The Secret Code For Writing in the New World of Media, Storytelling By the Numbers, and The Inside Out Story. He can be found on-line at his site, tellingabetterstory.com, and on social media @johnkbucher.