Virtual Reality Is Projected To Be The Future Of South Korean Theaters
According to The Hollywood Reporter Nov. 5, a virtual reality showroom by Samsung in Gangnam, Seoul known as the D'light showroom has been attracting tourists as they are treated with a virtual reality experience that transforms a plain kitchen model into a theater-like narrative about a family working together to cook dinner.
Asia is seeing an increasing demand in immersive video games with the growing number of user-friendly virtual reality devices, such as Samsung's Gear VR headset and Project Beyond. These gadgets are not only seen as mere video game paraphernalia, but could also possibly be the future of filmmaking in South Korea.
Telegraph reported Nov. 5 that Samsung is set to unveil their Gear VR headset before the U.S. Black Friday sale on Nov. 27 and later on in U.K.
The Samsung VR headset was created in collaboration with Oculus Rift and can be plugged directly into the new Samsung smartphones, including Note 5 handsets, Galaxy S6, Edge and Edge+.
"Some people think virtual reality (VR) will be isolating but I think it's clear it's going to be a social medium," said vice president of virtual reality at Samsung Nicholas DiCarlo.
Filmmakers and cinema exhibitors in tech-savvy South Korea are looking past 3D and 4D and into the 5D world of virtual reality, especially that China's demand for Korean VFX talent and theater innovations grows stronger.
"We see virtual reality as the next platform," said JK Shin, CEO and president of Samsung Electronics' IT & mobile division.
The first virtual reality movie ever created in South Korea, "Time Paradox", was directed by Jeon Woo Yeol, who believes that virtual reality will spark the revolution in the movie industry.
"It could take up to several years to develop VR video games, but films have an advantage in that they require a shorter production time," said Jeon, who is currently working on four new virtual reality projects. "I think VR movies and audiovisual content will spearhead the VR market."
The virtual reality technology has been receiving an increasing amount of attention not only in South Korea, but globally as well.
NL Times reported on Oct. 8 that Amsterdam opened a virtual reality pop-up movie theater during the Halloween that allowed moviegoers to sit down and watch a video through Samsung's Gear VR headset and Oculus.
