Virtual reality the future for movies?

(Reuters)
(Reuters)

It's the next step on from 3D -- watching a movie in virtual reality (VR).

Virtual and augmented reality are the current buzz technologies in Silicon Valley and there's a growing interest in New Zealand.

In the real world you may look a bit odd, but you'll be in good company in the virtual one.

Google's made Tilt Brush for VR artists and Facebook bought Occulus Rift, touting VR as the next social network.

And now movies are now being filmed to immerse their audiences.

"You become the editor," says stunt coordinator Guy Norris.

"You can choose, and the great thing about VR experience is every time you watch, it's a different experience every time."

Norris was responsible for the stunts on Max Max Fury Road and he recently caused a fuss in Wellington, while filming Ghost in the Shell.

But his new world is the virtual one and he's attending the Magnify Conference on VR, which has surprisingly become Techweek's most popular event.

"New Zealand is a great test bed," says Magnify's Matt Coleman.

"There are a lot of great starts ups coming to our event and a lot of them are building some great technology."

VR is becoming popular -- the New York Times' VR app is its most popular ever.

And Las Vegas is promoting sin city the same way.

"Advertising is always about creating compelling and convincing experiences, and with VR it's even more convincing than before," says Haydn Kerr from DDB Advertising Agency.

It's a race between virtual and augmented reality, which combines your world with a virtual one.

"It can become not only entertainment but also instructional as well, so I think very quickly it will touch everybody," Norris says.

And perhaps it'll change your reality.

Newshub.