Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/957795
16 DGA QUARTERLY G A D G E T S FOCUS Extended Reality Extended reality (XR) is a visual medium that should no lon- ger be looked at as a fad but rather a mainstay set of tools that can connect audiences in ways no tradition- al cinema camera can. Directors and DPs are using aug- mented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR) and virtual reality (VR) to reimagine new and immersive experiences in creative story- telling. The tech- nology behind these demand- ing work- fl ows includes state-of- the-art cameras, rigs, head- sets and software tools that can build complete environments. Here are some of those being used in production today: ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY SHAPES VIRTUAL STORYTELLING BY DARON JAMES IN PRACTICE: Early adopters include director Guy Norris for the Suicide Squad: 360 VR Experience, for which the Mobius 2.0 was placed on stunt actors for the characters Harley Quinn, Deadshot and Kata- na in order to put viewers directly in scenes from the movie. Since the success of the Suicide Squad ex- perience, Warner Bros. has continued its VR venture with IT and Justice League campaigns. » MOBIUS 2.0 POV VR 360 Radiant Images' Mobius 2.0 mounts directly onto an actor's or user's head like a helmet, providing 360-degree, 180-degree and POV shooting in stereo or monoscopic images. The lightweight housing is completely modular and adjustable to fi t di erent head sizes. The rig was designed for the Panasonic GH5, Sony Alpha series and GoPro Hero; up to 10 cameras can be placed around the head to capture images from all sides. Mobius 2.0 also provides alternative perspectives of the performer for the post- production stitching process. »