THE SCENE

o   A small room

o   A large, open space

o   Subject(s) close to the camera

o   Not much movement

o   Movement close to the camera

LIGHTING

Lighting is important for both mood, and the quality of the stitch. Choose one of the following:
• Daylight, outside
• Night, outside
• Indoor lighting

AUDIO

We are going to have narrators who will explain their side of the story.

EXPERIENCE

One of the unique things about a 360 video is its ability to transport another person’s consciousness to a specific place and time that you as the original witness were also able to experience. As such, before embarking on a 360 video you should think about how it feels to be in the situation, because people who “view” this video will partially feel like they are there. Be sure to address these questions in your script:

• What specific experience do you hope to give to someone else?

I hope to give someone the experience of going to all the different remembrance locations around campus. Hopefully they will feel that they were in the moment.

• What specifically is compelling about that experience?

This experience gives the people the ability to feel compassion and understand what each of the different locations mean.

• Why is this an experience that everyone should have?

Everyone should have this experience because it allows more knowledge of the situation and what happened on the day, as well as where the different students went to on campus.

• How do you think it will feel for someone else to be in this particular place and time?

They are going to feel compassion, this was a very sad thing that happened and by going to the different locations people can understand what these different students did and who they were.

STORY DISCOVERY

A good VR experience doesn’t really “tell” a story. It allows the experiencer to DISCOVER a story through their own explorations while also giving them queues that direct their attention at specific times for important reasons.

• Who is the subject or protagonist in this particular story, whether non-fiction or fiction? Describe this person or entity. If there is no human subject, describe the topic that you’re exploring.

We are exploring the different locations where those on the Pan Am 103 flight would go on the Syracuse campus.

• What problem is the subject trying to solve? Or if no problem exists, what moves the story forward?

Going through the different locations

• What audiovisual anchors either exist, or can you ethically place, to direct the experiencer’s attention toward the most important aspects of the story as it emerges?

Talking in the background of the video explaining each location.

• Why do you think it's important that other people have this experience?

To understand where these people went on campus.

• What will this experience allow the recipients to know or understand that they currently don’t

Gain knowledge about the students who are being remembered.

WHERE IS MY HEAD?

Unlike in a 2D video, the 360 camera isn’t just a window into a story that’s happening at arm’s length. It’s a head, and a heart, and a mind, and we transport other people into that space. As such, you don’t frame a shot. You put someone exactly where the camera is, and they can look anywhere — even at you as you try to hide. Think about the following:

• Where does it make the most sense to put someone in this particular place in order for them to have the most impactful experience for the story you hope they discover?

In the center of each of the locations.

• Is the experiencer standing, sitting, crouching, lying down, or something else? Where are they in this scene, and what should they think they are doing in it?

Standing, it should feel like they are moving through campus.

• Based on that, where should you position the 360 rig, and logistically how will you secure it in that place?

Tripod

• Is there a reason for you or some other subject to be in the scene — like Virgil served as a guide in Dante’s Inferno?

Maybe people walking around to give some action to the scene.

SAFETY

Don’t put yourself or equipment at risk! Think about these things:

• What can you reasonably do to stay out of the shot while keeping yourself and equipment safe?

Be nearby, don’t leave it by itself.

• If you hide somewhere, how will you make sure someone doesn’t pick up the equipment and steal it?

Watch it at all times, also through the app.

• Is this particular location a place that you think could look suspicious if you place the camera, push some buttons that cause lights to flash, then quickly leave and hide behind a pillar while glancing at the camera while pretending like you aren’t doing that?

N/A