New Zealand Director Luke Ross chats with FIVARS about the process behind creating his spherical video documentary film, ‘Saturday Night.’
What led to the creation of this piece?
I love creating documentaries. I think it’s fascinating to explore why people live the way they do, digging into their interests and passions. The ‘Saturday Night’ concept emerged when I reflected on how my Saturday nights have changed over the years. I’m in my late twenties; I’ve partied at university, I’ve done some traveling, and now I’m settling down in my hometown for the next wee while. I have a long-term partner, Alice, and a little dog, Louie, and my Saturday nights have changed wildly from five years ago. I have a lot of life left to live, and it always changes. It’s exciting! ‘Saturday Night’ was my answer to the question, “What’s next for me?”
What was the production process for you and your team? What did you learn?
This was my first virtual reality production. I spearheaded this project and did most of the heavy lifting—producing, directing, editing, and distributing. My partner in crime, Alice, handled the on-set audio recording (for the first time, I might add!), and my colleague, Luana Barnes, helped me with an audio mix. I asked around for a lot of advice, especially for the audio recording process—but honestly, it was a bit of a mess!
It was a little bit overwhelming to manage all of the new elements at once, but there were moments of calm during recording when I pressed record and ran out of the frame to hide. My biggest learning is not to approach another VR project without a bigger crew. This was a lovely opportunity to dip my toes into the VR world, but I want to produce a higher-quality technical product for my next VR project. That means more crew, more expertise, and more budget.
How did you become an immersive media content creator and why?
Virtual reality is a medium that I’ve been interested in for a long while, but I firmly believe that the technology is still years away from mainstream adoption. What better time to start exploring this new field? I love telling stories, and there are some exciting opportunities for new ways of storytelling in the immersive space. What are they? Who knows! ‘Saturday Night’ was a great way to explore telling intimate stories.
It was fascinating to gauge my cast and crew’s reaction to the film. I strongly remember my father’s reaction to watching the film: he found it very uncomfortable! He felt awkward being in someone’s personal space, something that no one else commented on. I love how personal virtual reality is, and I want to make more content that makes you feel connected to the world that you’re in.
What is the VR/AR industry like in your region?
Lacklustre, to say the least! There are minimal/no funding opportunities for VR content, which is a big shame. New Zealand always lags a few years behind, so once VR adoption is higher, more funding will become available.
What do you have planned for the future?
I’m currently developing my first VR drama film, ‘The Moment After.’ It’s currently in pre-production and is a unique concept tailored to the VR experience. The next step is collaborating with a writer to develop the first draft. This is an exciting project that I think will do well, but as mentioned, I want this project to demonstrate a beautiful, cinematic world that places the subject into an intimate series of movements.
To do this, I need a larger crew and some wrap-around financial support to achieve my vision. I’m ready to jump-start this project, but a few other short film projects are currently on the hot plate that I am cooking up first. I’m keeping an eye out for funding for VR projects, and I’m open to collaborating with producers to get the film made.
What would you like to share with fellow content creators and the industry?
I’m so excited that I get to share this documentary with the world at the FIVARS festival. That’s what I want to share – my stories! This documentary is particularly special, as it involved a lot of close friends and family. I had a short timeframe for the production of Saturday Night, and I wrangled the people who I had close to me to star in front of the camera. A big shout-out to Brenda (my Nana), who stole the show. Interviewing her was a sweet experience, as this film was her first time on camera. I’m excited to share more of my stories in this medium.
Do you think VR festivals like FIVARS are important?
Yes, festivals highlighting any new and emerging platform are vital for developing interesting stories.
Saturday Night plays at the FIVARS 2024 Festival from October 3rd through October 31st.
