In haste, I wrote about a topic which I took at face value, from the perspective of an ill-informed outsider. I wrote about the existence of VR never overtaking 2D cinema as the experience was too immersive to surpass the passive “voyeuristic viewing” that we all know and love.

What a difference a week makes.

As I write this, I am awaiting the arrival of an ‘Oculus Go’ VR headset to make its way to my eyes. I was drawn to the purchase due to one factor, an app inside the platform called ‘Bigscreen’.

Essentially, Bigscreen is a platform that allows users to interact in a digital movie theater. They can go inside an abundance of large-screen imax cinemas and watch whatever they want whether it be streamed from their PC screen in a private theater of their own, or they can join other user room and watch as someone else curates what’s on the giant screen.

It’s a 2D cinema experience in a virtual theater. Its immersion means you are going to the movies, without going to the movies. It is revolutionary.

Bigscreen CEO Darshan Shankar has remainded coy about the company’s interactions with major Hollywood studios, suffice to say — there are rumblings that big things are afoot with announcements planned for the latter part of 2019, once Bigscreen leaves Beta and enters phase 1.0.

Could this tip the scale in making VR mainstream?

Back in February, Zack Sharf of IndieWire wrote about the 2018 scifi release of Annihilation outside the USA — on Netflix rather than a traditional cinema release as intended. Fans argued a theatrical release would have showcased an enhanced viewing experience, whereas Paramount’s decision is a direct result of film fans not getting out to see risque and non-franchise films at the cinema.

Bigscreen VR solves this problem!

A screening of Top Gun 3D at Bigscreen

An exclusive ticketed cinema release of Annihilation on Bigscreen would have meant that Paramount would not have had to spend exorbitant amounts on the marketing and distribution costs of a traditional theatrical release whilst still giving fans the viewing experience they crave (these fans would handle the marketing).

The risk is mitigated for the studio and the release window can be long enough that VR users have ample time to consume before the film is then released on streaming platforms.

This is game-changing.

It’s also good news for indie filmmakers.

Since Bigscreen theaters can be hosted by anyone, international tribes that form around independent cinema, with access to VR (which is more available today than ever before) can congregate daily, weekly or monthly and consume their films on the big screen and discuss each others work.

Film festivals can go entirely digital on multiple screens at the same time!

Until my headset arrives, my excitement for this technology is muted. But the potential for these outcomes is very evident. As indie filmmakers, we should definitely take notice. This is how we can show our films in real time to a real audience in a real ‘virtual’ location.

I know Hollywood knows this. Can you imagine a simultaneous release of Avengers: Endgame on VR at the same time as its theatrical release?

I can.