SAN DIEGO — Career Opportunities in Organized Crime is a new, feature-length film that was shot with 360-degree virtual reality cameras. The title is available for purchase at www.mafiacareersmovie.com for just $1.99.
Career Opportunities was created by first-time filmmaker Alex Oshmyansky and Akibimi Productions, LLC. The mockumentary follows the filming of a recruitment video for the Russian mafia and was shot both as a conventional movie and simultaneously with 360-degree virtual reality cameras. The movie is intended for viewing within virtual reality headsets such as Google Cardboard, Oculus Rift, or the HTC Vive.
In the 360 version, viewers are placed inside the movie, with characters all around them. The conventional version of the film can be shown in a theater or on TV.
"The film is a an experiment to see what kind of experience a feature-length virtual reality film would be,” says Oshmyansky. “I'm obviously biased, but I think it turned out great. The film is a whole new kind of cinematic experience that hasn't existed before."
The film is viewable on Android or Apple iOS devices, as well as on desktops through the Reelhouse.org webpage. Compatibility with GearVR and Oculus viewers will be available soon after.