It is very difficult to find a VR-oriented business model which will get a lot of people excited. The music industry might be in the best position to make anything happen. The Red Room Project may be an example of what the future may hold in this regard. Combining virtual reality with hip-hop is not everyone’s cup of tea, but it certainly raises eyebrows.
Why The Red Room Project Matters
It is commendable to see companies explore new options in the virtual reality industry. The Red Room Project, while unknown to the public, is a big step in the right direction. It combines the best of hip-hop with the immersive nature of virtual reality technology. Although it is a short VR documentary, its potential impact should not be underestimated.
There are two different facets to this short VR documentary. First of all, it allows viewers to get more engaged in the jamming session of a well-known hip-hop artist. The entire “room” is shaded in a red tint, and it gives off a very different vibe compared to what one would expect. Secondly, it tells a narrative story which leaves a mark on everyone who goes through this experience.
Artist Shane Lassiter comments as follows:
“The red brought a different emotion out of my friends, which was very bold. So with my friends who maybe didn’t want to model or take pictures out in the open, in this red room, they would pose for me. It’d be sensual, and it’d be powerful. A lot of people have mistaken this whole red thing and the way I rap and perform as ‘angry Black guy.’ No, it’s passion.”
The main question is whether or not this VR documentary will generate any excitement. While making VR more accessible to the masses is a noble goal, the average consumer couldn’t care less about this medium right now. At the same time, this “casual” approach to introducing technology is to be commended first and foremost. It also further shows this industry is far from dead, despite the sales figures for 2018 being rather bleak.
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