Cirque du Soleil and Felix & Paul Studios today launched DREAMS OF “O”, the latest virtual reality experience created and produced through this award-winning collaborative partnership. Attendees at CES, taking place this week in Las Vegas, Nevada, can view DREAMS OF “O” at the Samsung booth at the Las Vegas Convention Center, South Hall S1.
DREAMS OF “O” explores the many facets of the breathtaking aquatic masterpiece, O by Cirque du Soleil. The 12 minute 360°, 3D experience submerges the user into a virtual reality universe comprised of aerial acrobatics, daring dives, fire and surreal amphibious characters. DREAMS OF “O” is the first-ever VR experience to combine simultaneous underwater and slow-motion shooting, which required significant technical advancement to accomplish using Felix & Paul Studios’ proprietary camera technology. As part of the studio’s continued creative expansion, Felix & Paul Studios again tapped filmmaker François Blouin to co-direct this piece, following a successful collaboration on KÀ The Battle Within.
DREAMS OF “O” is now available on Samsung Gear VR powered by Oculus, the leading mobile VR solution enabling an incredible VR viewing experience. Viewers can download DREAMS OF “O” in the Oculus Store, or watch a 360 video of the experience.
“I’m delighted to be here in one of the entertainment capitals of the world to see firsthand this incredible content partnership between two of the best that Canada has to offer – Felix & Paul Studios and Cirque du Soleil,” said The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development for Canada who is speaking at CES. “Together with the global reach of Samsung, this partnership takes interactive digital content and virtual reality to new heights, and serves as a brilliant example of Canadian innovation in action.”
This is the third collaboration between Cirque du Soleil and Felix & Paul Studios. The companies previously produced the critically acclaimed Inside the Box of Kurios, which won a 2016 Emmy® Award in the Outstanding Interactive Media – Original Daytime Program or Series category. In October 2016, KÀ The Battle Within was introduced at the Oculus Connect 3 conference in San Jose, California and was featured at the Toronto International Film Festival as part of the official selection of the festival’s Cutting Edge POP VR line-up.
“Cirque du Soleil’s O is one of the world’s most innovative theatrical productions inspired by the infinity and elegance of water’s pure form and delivered by world-class acrobats, synchronized swimmers and divers,” said Sebastian Sylwan, Chief Technology Officer at Felix & Paul Studios. “To immerse viewers in the same ethereal, dreamlike mood in an original VR experience, we combined simultaneous underwater and slow-motion shooting—a feat that required us to significantly modify our proprietary camera technology, merging the two techniques to more poignantly evoke the artistry, surrealism and theatrical romance of O”.
“We’re proud to release DREAMS OF ‘O’ to celebrate the success of one of our most popular shows in Vegas,” said Jerry Nadal, Senior VP of Cirque du Soleil’s Resident Shows Division. “Our partnership with Felix & Paul Studios highlights Cirque’s leadership in pushing the boundaries of creating outstanding immersive experiences. Virtual reality allows us to explore state-of-the-art platforms to complement our live show experiences.”
CES attendees and the general public can experience KÀ The Battle Within in the MGM Grand hotel lobby January 2 through January 12. DREAMS OF “O” will be on view in the Bellagio hotel lobby from January 4 through January 8.
