This Oculus VR Experience Immerses You in the Drama of the 2016 NBA Finals
Documentary Takes You Through the Big Event in Virtual Reality
Editor's Pick
The National Basketball Association is bringing the 2016 NBA Finals to a living room -- or bedroom, office, car, you name it -- near you. On Wednesday, the NBA and Oculus are releasing a 25-minute documentary, "Follow My Lead: The Story of the 2016 NBA Finals," in virtual reality.
The VR experience (see the 360-degree trailer here) is available on the Samsung Gear VR, powered by Oculus, and the Oculus Rift. It traces the narrative of the June basketball championship competition between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors. The film includes behind-the-scenes as well as court-side video to provide a 360-degree immersion. Actor Michael B. Jordan ("Creed," "Fruitvale Station") narrates.
Jeff Marsilio, VP-global media distribution at the NBA, explained that there are many passionate fans around the world who can never attend a basketball game in person. The VR experience is the next best thing for such individuals, he said.
"We will be doing more," he added.
Few, if any, other VR activations are so lengthy and include such access, noted Ari Kuschnir, founder and executive producer of Brooklyn-based m ss ng p eces, which produced the video. Interested fans can stop by the NBA store on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan on Wednesday for the VR experience, which is also available for free via the Oculus store to anyone who already has a Gear headset. The film was directed by Ray Tintori and Gabe Spitzer and written by Aaron Cohen.
On Wednesday, the NBA will begin pushing out a two-minute 2D trailer marketing the film on Facebook.
Credits
- Date
- Sep 14, 2016
- Brand :
- NBA
- Client :
- NBA
- Production Company :
- m ss ng p eces
- Voiceover :
- Michael B. Jordan
- Director :
- Gabe Spitzer
- Director :
- Ray Tintori
- Writer :
- Aaron Cohen
- Executive Producer :
- Eugene Wei
- Producer :
- T.J. Won
- Senior Vice President, Production :
- Dion Cocoros
- Vice President, Venue Operations :
- Marc Hirscheimer
- Digital Media :
- David Thomas
- Digital Media Manager :
- Adam Fedorko
- Senior Producer :
- Adam Mory
- Producer :
- Guerlain Paul
- Video Effects Production Coordinator :
- Andrew Pidcock
- Executive Producer :
- Ari Kuschnir
- Executive Producer :
- Edward Grann
- Executive Producer :
- Brian Latt
- Executive Producer :
- Kate Oppenheim
- Associate Producer :
- Josh Penn
- Associate Producer :
- Dan Janvey
- Associate Producer :
- Noah Stahl
- Associate Producer :
- Michael Gottwald
- Producer :
- Ari Hakim
- Head of Production :
- David Saltzman
- Business Lead :
- Arelys Perez
- First Assistant Director :
- James Barrows
- Production Supervisor :
- Lauren Reese
- Commercial Coordinator :
- Luis Garcia
- Commercial Coordinator :
- Kathy Burnham
- Director, Photography :
- Larkin Donley
- B Camera Operator :
- Sam Gerzari
- Assistant Camera :
- Jonathan Rigatteri
- Digital Imaging Technician :
- Randy Kaplan
- Grip :
- Don Henderson
- Production Assistant :
- Ben Scott
- Post Producer :
- Drew Weigel
- Story Producer :
- Nick Eisenberg
- Editor :
- Nelson Dellamaggiore
- Assistant Editor :
- Will Kannelos
- Post Production Producer :
- Alexander Toporowicz
- Celebrity Talent Agent :
- Cody Irizarry
- Agent :
- Jeffery Geller
- Director, Engineering :
- Brian Cabral
- Content Research :
- Albert Parra Pozo
- Executive Producer :
- Peter Herzog
- Head of Production :
- Jim Riche
- Creative Director :
- Colin McGreal
- Senior Producer :
- Samantha Daniel
- Commercial Manager :
- David Bates
- Interactive Director :
- Steve Nix
- Production Manager :
- Rachel Bradley
- Visual Effects Artist :
- Laychin Lee
- Stitch :
- Matt Stocks
- Stitch :
- Lyn Caudle
- Technical Director :
- Dylan Rogers
- Stitch :
- Shannon Walsh
- Stitch :
- Ryan Hartsell
- Stitch :
- Sungman Pyun
- Stitch :
- Jared Brower
- Executive Producer :
- Jean Pascal Beaudoin
- Sound Mixer :
- Michael Ritchie
- Producer :
- Martha Mayakis
- Engineer :
- Jorge Fernandez
- Executive Producer :
- Pete Zepina
- Executive Producer :
- Morgan Henderson
- Executive Producer :
- Paul Maroon
- Record Company :
- Kannibale Records
Need a credit fix? Contact the Creativity Editors