This Oculus VR Experience Immerses You in the Drama of the 2016 NBA Finals

Documentary Takes You Through the Big Event in Virtual Reality

Published On
Sep 14, 2016

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
Music :
Apashe "No Twerk" (original mix) feat. Odalisk & P
Record Company :
Kannibale Records

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