Meta filmed this action-packed stunt video entirely on Ray-Ban Meta glasses

When Meta released its video-recording Ray-Ban Meta (RBM) Smart Glasses, I remember thinking someone would try to make a short or feature film using the glasses. Well, alas, the universe delivered. On Wednesday (Sept. 25), Meta unveiled a short film during its Connect 2024 event created by filmmaker Matthew Vaughn (known for his work on the “Kingsman” franchise, “Fantastic Four” and more) using only the video-capable Ray-Ban glasses. Shot in the style of Vaughn’s famous action movies, Ray-Ban Meta’s “Stunt Film” stars the director, Vaughn, as “The Nutcracker,” John Cena as “Chestnut,” Benson Boone as “Go Nuts,” and stunt artists Damian Walters as “Walnut,” Bobby Holland Hanton as “Nutjob,” Greg Townley as “Hardnut,” Paul Lowe as “Peanut” and Haruka Oshima as “Hazelnut” as they perform daredevil stunts on Meta’s Menlo Park campus. The film was made entirely—yes, entirely, Vaughn underscored—using Ray-Ban Metas with no additional cameras or digital manipulation. “Stunt Film,” as a result, features first-person point-of-view shots of fight scenes, dangerous jumps and more as various glasses capture different angles. At one point in the video, the Ray-Ban Metas even capture a drone shot, achieved by clipping the glasses onto a drone. “When I was told about the Ray-Ban Meta glasses and I put them on, I was literally astonished, not just because they can film, but I was listening to music on them. I was making phone calls. And I was just thinking, ‘God, if we go to a concert [with these glasses], my kids might actually use their eyeballs again instead of just holding up a phone,” Vaughn told Ad Age. “I realized the human head is like the best gyroscope in the world. So, I said to Meta, ‘Why don't we make a little movie?’ And they loved the idea. Mark [Zuckerberg] is into action and stunts, so he leaned in as well.” In the film, the stunt artists each wear their own set of RBMs. Other glasses were used and placed on the floors, on tables, and in other places to capture angles. The biggest challenge, Vaughn said, was to act as both director and camera operator, along with directing others how to operate their own cameras. One notable observation he made is that human nature pushes us to look in certain directions with our eyes. However, to capture certain point-of-view shots in the film, the actors had to turn their entire heads. In addition, they had to angle their heads to the left, toward the side of the glasses with the camera. To master that, the stunts were rehearsed in advance. Yet the film aims to show the storytelling power of technology through the various action scenes. It also aims to show the potential of storytelling through this medium, which is immersive and less detached than a cell phone, for example, Vaughn told Ad Age. “This technology will make it easier for people to film a film and edit the film. But I always say it’s not about the budget, it’s all about the story. So I hope kids or adults, or anyone who puts on these glasses, has a reason for it. There has to be a good story,” he said. In addition to the three-minute short film, Meta launched a one-minute trailer during the event. The film will also run on its owned and earned channels. Benson Boone scored the film, teasing a new song called “I Wanna Be the One You Call,” likely to be released in November, with a full album coming mid-2025. Boone notably also did all his own stunts for the film, despite no formal training. "Working with Matthew Vaughn on the Ray-Ban Meta glasses stunt film was an incredible experience. His creative vision and ability to push boundaries brought a unique energy to the project, perfectly aligning with the innovative capabilities of the glasses,” Shachar Scott, VP of global marketing at Meta Reality Labs told Ad Age in a statement. “The collaboration was seamless, and the result is something truly groundbreaking that we’re all proud of. And it’s only the beginning …” And thus the cliffhanger suggests more to come from Ray-Ban Meta glasses. More Creativity coverage from Ad Age: Sign up for our daily Creativity newsletter to see the best stories of the day.

Meta filmed this action-packed stunt video entirely on Ray-Ban Meta glasses

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