PROJECT CASE STUDY:

Screen on the Green

Project Overview:

We recreated a cinema experience in virtual reality. In previous years, the PBS Short Film Festival was held in-person at a cinema. After theaters across the country shut down due to the pandemic, we wanted to showcase the work of the talented filmmakers in a new way.

Try the Experience

Opportunities

We wanted participants to have a sense of community and spatial awareness of others alongside them. So we needed a way to collect and broadcast viewers real-time positions in a scalable way. In addition to finding bugs, we also asked the testers to explain that they “got it”. And if they didn’t, describe what would help make it easier next time. A few of those suggestions turned into new features that we were able to roll into the next sprint.

Prototype: Screen on the Green

Accessible via compatible VR headsets or through a web browser, up to 500 participants can enter the experience at a time and choose from one of two environments, a daytime setting with cityscape views or a moonlit outdoor landscape and watch the 25 films.

How It Works:

At the center of each space sits a large-scale outdoor cinema screen, on which all 25 films play consecutively. As participants join, they can see the space populate with avatars and explore hidden Easter eggs, such as film posters or ways to support the not-for-profit US public broadcaster.

Key Features:

Choose an avatar.
Explore in VR with others.
Leave feedback.

Major Findings

77% of viewers who left feedback stated they would use this, if it was available all the time to watch PBS Content.

Prototype Takeaways

What Went Well:

We built an experience that could be available to anyone with an internet connection and computer, using WebGL and WebXR. We were trying to introduce viewers to a new way of watching PBS content in an immersive, virtual environment through the web, and solicit feedback to inform future releases or new products in VR/AR.

What Were The Challenges:

We underestimated the maturity of some of the services. Finding the right combination of services and leveraging them to provide a reasonably low latency real-time experience.

What Needs Improvement:

At the moment, participants cannot speak to each other. We may consider adding new features such as reactions, polls, audio chat, or having a live host, such as adding a filmmaker.