Business Roundtable
Immersive or 360-degree videos bring the viewer right into the middle of the action and allow them to follow your narrative at their own pace and, quite literally, take a look around.
Beekeeper Group worked with the Business Roundtable to create a 360-degree video to highlight the issue of our nation’s deteriorating inland waterway system. Our team created a virtual experience that allowed viewers to witness the scope of a functioning lock and dam on the Ohio River outside Pittsburgh. From standing on top of this massive piece of infrastructure to riding on a river barge the 360-degree video allowed us to share a reality that would be impossible in any other format. It’s something you have to see to believe.
These videos aren’t as difficult to produce as you might expect, it just takes some planning. The view in every direction is recorded at the same time, using special cameras that capture all angles simultaneously. The viewer can control the viewing direction while watching the video and can pan to different areas of focus as the video plays.
In addition to watching on a flat screen or mobile device, the videos can also be viewed through virtual reality headsets (such as Google Cardboard or Facebook Oculus) for a deeper and more immersive experience. YouTube, Facebook, and Vimeo now support this video type and media outlets such as The New York Times have used VR to give readers a deeper connection to stories.
The process for putting together a video like this consists of:
- Development of Script and Storyboard: Beekeeper Group would take the lead on drafting a script and storyboard that would guide the video that would need to be recorded, outline the overlaid facts, and serve as the narration for the video. Must take into account that each scene needs to be compelling from all angles.
- Sourcing 360 Video: After storyboard and script sign-off, Beekeeper Group would work to source appropriate video content that would work in a 360-degree format. There would likely be a number of shots required to touch upon the various topics and ensure an immersive experience.
- Designing and Adding Graphics Elements: The Beekeeper Group team would design single-fact info cards (similar to the samples shown above) that would be placed in the 360 videos in the appropriate location and time. Each of these elements would drive a specific piece of the overall narrative.
- Publishing Video: Upon approval, Beekeeper Group would work with your organization to publish the video on the appropriate social media channels, create supporting content to embed the video on your website, and promote if requested.