Nexus VR Short ‘Rain or Shine’ Released as Latest Google Spotlight Story

By Ian Failes | 11/18/2016 11:18 am | 0

The Nexus-produced vr short Rain or Shine has now been released as part of the Google Spotlight Stories series.

The immersive and interactive experience, designed for mobile devices, was directed by Nexus’ Felix Massie (In The Air Is Christopher Gray) and follows the story of a young girl who loves the outdoors, but who sees rain and clouds whenever she puts her sunglasses on.

The real-time rendered short touts a “new level of interactivity” for the Spotlight Stories, owing to its ‘gaze-based interaction’ that subtly alters the story based on how the viewer watches it. Viewers can explore Rain or Shine as a YouTube 360 degree video, with interactivity possible inside the Android Youtube App or iOS Google Spotlight Stories app. (The short is also available in the Youtube Kids app, available for both iOS and Android.)

The following making-of video has also been released:

“You’re putting the audience inside the story and that’s the big difference from watching a movie in a theater,” said Jan Pinkava, creative director at Google Spotlight Stories. “In a 360° world it’s very easy to lose the thread and one of the things we can do with our technology is have the show interact with the audience.”

“Google Spotlight Stories has meant developing a story in a completely new way to create something truly unique, that can change each time you view it, yet remain the same story. In essence, Google Spotlight Stories is another world viewable via your phone,” added director Felix Massie.