How Cameras and Creativity Brought the First Feature-Length Film to Life on Apple Vision Pro

hanks to the evolution of immersive video content, visual artists like Elad Offer have a new canvas to explore and push boundaries with. Bono: Stories of Surrender is a groundbreaking film available in both 2D and 3D formats, creating the first feature-length Apple Immersive Video experience for the Apple Vision Pro headset. Making this vision a reality was no easy feat for Elad Offer as the Creative Director, tasked with ensuring that both versions of the film captured the essence of Bono’s artistry in unique ways.

Premiering at the 78th Cannes Film Festival in 2D, the film also made its way to Apple TV+ for non-Vision Pro owners to enjoy. The transition from traditional 2D to the immersive Vision Pro experience presented Offer with the challenge of merging Bono’s creativity seamlessly into this cutting-edge technology. With special Apple high-resolution, high-speed cameras involved in the process, the project was truly pushing the boundaries of what immersive storytelling could achieve.

The technical aspects of envisioning a 3D film within a 2D workflow posed a significant challenge for Offer and his team. This required clever adaptations to convey the immersive elements of the film in a way that would make sense in a traditional video format. The creative studio responsible for bringing this vision to life, The-Artery, had to constantly innovate to bridge the gap between 2D and 3D storytelling.

Trying to describe the immersive experience of Bono: Stories of Surrender to those who haven’t seen it on the Apple Vision Pro is like speaking a different language. The impact and emotion of the film truly come to life when viewed with the actual headset, and words simply can’t do justice to the depth of the experience. However, witnessing the reactions of first-time viewers and seeing their awe and amazement is a gratifying reward for all the hard work that went into creating this immersive masterpiece.

Immersive filmmaking is a unique blend of theater and cinema, requiring meticulous attention to spatial relationships and viewer engagement unlike anything seen in traditional movies. The vast field of view in the Vision Pro format presents both challenges and opportunities for creators, pushing the boundaries of storytelling in exciting new ways. From composition to directing attention, creating an immersive film is a journey of discovery and innovation that continues to captivate audiences worldwide.