GLADIATORS
History Live! Relive the lives of gladiators in the new VR-documentary produced by Faber-Courtial for the ZDF. The 10 min long VR documentation “Gladiators in the Colosseum” is a time travel experience which teleports viewer into the year 80 A.D. The viewer encounters the depths of human nature through probably the cruelest cultural tradition in history. The spectator is not just a viewer, as in a classic documentary, rather, they slip into the body of a gladiator and experience first-hand the struggle for survival. Later they sit next to the emperor – surrounded by 50,000 jubilant spectators.
With “Gladiators in the Colosseum” the ZDF again sets new standards for this burgeoning storytelling format. To archive a historically accurate and photorealistic reconstruction of Rome, footage of real actors will be combined with computer animation (CGI). It is a common technique used in Hollywood blockbusters, like Gladiator, but in VR it is a totally different ball game. The team of Faber Courtial digital productions has had to develop their own unique recording technology and software to achieve this.
FaberCourtial VR