Wednesday, 19th June 2019
Avocado360’s incredible journey with Red Bull began early this morning. At the event center, we met the talented Driftbrothers, Joe and Elias Hountondji. These top athletes, along with their teams, were highly motivated and ready to dive headfirst into an unknown adventure.
360° shots with 8k cameras were a completely new experience for nearly everyone on set. We mounted cameras all over the cars to capture the most spectacular and immersive sequences possible. From 5 cm above the ground at full speed with screeching tires in the corners, to 2 meters in front of the car fixed with metal bars, inside the car, and even with drones flying overhead!
We spent an entire day driving, drifting, and filming on the track. After what felt like 50 tire changes and recording several gigabytes of footage — and most importantly, without losing any cameras — it was time to review the breathtaking shots we had captured.
What started as a simple test day quickly evolved into a full-fledged VR video for headsets and later became a spectacular full-dome project for planetariums.
Avocado360 continues to push the boundaries of immersive storytelling, working closely with Red Bull to deliver unmatched 360° experiences.
Red Bull decided to take things further, expanding the project to include more sports and more action. The plan was to shoot different sports in various locations worldwide, but before we could kick off production, the global pandemic changed everything.
Our project wasn’t canceled—it was adapted and streamlined to meet the circumstances. All sports were filmed with Red Bull athletes from Switzerland, keeping the action local but just as intense. We captured epic scenes of skateboarding at the Skillspark in Winterthur, freestyle motocross in Laax, and breathtaking freeskiing on the Plain Morte in Grans Montana.
Filming action sports is already a challenge with regular cameras, but 360° filming brings a whole new level of complexity. Our vision outpaced what the market could offer in terms of 360° camera systems, so we built part of our setup ourselves. Using Sony A7S cameras gave us the 4K resolution and the crucial 120 frames per second for stunning slow-motion shots.
We also deployed drones for aerial footage, and by the final stages, FPV drones were ready to capture incredible 360° views from the air.
With sports like these, you can’t just repeat the same stunt infinitely. Up to 5 cameras were rolling simultaneously, each positioned with precision by the director to ensure the best shot. The result? Massive amounts of data—we captured around 1.5 terabytes of raw footage per sport, and the entire project generated a whopping 20 terabytes of film data!
The finished 25-minute 360° video now takes up 500GB, showcasing the scale and ambition of this project. Every shot, every angle, and every detail was worth it to create this immersive full-dome experience that pushes the boundaries of sports filmmaking.
Like any other film, a full-dome spectacle needs an engaging intro, clear explanations, and entertaining transitions to guide the viewer through the experience. In 360° films, using a voiceover is essential since the field of vision is vast, and much more happens in every frame—making it difficult for the audience to keep up with subtitles.
For PLANET RED BULL, we created stunning CGI sequences to elevate the experience. The intro with the drops, the immersive space scenes with planets, and of course, the iconic Planet Red Bull were all crafted using advanced CGI techniques, ensuring that the full-dome environment truly captivates the audience from start to finish.
With every visual and technical element working together, PLANET RED BULL is set to make an impact not just in Switzerland, but in planetariums around the world.
CLIENT:
RED BULL
DIRECTOR:
Urs Wyss
PRODUCTION:
Avocado360
PRÉMIERE:
Planetarium Luzern
DATE:
1. June 2022
DELIVERABLES:
5.7K Fulldome Film 60fps
It’s 7 p.m. The lights dim, the anticipation builds, and the crowd at the Planetarium Lucerne falls silent. The moment we’ve been waiting for has finally arrived: PLANET RED BULL is about to take over the 360° full dome screen.
After almost three years of pushing the limits of immersive filmmaking, we are beyond excited to present our work to a broad audience. The adrenaline is palpable as the film starts to roll, wrapping the audience in a truly immersive 360° experience that transports them into the heart of the action.
The first test is over… and the verdict is in: people loved it! Smiles, applause, and an energy that filled the room—it was the moment we had dreamed of since the project’s inception. PLANET RED BULL had connected with the audience, and the journey of this film is far from over.
Now, we look to the future. The film will be translated into multiple languages and, with any luck, find its way to planetariums worldwide, sharing the magic of this production with audiences across the globe.
None of this would have been possible without the incredible support and collaboration from the entire RED BULL team. A heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you who helped bring this ambitious project to life. Together, we’ve created something truly extraordinary.
This is just the beginning of PLANET RED BULL’s global adventure, and we couldn’t be more excited for what’s to come!
