Arithmetica’s SphereVision Discloses Henry VIII’s Excesses

A 360-degree video-recording system from Arithmetica has been used to create an educational yet entertaining 360-degree film about the wanton excesses at King Henry VIII’s Hampton Court Palace, UK. Forming part of the 'Historic Royal Palaces Tudors on Tour' event, the 360-degree interactive cinema experience explores the working kitchens, wine cellar and fine decorations of Hampton Court, inviting the audience to gather evidence of the king’s excessive spending for the treasury.

Created by specialist production company TX, using a SphereVision 360-degree recording and production system, the 15-minute film was first debuted at Tatton Park in Cheshire, where nearly 4,000 children immersed themselves in the digital 360-degree pop-up cinema from Igloo Vision on the first day alone. Tudors on Tour, including the SphereVision film, will return to the Tower of London from 23-26 July 2015.  

Interaction

Working in 360 degrees allows creation of an environment that really interacts with the audience, in this case immersing them in Henry VIII’s extravagant Hampton Court, commented Tracey Manasseh, a specialist 360 producer working with SphereVision. From the moment they step into the palace courtyard until they outwit the king’s guards to make their escape, the audience are captivated and engaged by the 360-degree scene.

The 360-degree representation of Hampton Court was filmed by TX using a SphereVision recording system in just three days on location at Hampton Court. The opening scenes  feature a lone Tudor nobleman who conspiratorially invites the audience to  collect evidence of Henry VIII’s excessive spending. The film transports watchers to the palace’s kitchens where they turn meat on a spit and help a struggling kitchen hand identify exotic ingredients such as lemons, apricots and  peppercorns, before whisking them into the king’s palatial wine cellars. Aimed at four-to-six year olds, the interactive experience continues with the audience learning how to bow, curtsy and even dance, before ending with the nobleman testing them on what evidence they have uncovered.

Range of applications

The SphereVision 360 video recording, production and playback system is easy to use, from on-site filming to the end user sitting at his computer or, in this case, watching in a pop-up cinema, said Manasseh. It has enormous potential for a range of applications beyond the tourism and heritage markets, including  security, site management, risk assessment as well as health and safety  management and training.