Virtual reality, hygiene and you,
POP virtual reality headsets are hygienic, organizers say
Germaphobes, worry not, TIFF organizers say.
Fans of virtual-reality technology are delighted that this year’s Toronto International Film Festival will feature a slate of five films for their all-encompassing viewing pleasure.
But what about the hygiene factor? The headsets used to provide the experience cover a sizable portion of one’s cranium, including the eyes, and wearing them can certainly induce sweating.
But festival organizers are assuring patrons that their hygienic concerns are taken seriously.
“There’s no reason for anybody to be alarmed by using the VR headsets,” said programmer Michael Lerman.
In fact, the POP VR program, which runs from Sept. 16 to 18, has already had a series of test runs with audiences throughout the summer and precautions similar to those taken with 3D glasses at major theatres are in place.
“We’ll have some Lysol on hand to wipe them down after use so it’ll be nice and sanitary for the viewers,” Lerman added.
Kenn Hill, a deputy of field operations for Best Buy’s “geek squad,” said VR headsets such as the Samsung Gear VR, which will be in use at TIFF, are designed to be easy to use and easy to keep clean.
For those who may still have concerns, a solution may be as simple as bringing along some baby wipes.
“It’s going to sound funny, but the best thing, from my own experience, for cleaning and maintaining is baby wipes. They’re hypoallergenic, they’re antibacterial, they contain the products that break down whatever bacteria and diseases,” Hill said.
For those who may still be hesitant about donning headsets so recently worn by others, there is a solution: disposable Ninja Masks (100 per order) available on Amazon.com.
Tickets are $49 for the one-hour sessions and about 10 headsets are available per session.
Cinema 5 at the TIFF Bell Lightbox has been renovated to allow seats to be removed, depending on the audience size.
“We’re going to have (audience members) sit but they have the ability to stand if they would like, which changes the perspective,” Lerman said.
The sessions are long enough to allow participants to watch all five films, though Lerman notes, “you’ll have the ability to choose what to watch.” The program includes: Ch’aak’ S’aagi (Eagle Bone) by U.S. filmmaker Tracy Rector, set in the Pacific Northwest and focusing on the experiences of its indigenous peoples. It’s an international premiere.
Invasion! directed by Eric Darnell ( Antz, Madagascar) is an interactive animated film about an alien invasion seen through the perspective of two white bunnies and narrated by actor Ethan Hawke.
Jafri, by Australian filmmaker Michael Beets, about an African-Australian man who wanders through one of the busiest parts of downtown Melbourne every Friday afternoon.
KA The Battle Within, by Canadian filmmakers Félix Lajeunesse, Paul Raphaël and François Blouin. The film, a world premiere, takes its inspiration from the Cirque du Soleil production of the same name and features a martial arts battle between two rival clans.
Right to Pray is a world premiere from Indian filmmaker Khushboo Ranka set in the city of Trimbak, home of the ancient Hindu temple of Trimbakeshwar, a place where women are barred from the shrine’s sanctum sanctorum.