Experience Alex Honnold’s Ground-Breaking Free Solo VR Adventure
Jonathan Griffith Productions announced the release of the virtual reality (VR) documentary film Alex Honnold: The Soloist VR on Oculus TV, available on Meta Quest VR headsets. The two-part series chronicles Honnold, the star of the Academy Award-winning film Free Solo, on a soloing journey across the U.S. and Europe in ground-breaking VR.
A gripping experience for viewers enthralled by outdoor adventure, Alex Honnold: The Soloist VR is a ground-breaking VR production using the latest in high resolution 3D 360° capture in some of the most remote and wildest locations possible. The film is the result of two years of meticulous planning and crafting of the VR experience from Jonathan Griffith, the award-winning producer of ‘Everest VR: Journey to the Top of the World.’
In Episode 1 of Alex Honnold: The Soloist VR, viewers begin by getting to know Honnold, before following him to Yosemite National Park, home of the famed El Capitan, and Red Rocks. Viewers are then brought to Europe where Honnold teams up with Swiss climber Nicolas Hojac to tackle some of the toughest free solo climbs in the Dolomites.
Episode 2 culminates with Honnold and Hojac battling a snowy and wet summer in Europe while they attempt to free solo American Direct on the Aiguille du Dru in Chamonix and the Kuffner arete on Mont Maudit – the Cursed Mountain – the second-highest peak in the Mont Blanc Massif.
“For folks wanting to take a deeper dive into the world of free solo, The Soloist VR is the perfect opportunity to do so without having to leave the comfort of your own home. The film gives viewers a lovely look into the world of rock climbing from some of the most beautiful sites across the globe. It’s truly unlike anything you’ve ever experienced, in both real life and virtual reality,” said Alex Honnold.
“After seeing how audiences were enthralled by Alex in Free Solo, we thought that VR could bring people even closer to being on the wall with Alex as he continues to push the boundaries of the sport and human achievement,” said Griffith. “Alex Honnold: The Soloist VR brings an unprecedented engaging experience combining the unique immersion of VR with Alex’s gripping adventures for a truly unique viewing experience.”
In the film, Griffith (Everest VR: Journey to the Top of the World, The Alpinist) employed the latest in high resolution 3D 360° capture in order to provide an innovative and immersive experience for viewers. He purposefully kept the film as raw as possible to use the power of VR to bring the viewer into the scene in an authentic way. The film provides the feeling of watching Honnold and Hojac climbing live while feeling as though anything can happen on the wall. Distributing the film in Oculus TV on Meta Quest VR headsets allows for an immersive experience at the highest quality.
“When I watched the first versions of Alex Honnold: The Soloist VR in Meta Quest 2, the palms of my hands immediately started to sweat, and I knew the team had created something completely new,” said Eric Cheng, Executive Producer and Immersive Media Lead at Meta. “Griffith’s raw and authentic style makes viewers feel like they are there with Honnold and Hojak in some of the most gorgeous alpine scenery on the planet.”
After experiencing Alex Honnold: The Soloist VR, viewers can go behind the scenes of the boundary-pushing production with Making the Soloist VR on Red Bull TV. The three-part series, shot and directed by National Geographic cameraman Renan Ozturk, follows the production team and provides the viewer with an inside look at the challenges faced with shooting VR in these environments. The series delves further into the tensions and rollercoaster ride of emotions that occurred throughout the production process.
To learn more about the film and experience behind the scenes content, please visit www.the soloist-vr.com.
