Discovery has launched a new project: Discovery VR.

Although there are only 10 VR videos on the site right now, you can control each of them for a full 360 degrees with your mouse.

There’s diving with sharks, skateboarding in San Francisco and a surfing lesson.

I found that changing the control setting to Mouse Grab from the default Mouse Movement gave me more natural movement.

In addition to the website, there’s an app for iPhones and Android devices. Create a VR headset with Google Cardboard or Samsung Gear VR.

The company behind the magic is Littlstar.

My take: I remember the initial release of QuickTime VR in 1994 which gave me my first glimpses of ‘virtual reality’. GameSpot has an interesting history of VR. I think the application to narrative film will be fascinating. For instance, see Intimate Strangers : Chapter 1 — camera placement and mise en scene become very important. I like the way the ‘dream’ is projected onto the ceiling above the woman. A tip for VR directors, place the camera just to one side of the ‘line’ and let the viewer pan from one actor to the other and back.