BENJAMIN STEIGER LEVINE
CREATIVE DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR
SELECTED WORK
COMMERCIAL
EXPERIENTIAL COMMERCIAL
NARRATIVE
MUSIC VIDEO
ABOUT


MARCO & POLO GO ROUND



A couple’s relationship unravels as gravity is turned on its head. This VR expereince and 2D traditional film  went to over 40 festivals worlwide including Cannes xr, Tribeca, Annecy  Clermont-Ferrand and won several honors including top prize at Kaohsiung,  Asia’s largest VR festival.








Credits

Production co: Item 7
Producer: Audrey Pacard
Director: Benjamin Steiger Levine
Screenwriter: benjamin Steiger Levine & Greg Kaufma
Art Director: Sam Walker
Build:DPT
Film Editor: Greg Kaufman


CASE STUDY







Based on experiences myself and co-writer Gregory Kaufman have had in relationships we created a deeply personal story to be experienced as a visceral roller coaster ride.  


In telling our story in VR we had to consider performance from every angle and how the loss of gravity would be felt in an immersive environement. With no frame guiding the viewer’s POV, our kitchen  was built in a video game engine and the user  had agency to move freely in this 360 degree space.
 


















We started by designing the
physical world, based on memories of old Montreal aprtments.

































Board-o-amatics and previz metioculously enformed
how I directed motion and facial capture sessions.








                          Body scans of our actors were then textured to create painterly-like
                          versions of our heroes that were both styalized and touching.




















The loss of gravity was simulated in houdini
with objects crashing through the ceiling.










Final renders brought the story to life.






PHI center created this instalation space were the project had a an extended residency. In headset , users litearlly particpate in the pain and eventual surrender that comes with the letting go of love.