Following his world-beating Free Solo project, Alex Honnold has embarked on a new VR expedition. Check out just how The Soloist VR was made on Red Bull TV!

The popularity of VR has steadily grown over the last few years. Helped massively by the pandemic and the limitations it opposed on people’s ability to go outside, VR has expanded into new spaces. When we first think of virtual reality, many of us immediately turn to gaming. But, VR movie has become the next big thing in terms of innovative cinematic experiences.

What Is a VR Movie?

Offering an immersive, 360 degree experience, VR video transports the viewer right into the action. Once the headset is put on, a viewer can take a look around in every direction of a scene. Whether this is breathtaking scenic shots from a mountain top, or simply inside the room of a building.

This type of video is usually shot with an omnidirectional camera, enabling the filmmaker to capture multiple angles at once. It can also be achieved by using a number of cameras in conjunction. Sometimes referred to as spherical video or immersive video, VR movies are the perfect way to let audiences get a perspective that was previously unavailable to them.

The Soloist VR

Free solo climber and limit-pusher, Alex Honnold, is known for taking on climbing challenges that can be difficult to watch at times. His last big project was the film Free Solo, documenting his unaided ascent up El Capitan, the 3,000ft rock formation in Yosemite National Park.

Honnold’s latest project, The Soloist VR, sees him navigate challenging peaks in the Alps and Dolomites, as well as the American West.

The film is only available to watch on Meta’s line of Quest VR headsets. Directed by Jonathan Griffith, who usually specialises in filming extreme mountain sports, the VR film is full of intense shots and moments. One moment, you could be taking in snow-capped mountains, then if you look behind you, you might be staring down at a terrifying vertical drop.

Speaking to The Guardian, Alex Honnold admitted, “even when I’m watching, I’m like, ‘This is a lot.’ I did the actual climbs, and it still feels pretty intense.”

Making The Soloist

You can get behind the scenes of how this VR movie was created. Head to the Making The Soloist VR page on Red Bull TV, and catch 3 episodes, around 20-25 minutes long, detailing how the movie was captured.

Get a look behind the cameras into how some of the mind-blowing shots were achieved, and how the crew fared halfway up the side of some rocky Alpine beasts.