In honor of World Cancer Day, Oculus unveiled some behind the scenes footage of their latest VR project highlighting testicular cancer, The Evolution of the Testicles.
Starring Chris O’Dowd (The IT Crowd, Bridesmaids, Thor: The Dark World), the short 3D 360 film features interviews with cancer survivors, explains the importance of getting checked, and sums it all up by taking you on a flight in a hot air balloon featuring a pretty distinctive shape—a 100-foot tall lighter-than-air vessel in the shape of a scrotum.
“We needed to push the boundary in awareness of male cancer,” said Patrick Cox, founder of MCAC. “We need something with really big impact, something that would start a conversation. Imagine if you saw a hot air balloon that was a giant pair of testicles flown through the air. That was the start of the conversation straight away, and that’s where Skyballs came from.”
“Men tend to be embarrassed about sharing medical issues, especially when it comes to their genitals. The Evolution of Testicles is a light-hearted way to remind fellas that we’re all in this together, our balls need to be taken care of, and there’s nothing to lose from having a squeeze,” O’Dowd told Oculus in an interview.
“Our entire campaign is about raising awareness. These days, raising eyebrows is a must in doing that. VR is a wonderful avenue to tackle a difficult subject in a new way,” he continued.
The Evolution of the Testicles was co-created by Oculus’ ‘VR For Good’ program, the company’s initiative designed to support content creators who see VR as a way to make the world a better place. The project was filmed in collaboration with the Male Cancer Awareness Campaign (MCAC), and directed by Flight School Studio VR technical director Ryan Hartsell.
The Evolution of the Testicles available for free through Oculus Video for Rift, Go, and Gear VR. You can also watch the 360 video via traditional monitors on Facebook.