Stuart Logan
Twine VR Projects to remember.
For Remembrance Day 2016, Twine helped Chelsea Pensioner, Frank Mouqué, became the first World War Two veteran to use VR software to return to a town in Northern France that he helped liberate.
We decided to use virtual reality because it is a technology with limitless potential – we wanted to look beyond thrills and entertainment, and, as far as VR content goes, use it to achieve something truly profound.
This campaign was a great opportunity for Twine to give people an insight into the positive impact the Twine community has on people’s lives – no matter what age or where you come from. Globally, our freelancers are helping shape the world around them and providing inspiration to many.
We posted a VR filming brief on Twine and found the London based video production company, Mutiny Media, to film the 360-video. We knew that they specialised in making cutting edge and highly immersive VR projects – so, for this project, they were a near-perfect choice!
The production company travelled to Armentières in Northern France to shoot the film. There was plenty of heart-warming footage:
- Shots of the war memorial in the center of town
- A tribute from two residents (who were children when the town was liberated.)
- a class of school children singing the well-known song, ‘Les Mademoiselle De Armentières’
- Mayor of Armentières, Bernard Haesebroeck, giving Frank a specially minted coin for his bravery in helping to liberate the town
After Mutiny Media stitched the 360-video together, we visited the Royal Hospital Chelsea and gave Frank a virtual reality headset to wear whilst we filmed his reaction.
Mutiny Media then combined the 360-video with Frank’s live reaction, so that both unfold in an inspiring and story-telling way. We also worked with London-based music composer, Paul Saunderson, who provided an incredibly evocative soundtrack that helped compliment the emotion within our film.
The project has made it into both national and international news, with Frank’s story and Twine’s virtual experiences involvement covered in digital and print media. Our VR project has been featured on Fox News, BBC, The Huffington Post, Upworthy, The Telegraph, ITV and many more. Not only did our campaign reach millions of people, worldwide – the feedback and goodwill we’ve received have been fantastic. We couldn’t have asked for a better result!
To see Frank’s reaction to the virtual reality film was humbling, and we’re delighted that we could give him such a special and unique tribute via immersive experiences. With VR technology, Frank was able to experience the gratitude of the people of Armentières, and see first-hand the enduring legacy of both his service and the sacrifices of so many friends.
If you have a VR headset, you can experience Frank’s journey into Armentières, here:
About Frank Mouqué
Frank Mouqué was born in Putney, London, in 1925.
A corporal in the 263 Field Company of the British Royal Engineers, Frank was a sapper – responsible for laying and defusing mines and explosives, constructing and destroying bridges and edifications, and participating in combat.
Frank was part of the D-Day assault on Sword Beach, where, under fire, he and his fellow sappers cleared a path through the mine-littered beach ahead of the other British troops. In the weeks following the D-Day landings, Frank was part of the Allied forces that took Pegasus Bridge and liberated several northern French towns, including Armentières – the town he remembers most clearly and most fondly. With the Allied forces, Frank pushed on through France to Belgium, Holland, and, finally Germany.
After the War, Frank acted as a military translator in Germany and a demining expert in northern France, before returning to the UK, where he married and had a family.
Now 91, Frank lives at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, which he describes as the “best nursing home in the world”, entertaining staff and fellow Chelsea Pensioners with his irrepressible sense of humour.
Source
About Armentières
The town of Armentières, near the Belgian border in Nord-Pas-de-Calais, northern France, is one of the most beautiful and historically important sites in the region.
The area was a centre of conflict in both World Wars, and the town and its people – whose motto is Pauvre Mais fière (Poor but proud) – withstood great hardships in the early 20th century. Close to the Western Front during World War I, and occupied by the Nazis for much of World War II, the town also served as a home for Allied forces at various points in both conflicts.
Through two World Wars, years of fighting, shelling, occupation, rationing, and loss of life, the people of Armentières became bywords for cheerfulness, resilience, and hospitality amongst the Allied troops. “Mademoiselle from Armentières” was a popular song among Allied soldiers in both wars, and remembered by many today.
Armentières is rich in 20th-century military history, and its tourist board and museum are highly active in international history and re-enactment activities.
Source
About the Royal Hospital Chelsea
The Royal Hospital Chelsea is the historic home of the iconic Chelsea Pensioners. Founded in 1681 by Charles II to provide a home for the relief of ‘veterans broken by age and war’, it remarkably still serves the same purpose over 300 years later.
Today, the Royal Hospital provides over 300 Chelsea Pensioners, like Frank, with a home, support and the highest levels of care during their advanced years, in recognition of their loyal service to the nation. Each Chelsea Pensioner understands what it means to be a soldier in the British Army and the sacrifice it entails. Veterans who reside at the Royal Hospital have served in World War Two, Korea, Northern Ireland and the Falklands.
Members of the public can support the Chelsea Pensioners’ Appeal, to ensure that the Chelsea Pensioners and their historic home are here for the next 300 years.
Source
About Mutiny Media
Mutiny Media is a revolutionary production company born out of a desire to make beautiful, engaging VR & digital content for all. Promoting international brands, communities and organisations, nothing can build understanding and trust like the immersive experience of virtual reality film. They provide crew, equipment and post-production solutions enabling the creation of immersive 360 VR content, explosive features, fantastic commercials and cutting-edge documentary.
Mutiny Media can be found here on Twine.
Inspired by our story and want to learn more about VR projects? Check out other amazing VR experiences here.
Ready to hire? Our marketplace of over 410,000 freelancers have the skills and expertise needed to skyrocket your business to the next level. From marketers to designers, copywriters to SEO experts – browse the talented bunch here!
Twine AI
Meg
