An original co-production between Secret Location and Banger films, Welcome to Wacken is a five part, virtual reality documentary that transports viewers deep inside the largest heavy metal festival on earth. Featuring unprecedented access and an explosive performance by headliner Arch Enemy, the film transports viewers to northern Germany to experience the sights and sounds of Wacken Open Air in a way never before possible. The film premiered at Hoc Docs 2017, and is available now on all major VR platforms.
Welcome to Wacken is comprised of five vignettes housed in a CG representation of the festival ground. In developing the interface we looked to papercraft and scale models for inspiration, creating an immersive miniature world for viewers to explore.
Each time viewers return to the festival interface they find new content has been added, allowing them to choose their own path through the experience while orienting each chapter within the geography of the sprawling festival grounds.
Our third chapter explores the festival through the eyes of Syrian-Canadian festival veteran Rabih. His story frames our exploration of the campground culture at Wacken, and the deep sense of community that binds it. We meet Rabih’s crew as they welcome his cousin Hannah, who recently fled Syria, to her first Wacken Open Air.
The production ran two camera teams throughout the festival, as well as a drone unit to capture aerial footage of the event.
A dreamlike sequence in our third chapter follows marching band Blaas of Glory as they wander the festival playing their rendition of ‘Final Countdown’.
The film was shot over five days on location in the summer of 2016.