Virtual Reality Music Video
Dancing in the Shadows is a 360 degree virtual reality pop video set in the basement area of the old Warrington market building and includes a butcher, a baker and even a medieval candlestick maker.
The song is about what can happen when you stay in the shadows too long, with the message, “Step into the light and start talking talk about your issues”.
How to Watch
The video can be viewed on a mobile phone, laptop or computer. However the best way to experience the video is in the full immersive experience using a virtual reality headset.
Watch on Youtube
Click the thumbnail to watch the video on YouTube. Make sure to set the quality to the highest possible for best viewing experience!
This video has been several months in the making and is the collaboration of a group of lifelong friends inspired to help raise awareness of mental health issues. Viewers are also encouraged to make donations direct to a charity of their choice.
At the beginning of 2017 and after retiring from working at Warrington market, Stephen Pickering got together with a couple of friends to record some music for fun. The three musicians have been playing live together for years, and are established performers in their own right. Stephen has also produced many television commercials and wanted to have a go at a music video in the new 360 degree technology to create a totally immersive virtual reality experience.
While recording the music track in Tuff Gong Studio, they came across a young talented rapper named Kyle Hignett. He is a really nice lad with a powerful story around his personal battle against mental health illness. Kyle was the subject of national news in 2016 when his mum revealed that she often had to restrain him with handcuffs to stop him killing himself. Kyle had border line personality disorder and psychosis.
Read more about Kyle's story here
Due to the song being about Holden Caulfield, who himself had mental health issues in the book “Catcher in the Rye”, it seemed obvious to invite Kyle to perform on the track.
After the music was completed, filming of the music video started and a wide cross section of the local community with connections to Warrington market were invited to take part as dancers in the audience. Each person was filmed individually against a green screen background ready for inclusion in the video.
It soon became apparent that most had experienced issues around mental health, either with themselves or close friends and family.
Commenting on the video, Stephen said, "If Walt Disney had directed The Exorcist, I think it would have looked something like this. It is a humorous retro-horror flick aimed at engaging with young people. The reality is that mental health is a very scary experience and if we can help to encourage anyone who might be suffering to step into the light and start talking to someone, then that would be fantastic”.
“I am very grateful to everyone involved and particularly to Steven Broomhead, Chief Executive of Warrington Borough Council and also Chairman of Warrington Wolves for dancing in the video. Steven demonstrates how he is an ideal candidate for the television show Strictly Come Dancing”
See other characters taking part
Get the tracks on Amazon
