Jona Camacho Releases Otherworldly 360 Audiovisual Video for His New Single, “Memento”

It’s a whole new world for Jona Camacho

The rising Colombian singer-songwriter has released the video for his latest single “Memento,” and he’s promising to take viewers to a whole new world.

Jona Camacho

The 360 audiovisual video is Camacho’s first virtual reality effort that he edited after watching tutorials on YouTube and reading blogs to understand programs like Cinema4D KinectCrazytalk 8 and Protools in order to create the interactive clip.

“I started off with test videos until I decided that I was actually going to risk it and do one all by myself for ‘Memento’,” Camacho tells Billboard. “It’s a really cool concept because not only is it augmented reality, but I was also able to implement a 360-style sound that moves around with the video. I’m not only just providing music, it’s a whole experience that needs your full attention to be able to see what I’m talking about.”

For the virtual reality effect, you’ll need special glasses and to watch the video on your phone. Once you have them on, you enter a post-apocalyptic world with an animated image of Camacho on a television screen welcoming you to the deserted world home to pyramids and a statue of Camacho giving you Big Brother vibes.

“I was able to scan my face for the statue and the TV. It was like creating a whole different world that takes you to a future of emptiness. It’s a dark topic but that’s what I envisioned for ‘Memento,'” he says.

The track gives name to Camacho’s debut album, which was released in May. 

While Camacho was able to pull off creating a virtual reality by himself, he’s leaning on another creative mind for the rest of his virtual reality videos. 

“I learned it because I’m a nerd but I know there are people out there who specialize in creating these types of videos. I’m working with a designer in Cairo for the rest of my videos. People deserve good quality so he’s helping me out with the rest of them.”

If you don’t have the special glasses, you’ll still be able to enter Camacho’s world but won’t get the 360 audiovisual effect. A tip for watching (with or without the glasses): wear headphones and let the music transport you to the unknown.

Mendonca Filho Named to Variety’s “10 Directors to Watch” List

Keep your eyes on Kleber Mendonca Filho

The Brazilian film director, screenwriter and producer will be honored as one of Variety’s 10 Directors to Watch during the Palm Springs Film Festival in January.The full list, which spans the creative landscape and puts a spotlight on a mixture of independent and studio filmmakers, includes Moonlight director Barry Jenkins.

Kleber Mendonca Filho

Mendonca Filho is being recognized for helming the Brazilian–French drama Aquarius, starring Sonia Braga as Clara, a retired music writer and the last resident of Aquarius building, who refuses to sell her apartment to a construction company that intends to replace it with a new edifice.

The film was selected to compete for the Palme d’Or at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival.

“One of the most exciting things for me about the festival is being able to host Variety’s 10 Directors to Watch brunch,” said Michael Lerman, the festival’s Artistic Director. “Not only is it a fantastic event, but it also nicely compliments our festival program with selections from our Talking Pictures and Awards Buzz sections, as well as the director of our opening night film The Sense of an Ending, Ritesh Batra. It’s an exciting list this year!” 

Here’s the complete list:

Maren Ade, (“Toni Erdmann”)
Ritesh Batra, (“The Sense of an Ending”)
Otto Bell, (“The Eagle Huntress”)
Julia Ducournau, (“Raw”)
Geremy Jasper, (“Patti Cake$”)
Barry Jenkins, (“Moonlight”)
Emmett and Brendan Malloy, (“The Tribes of Palos Verdes”)
Kleber Mendonca Filho, (“Aquarius”)
William Oldroyd, (“Lady Macbeth”)
David Sandberg, (“Lights Out”)

Previous 10 Directors to Watch include Ben Affleck (Gone Baby Gone), Ava DuVernay (Selma) and Christopher Nolan (Memento).

The list debuted in 1996 and the annual event moved to the Palm Springs International Film Festival in January 2011.