Change The Date

Produced By: NITV/Start VR

VR Producer: Ciara Hehir

Director: Ben Smith

Delivery: 1 x 4 min 360° Music video

Some of Australia’s best hip hop artists have come together thanks to NITV, Elefant Traks and Bad Apples to produce an original song ‘Change the Date’, and an accompanying 360 degree VR experience.

The song and VR experience form part of NITV’s #AlwaysWillBe project  – an array of programming and events on and in the lead up to 26 January 2017 to encourage a national discussion on what it means to be Australian today.

Start VR was approached by NITV and SBS to be the specialist VR partner in the creation of this very special 360° music video. Joining forces with the NITV aboriginal production team, the collaboration saw the powerful video and track written, shot, edited and released to Facebook, YouTube and SBS app the following week.

Iconic Australian hip hop artists Nooky, Birdz (Nathan Bird), Urthboy (The Herd), Thundamentals (Tuka and Jeswon), L-Fresh the Lion, Tasman Keith, Ozi Batla, Kaylah Truth, Coda Conduct (Erica and Sally) and Hau (Koolism) share their views on why they think Australia should change the date of Australia Day.  

It was not until 1994 that Australia Day was celebrated consistently across states and territories on 26 January, and for many Indigenous Australians this date marks a Day of Mourning with some asking, why not change the date?

The video is available on the free SBS VR app, NITV’s Facebook and YouTube pages.