A sci-tech fest for curious futurenauts

The VR Theater: An international showcase of exemplary virtual reality storytelling

The Virtual Reality Theater - one of several immersive content programs at the conference - is a high-end, seated multi-viewer immersive space. It exists to elevate important stories that need to be shared and experienced, to broaden perspectives, entertain, educate, and empower. Featured pieces in the Official Selection use tech and narrative for good, explore what is next for technology and humanity, and meaningfully extend reality.

As VR Theater Director, my responsibilities included:

• Programming: Providing the overall program vision, setting and distributing the available budget, and developing inclusive, immersive showcase plans

• Industry Outreach: Spearheading the annual contributor call for submissions and adapting outreach plans to secure quality content

• Direction: Serve as program decision-maker for conference management, contractors, contributors, subcommittee and attendees

• Team Management: Appointing Subcommittee members, defining all roles, delegating tasks, scheduling regular calls and agendas, and giving everyone direction throughout the year

• Communication: Appointing a jury from initial invitation to final confirmation, overseeing the content viewing and eventual deliberation process based on CAG-approved procedures

• Logistics: Overseeing onsite implementation of all aspects of the program installation

• Continuity: Collect post- conference feedback, and give guidance and final report recommendations to aid the future of the program

• Community Building: Providing on-site and online meetup opportunities for creators, directors and attendees. Ensuring open and transparent information flow

Program Vision

Becoming, and Belonging

Nurturing emerging talent in the technology sector powers the global creative industry. Today’s young creators and storytellers defy boundaries and grow their identities both on- and offline. As we all live more fully online, we give a voice to digital embodied identification and the stories of the virtual beings of tomorrow.

our objectives:

• Progressive tech and leading-edge submissions

• Build community around shared virtual experiences

• Elevate underrepresented / emerging talent

• Joyful, welcoming attendee experience

New mixer space: The Metaverse Lounge

A welcoming, futuristic hub for celebration and reflection, located at the far end of the VR Theater, for participants and contributors to meet, connect and discuss all things xR

We were fortunate to be able to welcome a number of our honoured directors to this year’s conference, and host a casual 𝗩𝗥 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 & 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘁 in a more intimate setting, enabling original idea exchange and stimulating networking.

Proprietary Tech

To service the 40 free-standing VR stations and 4 VR Kiosks, our Tech Lead Vlad wrote a custom application that enables automated playback of 4 different types of digital media (.apk, .exe, .mp4 and .imm) on Quest 2 headsets with minimal to no friction. Student Volunteers could switch between internal Android execution and Oculus Link streaming, auto-troubleshoot and peek into participants viewports in real time.

Special Collaborators

Ringling College of Art & Design VR BFA Student Team conceptualized, designed and developed an engaging experience launcher, the virtual entry place for all VR Theater visitors. Once attendees were seated and headsets mounted, they entered an immersive, futuristic waiting room, to get comfortable with controls and settle in before the show starts. The talented student team then also assisted with hardware + software build-in, installation, testing and eventual show presentation at the conference.

Ringling College of Art & Design Team

Martin Murphy, Supporting Faculty
Susanna Alan, Immersive Environment Designer
Sophia Pensula, Immersive Environment Designer
Devon Royer, Immersive Environment Designer
Myles Scott, Immersive Environment Designer

Core Team

Marco Cermusoni, Technical Director
Jess Coble, Producer + PM
Yangos Hadjiyannis, XD Director
Julia Read, VR Theater Director
Vlad Ryzhov, Tech Lead
Conal Wright, Tech / SV Lead

Cal Chiu + Ebrahim Karam, Conference Apprentice Program

JURy

A curated, inclusive selection of industry experts shaped our international, inclusive VR Theater Jury, present both IRL and URL, to review the extensive number of submissions and help build a show worthy of the 50th conference anniversary.

Miriam Arbus, STYLY XR
Youhan Guan, Blackbird Interactive
Juliana Loh, Story x Design
Patrick Owens, Buffalo Buffalo
Pushkar Patange, Archiact
Will Selviz, RENDRD Media
Brian Troyer, Google

Other COLLABORATORS

Centre for Digital Media, Equipment loan, location rental
Josh Miller, Machine Whisperer
Dr. Patrick Parra Pennefather, Ambient Soundscape
Andreas Psaltis, Photographer #1
Petar Janeski, Tech Boi
Larry Bafia, SIGGRAPH OG