Discover the perspectives of creators in the 360° Story Lab (360 Filmmakers Challenge and MY World 360°) by taking a behind-the-scenes look at the stories behind the projects in the MY World 360° Creator Series and 360 Stories Series below:
MY World 360° Creator Series
Constructing Virtual Environments to Create Shock, by Constantina Tsiara, Computational Designer, Lydia Kontozoglou, Architect/Urban Designer and Tanya Makker, Architectural Designer, alumni of UC Berkeley XR Lab, USA. This session showcases techniques for constructing imaginary/inaccessible worlds in VR to communicate a strong message. Using their project ‘Polar Warning’ as a visual aid, they take the audience through the various elements that contribute to bringing the scene to life in a way that creates awe. These elements include: 3D modeling of the geometry, materiality, light and spatial sound.
Communicators of the Future: Communities, Representation, and Production of Narratives in Virtual Reality, by Thamyra Thâmara, Journalist and Founder of GatoMÍDIA, Brazil. This session aims to share methodologies for building narratives in 360º that enhance and expand peripheral voices. Using the VR production experience of young people from Rio de Janeiro’s favelas, this session asks viewers to think about who the communicators of the future are and why representation matters.
Building a Better World with VR/AR, by Guilherme Novak, VR/AR developer & content creator, Brazil. In this session, Guilherme introduces multiple real-world projects that demonstrate the power of immersive media and collaboration between emerging creators to innovatively drive progress towards the SDGs.
From the Lumiere Brothers to 360°, by Brian Berengard, Filmmaker and Educator, Puerta 18, Argentina. In this session, Brian shares how to convert the classic cinematographic language to a new VR language. What about shot sizes and montage? How can you share your gaze in the way you imagined it? Get ideas for how to adjust your approach to filmmaking to how immersive media will be experienced.
Afrofuturism: fiction and black imagery in virtual reality, by Andressa Núbia, founder of Ailuros and curator of new technologies at GatoMÍDIA, Brazil. This session introduces representations of the Afro-Futurist movement within virtual reality and how people can use the imagination and the appropriation of technological means to analyze the current problems experienced by black people and consider African ancestral concepts that connect the present to the past, and stimulate the construction of new future worlds from experiences in alternative virtual environments.
A Different Point of View: When Communities Design, by Rafael Bittencourt, Photographer and Designer, Brazil. In this session, Rafael describes ways in which his creative process is influenced through community centered design. Hear how his approach relates to themes such as co-design, collaboration and empowerment of peripheral communities.
360° Stories Series
Breaking Barriers – Set in Parkville High School, the 360° film Breaking Barriers reveals the inner thoughts of a student struggling with anxiety on the first day at a new school. In this behind-the-scenes look at their film, we see how the students created Breaking Barriers and the impression the film left on their school’s guidance counselor.
Raised by Charlottesville – Set at Charlottesville High School in Charlottesville, Virginia, the 360° film Raised by Charlottesville explores the community through the past and present day eyes of a young woman. In this behind-the-scenes look at their film, we see how the students collaborated to create a unique view of the community they grew up in before leaving for college.
The Drama Community – Set at Menlo-Atherton High School in Atherton, California, the 360° film The Drama Community explores the life cycle of a high school theater production through the eyes of its director. In this behind-the-scenes look at his film, we see how the student created a unique view of the theater community he calls “a second family.”
The Fakes – Set at Monticello High School in Charlottesville, Virginia, the 360° film The Fakes is a narrative story that shows how bullying can lead to suicide. In this behind-the-scenes look at their film, we see how the students created The Fakes, their personal history with bullying and the impression the film left on their school’s librarian.
Borderline – The 360° film Borderline: Crossing the Border, Reaching the Dream shares the perspective of a student who took on the responsibilities of a parent after her mother was deported. In this behind-the-scenes look at their film, we see how she and her teammates joined together around the topic of immigration and how telling her story empowered her to use her personal experience to help others.
The Tour – Students at the Utica Center for Science and Industry in Sterling Heights, Michigan produced an award-winning 360° film called The Tour. In it, students take over the classroom on the eve of a standardized test, leading viewers on a tour of their unique educational experience and explaining why creativity should be emphasized. This behind-the-scenes look at their film shares an example of powerful learning where the teacher takes a step back and allows students to guide their own creative process.
Privileges – Students from Germany and Kenya came together to create a 360° experience called Privileges focusing on Sustainable Development Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities. This behind-the-scenes look at their film shares how students combined their ideas as part of a collaborative production.
360 Story Lab