Screen School VR Lab

In 2020, The Screen School VR Lab returned as a virtual platform for innovation and imagination. Presented in partnership with the prestigious London College of Communication, UAL, this was a space for audiences to explore film like never before and an opportunity to take the viewing experience to new dimensions and be immersed in 360 film.

The VR Lab was complemented by a series of panel discussions, welcoming pioneering filmmakers and creatives to delve into the making and realisation of VR and 360 film through the lens of ethics, production and storytelling.

360 Film at Home

Audiences were invited lose themselves in the magic of 360 filmmaking and delve headfirst into bold and exciting stories. These works immersed the viewer in the centre of the action. 360 filmmaking offers the unique opportunity to experience the full potential of cinema, transporting viewers to new worlds and exploring different perspectives.

VR Discussions

What is the potential of Virtual Reality in the future? What are the ethical and moral codes that we must adhere to inside imagined environments? How do you adapt the storytelling process for completely immersive narratives?

Running alongside the Screen School VR lab, industry professionals and filmmakers shared their experiences in working with new technologies. In these live industry discussions, our guests explored the practicalities and challenges of VR.

VR for Change:
Beyond Entertainment

Hosted By
Dan Bartlett, LCC Screen School

With the film and gaming industries already seeing huge benefits from VR and 360, what is the potential for this technology to be implemented in other ways? This panel looks to the future, discussing how VR can be developed for positive solutions across medical care, rehabilitation and education as well as destructive purposes, such as military use or surveillance.

Panelists
  • Steve Jelley, Dimension Studios
  • Sarah Ticho, Hatsumi VR
  • Leen Segers, LucidWeb
  • Annie Wan, London College of Communication

Morality and Ethics in
Constructed Environments

Hosted By
Dan Bartlett, LCC Screen School

VR allows us to experience new worlds with growing realism. As we delve headlong into fictional worlds – becoming whoever or whatever we desire – what questions should we be asking about the decisions we make inside constructed environments? Experts explore the consequences of life in VR, its effect on morality, trauma as well as the illusion of choice in generated experiences.

Panelists
  • Tom Ffiske, Virtual Perceptions
  • Kavya Pearlman, XR Safety Initiative
  • Catherine Allen, Limina Immersive
  • Ana-Despina Tudor, London College of Communication

360° Filmmaking:
The Fundamentals

Hosted By
Dan Bartlett, LCC Screen School

It’s now possible for anyone to create immersive films – exploring a multitude of genres and exciting story arcs. But when you’re inviting viewers to step into a brand new world, how does it change the filmmaking process? This discussion covers the process of 360° filmmaking, looking at how to find an engaging story and introduce it to the virtual realm. Discover what you need to know.

Panelists
  • Jannicke Mikkelsen, Filmmaker & Cinematographer
  • Kate Wurzbacher, XR Cinematographer & Technologist

Immersive Sound:
Interpreting Virtual Worlds

Hosted By
Dan Bartlett, LCC Screen School

Sound is crucial to the filmmaking process. It is key to adding realism, through a delicate mix of sound design, foley and music. With the rise of VR, what are the new challenges in creating something that feels real from all sides? How does audio compliment an immersive experience? Sound designers and VR content makers list the intricacies and complexities of sound in virtual worlds.

Panelists
  • Chris Dain, Dimension Studios
  • Chris Walker, Bright White Ltd.
  • Victoria Mapplebeck, Royal Holloway University

Breaking Boundaries:
Documentary in 360°

Hosted By
Dan Bartlett, LCC Screen School

Journalism can often face a barrier between subject matter and audience. Filmmakers can struggle to present content in a way that provokes empathy. 360° film is revolutionising the world of factual content, delivering information whilst immersing an audience and challenging their viewpoints. Join a panel of pioneering documentarians as they look at VR for good.

Panelists
  • Mitch Turnbull, Founder, Bramble Media

Immersive Narratives:
Adapting Linear Storytelling

Hosted By
Dan Bartlett, LCC Screen School

Storytelling has changed. Audiences can now experience narratives as though they are really there – whether as an observer or as an active participant. What does this mean for the future of storytelling? How can we adapt to a non-linear structure, dictated by a viewer’s actions or decisions? What are the creative obstacles that need to be overcome?

Panelists
  • Marco Magnano, XR Safety Initiative
  • Tom Burton, BBC Studios
  • Ana-Despina Tudor, London College of Communication

In Partnership with London College of Communication

In 2020, for the third year running, we proudly worked in partnership with London College of Communication’s Screen School Programme to bring 360 film and informative discussions to viewers. Screen School goes beyond traditional academic models, designed instead to bring film and television together with the disciplines of games, animation, sound arts and design and live events.