Former UCLA REMAP Team Members

Virtual Production Research Lead. Manny Francisco is an entertainment industry veteran with more than 25 years of technology-related experience. As VP of Advanced Creative Technology for NBCU/DreamWorks Animation, he developed its virtual production and real-time workflows, using performance capture, game engine and real-time visualization. Manny was also responsible for architecting Halo, DreamWorks' virtual studio telepresence system, an immersive unified studio that connected the UK, … [Read more...] about Manny Francisco

Sklar Entertainment Innovation Fellow, 2021. Zama is the first recipient of the Marty Sklar Entertainment Innovation Fellowship. In her third year in the Cinema and Media Studies PhD program, she was chosen to participate in major collaborative projects at REMAP that interweave the physical and digital worlds to share new kinds of stories, and engage with the legacy and future of themed entertainment. She previously earned an MA from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, and … [Read more...] about Zama Dube

Visiting Graduate Researcher. Xiaowen is a visiting PhD student from the Communication University of China, focusing on audiovisual art and science. Prior to beginning her doctoral studies, she worked as a television director, editor and writer for Zespa Media in Beijing. Xiaowen previously earned a master’s degree in Radio and Television, also from the Communication University of China, and a bachelor’s degree in Radio and Television Engineering from the Communication University of … [Read more...] about Xiaowen Sun

Undergraduate Researcher. Darica is a Computer Science major interested in how emerging technology is increasing audience involvement in storytelling. She first joined REMAP for the Future Storytelling Summer Institute 2019, dedicating to using AI to create an experience centered on the social impact of the Olympics coming to LA. Outside of academic pursuits, Darica performs and produces student-written Asian American theater with LCC Theatre Company. … [Read more...] about Darica Louie

Undergraduate Researcher. Since joining REMAP, Jamie has filled both performance and technical roles. He is interested in how computation can serve storytelling and how theater can be used to understand new developments in science. He will be graduating from UCLA in 2020 with a BS in Applied Mathematics, and hopes to continue acting, writing, programming, and learning to work with new technologies. … [Read more...] about Jamie Atlas

Staff Researcher. For REMAP, Rey has assisted on theatrical workshops using emerging technologies as tools for storytelling and that carry specific research interests to inspire audience engagement, activation and empathy. They hold a BA in Theater with a focus on acting and performance from UCLA TFT, and have worked as a lighting designer, audio/visual technician, cinematographer, photographer, and developer, and have performed in various capacities as an actor, circus artist and stunt … [Read more...] about Rey Jarrell

Visiting Graduate Researcher. Carlo is currently working on his master’s degree in computer engineering at the University of Padova (Italy), where he also earned his undergraduate degree in 2016. His research focuses on computer vision, machine learning, autonomous robotics, and algorithms. While at REMAP, his work includes serving as a developer for OpenPTrack. His work experience includes Android application design and development. … [Read more...] about Carlo Rizzardo

Visiting Graduate Researcher. Daniele is currently working on his master's degree in computer engineering at the University of Padova (Italy), focussing on computation, algorithms, operating systems, system architecture, networks, and databases. His graduate work has included developing a robotics system using ROS and C++ programming languages, which recognizes and moves objects. He completed his undergraduate studies at Padova as well, in 2016. Work experience includes … [Read more...] about Daniele Dal Degan

Graduate Student Researcher. Sam is an artist and researcher currently working on a PhD in Computer Science at UCLA, focused on analyzing and understanding movement. Sam most recently helped develop VSim at the Institute for Digital Research and Education. They have been with REMAP since 2017. Sam holds a BFA in Character Animation from CalArts. … [Read more...] about Sam Amin

Graduate Intern - OpenPTrack. Simeon Adebola is working on improving the deployment and operation of OpenPTrack with a focus on tools and features that make the system easier and faster to deploy and use as it grows in complexity. His interests and past work span multidisciplinary areas including low-cost robotics for STEM education, strategic foresight, the Maker Movement, education technology, learning & play. Simeon is currently a graduate student at Middle Tennessee State University … [Read more...] about Simeon Adebola

Software Developer. Samir Tabriz has been with UCLA REMAP since October 2017. His experience includes development, programming, web design and testing, and he works on deployment, testing and maintaining servers. He also focuses on containerizing applications. Samir graduated from UCLA in 2018 with a BS in Computer Science. … [Read more...] about Samir Tabriz

Project Coordinator, SCiL. Mira Saccoccio Winick is an aspiring director in film and mixed-media theater, and studied theater at the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television. Mira plans to draw upon her passions for social justice activism to create films and stage productions that are socially relevant and challenge oppressive ideologies. She is particularly interested in the power that storytelling has to create change. Mira has worked at REMAP since June 2018, and previously served … [Read more...] about Mira Winick

Researcher. Blair is a researcher interested in building physical and digital tools that leverage computation for creative purposes. In collaboration with artists, designers and engineers, he prototypes novel interactions and experiences. At REMAP, Blair’s work has ranged from AR software & systems for immersive theater to the sound platform for sonic furniture installations. He develops visualizations and mobile applications using OpenPTrack, and is currently focused on experimental … [Read more...] about Blair Subbaraman

Project Manager. Renee has been with REMAP since 2017 as a project manager. As an actor and producer, she is endlessly fascinated with exploring the boundaries of storytelling. At REMAP, Renee is proud to create artistic spaces where the perceived limits of technology and narrative are questioned. She particularly enjoys working with students across disciplines during REMAP's annual Future Storytelling Summer Institutes. Renee holds a BA in Theater with a minor in Hebrew and Judaic Studies … [Read more...] about Renée Mac Donald

Intern - ICE-AR. Sepehr Abdous is a student at Sharif University of Technology (Tehran) currently studying computer engineering, and working on Named Data Networking (NDN) as his undergraduate thesis. As an intern at REMAP, Sepehr's focus is on WebAROnARCore, NDN-RTC, and three.ar.js to create browser lenses(tabs) capable of giving a separate AR experience in each individual lens. Sepehr's industry experience includes Android and iOS development for startups, testing the performance of … [Read more...] about Sepehr Abdous

Graduate Student Researcher Emeritus. Randy is a visual artist interested in the intersection of the arts, media, and technology---specifically how user interfaces affect our perception of the mediated world and built environment, or how one's interactions with technology in physical space will form their understanding of place. He holds a BFA from Rutgers University, and studied phenomenology as a Postbaccalaureate student at the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to starting graduate study in … [Read more...] about Randy Illum

Creative Producer Emeritus. Zoe was the REMAP Production Coordinator for OpenPTrack, as well as an MFA student in the Digital Arts + New Media program at UC Santa Cruz. Their interests include installation art, play theory and interactive design. Previously, Zoe worked at REMAP as a project manager and researcher, contributing to several interactive storytelling workshops, including the Google-funded Future of Storytelling effort and local initiatives with California State Parks. Their … [Read more...] about Zoe Sandoval

Staff Developer Emeritus. Alexander, a.k.a. Nano, grew from realtime video to specialize in information visualization, human computer interaction, embedded systems, and public interactive installation. He enjoys making systems perform well enough to be left unattended for long periods of time, and if they can instill awe, wonder and inspiration while running, even better. Alex was a staff developer for REMAP from 2011 to 2015, and continues to work on integration and testing for … [Read more...] about Alexander Horn

Affiliated Researcher. Alessandro works on cultural, entertainment, environmental and social fields with emphasis on technology. He has produced several interactive installations exhibited between the USA and Europe, receiving public and private sponsorships. He studied Computer Science at the University of L’Aquila, with a thesis on perceptual interfaces at the USC Integrated Media System Center. Afterward he started as a researcher for REMAP. While based in Los Angeles he often travels to … [Read more...] about Alessandro Marianantoni

Amelia is a doctoral student in the Department of Information Studies at UCLA. Her dissertation examines the materiality and functional requirements for the preservation of electronic records. Amelia has worked as a graduate student researcher on the Recoding Innovation project team since 2009. Amelia has worked and volunteered for libraries, archives, and non-profit community organizations since 2006. Currently, she works as an arts librarian in Venice, California. … [Read more...] about Amelia Acker

Beginning in June 2012, Anmol was a REMAP intern concentrating on research and development for the Named Data Networking (NDN) project. At that time, Anmol was in his final year as a computer science and engineering student at LNMIIT, India. While at REMAP, he developed several NDN applications, and demonstrated some of these applications during an NDN retreat hosted by CAIDA at UCSD (November 2013). His research on Big Data for Business Managers was selected for the IEEE Big Data 2013 … [Read more...] about Anmol Rajpurohit

Austin is an aspiring computer scientist and a rising senior attending The Hun School of Princeton in New Jersey. He is somewhat of a glutton for all things computer-related, with an inclination toward algorithmic programming. Due to the lack of opportunities at school, he has been independently exploring Computer Science for a while. He is interning at REMAP for the summer of 2011 through the High School Summer Research Program offered by UCLA, working on a project that will produce a … [Read more...] about Austin Liew

Chenni is currently a second year graduate student in the Department of Electrical Engineering at UCLA. She received her bachelor's degree from Fudan University in Shanghai, China in 2009. Since Fall 2009, she has been a graduate student researcher at the UCLA Networked and Embedded Systems Laboratory (NESL). She joined the Center for Embedded Networked Sensing (CENS) and REMAP in Fall 2010. Since then, her research focus has been on the instrumented environment applications development based on … [Read more...] about Chenni Qian

Cole began his internship at REMAP in late 2013 after enrolling in TFT's newly created Non Fiction/New Media concentration. His work at REMAP was primarily directed towards the development of the Welcome Pavilion for the Los Angeles State Historic Park. As an artist, Cole aspires to use visual arts in conjunction with technology to make work that speaks to people's fundamental need to connect with one another. … [Read more...] about Cole Dalton Baker

Diana is a researcher at REMAP, working on the Remapping LA project. Together with Fabian Wagmister, she is both producing and building the community participatory interactive video media content for the project. She has a background in filmmaking, communications and human computer interaction. She holds two bachelor degrees in Cinema from Murdoch University with first class Honors from Binghamton University, New York and Multimedia with 2A Honors from Murdoch University, Australia and an MA in … [Read more...] about Diana Ford