From July 9 to 28, the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television’s 2018 Future Storytelling Summer Institute brought together a multidisciplinary group of graduate students, faculty, staff, and distinguished guest artists/mentors to investigate storytelling in augmented reality (AR) and explore the unique possibilities it offers as a platform for social impact entertainment.
The guiding question, at the intersection of research and practice, for the Institute was: What makes augmented reality unique and valuable as a platform for “next generation narrative” that engages audiences around social impact themes; creates resonant storytelling experiences; inspires students to create stories that illuminate the human condition and social change; and makes a difference in the world.
Led by Professor Jeff Burke, the 2018 Institute expanded upon the experience of the 2014 session, which based its work on the theme of the magic lantern. UCLA REMAP researchers developed the augmented reality platform and guided the students’ process in preparation for and during the Institute.
Funding for the 2018 Future Storytelling Summer Institute was made possible by the Dean of the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television through a generous grant from the Skoll Institute for Social Impact Entertainment at UCLA TFT.
For a video recapping the 2018 UCLA TFT Future Storytelling Summer Institute, visit https://vimeo.com/315600478.
Full credits and the experience synopsis can be found below the gallery.
CREATORS / INSTITUTE PARTICIPANTS
Amani Alsaied – Director
Jacqueline Barnes – Animator / Writer
JP Barry – Designer
Aaron Centeno – Sound Designer
Matt Curtin – Performer
Susan Garyantes – Production Designer
Rey Jarrell – Performer / Lighting Designer
Mads Larsen – Writer
Urvashi Lele – Designer
Zizi Li – Dramaturg
Alejandra Madrigal-Aviña – Costume Designer
Yugandhara Muthukrishnan – Director
Ryan Stevens – Writer
Jean Carlo Yunén Aróstegui – Director
Ziqi Wang – Sound Designer
Yi Lin Zhao – Costume Designer
CAST
(in order of appearance)
Rey Jarrell – Hoa
Diadra Smith – Ykka / Damaya
Tanya Alexander-Henderson – Syenite
Arie Thompson – Essun
Michael Bauer – Schaffa
AUGMENTED REALITY TEAM
(UCLA Center for Research in Engineering, Media and Performance)
Simeon Adebola – Phone Deployment
Sam Amin – Designer / Developer
Peter Gusev – Lead Developer
Renée Mac Donald – Production Manager
Natalia Pavlova – Exhibit Design
Zoe Sandoval – Creative Producer
Jared J. Stein – Senior Researcher / Dramaturg
Blair Subbaraman – Developer
Samir Tabriz – Developer
Kevin Tolby – Developer
Cao Wei – Visiting Scholar
Mira Winick – Stage Manager
FACULTY DIRECTOR
Jeff Burke
FACULTY CONSULTANTS
Myung Hee Cho
Neil Landau
Sylvan Oswald
Marike Splint
DISTINGUISHED GUEST MENTORS
Raza Ahmad – AR Storytelling
Daniel Baker – Experience Design
Jason Brush – User Experience
Eric Fanghagel – Unity Development
Mark Mine – Creative Technology
Margot Padilla – AR Sound
Ray Scanlon – Research & Development
Rory Thost – Social Impact
Tom Williams – Live Production
DOCUMENTARY CREW
Jonni Tecle
Cole McCarthy
Siru Wen
RUNNING CREW
Shannon Barondeau
Colin Jiang
UCLA DEPT. OF THEATER PRODUCTION STAFF
Daniel Ionazzi – Director of Production
Christina Vacchiano – Production Manager
Drina Durazo – Production Services Manager
Daniel Gutierrez – Technical Director
Aaron Wong – Technical Director
Cody Soper – Master Electrician
Jonathan Burke – Audio Supervisor
Kevin Williams – Prop Supervisor
Stephanie Workman – Costume Supervisor
Turk Magnanti – Costume Technician
Kevin Williams – Properties Supervisor
Don Dyke – Scene Shop Supervisor
Michael Sellers – Master Carpenter
UCLA DEPT. OF FILM, TELEVISION AND DIGITAL MEDIA STAFF
Beau Marks – Production Manager
Albert Malvaez – Equipment Office Manager
Thientam Nguyen – Equipment Office
SPECIAL THANKS
UCLA TFT Skoll Center for Social Impact Entertainment; Teri Schwartz, Dean, UCLA TFT; Brian Kite, Chair, Dept. of Theater; Kathleen McHugh, Chair, Dept. of Film, Television and Digital Media; Steve Anderson; Peter Bisanz; Laura Herb; Janis Wilson; Erica Griffin; Gayla Seregi; Matt Donat; Chrisi Karvonides; Doug Daniels; Philip Soderlind; Jonathan Coleman; Ivan Irvani; Ginevra Lombardo; Austin Taylor; Phillip Powers; Devon Baur; Perforce.
EXPERIENCE SYNOPSIS
APPRENTICE AT THE END OF THE WORLD
By Jacqueline Barnes, Mads Larsen, and Ryan Stevens
Based on ideas by the Institute participants
Inspired by The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin
What if… The world just ended. Would you support the annihilation of a powerful and threatening group if you thought it would give your society a greater chance of survival?
In a world not too unlike our own, Earth punishes its inhabitants at irregular intervals. When nature goes amok, every village must fortify behind walls to endure death and starvation until balance is restored. These cataclysms are unpredictable in their scope and duration, and many fear the day a Season will permanently destroy the world.
As apprentices without a community to belong to, the audience members must learn who they are and develop their unique powers, so that when the world is ripped apart, they can help their mentors fight for what they believe is right.
As apprentices arrive at a safe haven, the neighboring village brings a cruel ultimatum. Forced to choose between meager survival in an unforgiving wilderness and a life of servitude under a merciless ruling class, our audience has to navigate their own displaced existence.
Why Now… Dormant and politely-ignored prejudices and anxieties have been boiling over at an alarming rate. Multiple refugee crises, border crises, and humanitarian disasters are battling for space in the headlines. Climate change and global migration push us to find new answers to an old question: Are our group identities where our loyalties must lay, or is it time to unite?
Freud Playhouse, UCLA—2018.