Overview
SESQUI is a touring immersive media festival celebrating 150 years of Canada. Through 360 cinema, interactive installation and Virtual Reality, SESQUI invites audiences to celebrate Canadian creativity and imagine ourselves in a new way. The project presents many novel challenges for the production team. Our presentation will outline the process of designing content that emphasizes technology that serves as an engine of human connection, rather than alienation, and allows for a “permeable frame” between different media and real and imagined spaces. These challenges will be discussed in the context of a government-supported celebration that aims to be relevant and accessible to all Canadians. Is it possible to find an analogue for Canada through immersive technology?
Objective
We aim to present SESQUI as a case study of how government projects present both a unique opportunity to foster innovation across industries, and the challenges of creating innovative media for an audience that ranges widely in their familiarity with new forms.
Target Audience
Everyone interested in creative expression, innovation and being an active participant within an immersive social sculpture contributing to a communal experience.
Five Things Audience Members Will Learn
- Learn about how the Canadian government is harnessing immersive technology for its Sesquicentennial celebrations in 2017.
- Techniques and challenges related to 360 dome filmmaking and exhibition, Virtual Reality, immersive web development, data visualization and digital marketing, and the holistic connection of these elements.
- Conceptual thoughts and theories on heterotopias, cross-platform/holistic media and ambient intelligence.
- Introduction to emerging Canadian VR distribution platforms and content creators.
- Unique challenges of producing content for government partners, which requires balancing innovation with accessibility, approachability and social responsibility.
