Tribeca Film Festival 2019: Immersive Round Up

This year at Tribeca Film Festival there were some incredible immersive opportunities that I was able to do. I always enjoy them. I’m especially fond of programs that get you involved. There were a few experiences that stood out to me, and they all had this in common. In addition to the virtual arcade, I was also able to enjoy the Cinema 360 aspect this year, and that also left a huge impression.

I was able to catch the Cinema 360 unit Go Team! It was about 40 minutes long, and included three pieces. They were all very exciting and very diverse:

11.11.18 (Sébastien Tixador, Django Schrevens)

With the first you’re thrown directly in the middle of WWII, lying in a trench. As you get an idea of your surroundings. you realize you’re in the spot of an injured soldier, one that the others around you are looking to for assistance. There’s a gripping sense of battle, that puts you into the horrors and the fear, as well as showing a few different characters that surround you, each with their own decisions to make. It was a great example of how far this immersive experience can go.

Space Buddies (Matt Jenkins, Ethan Shaftel)

This animated venture was only five minutes, but it was kooky in the best possible way, and quite comical. As part of the team in this space ship about to take off (with a colorful group of “space buddies”), you’re integrated into their unique dynamic, which includes some fun and laugh out loud moments.

Mr. Buddha (HTC Corporation)

This one was especially a favorite. I thought the dynamic of this 360 experience really had you front and center in the action. You start off in a museum and you’re the piece of art being studied by a couple of men. It then brings you to the back of a van where the piece of art is being moved after being stolen. Those who stole it aren’t seeing eye to eye and you get to watch their alliances crumble and tensions rise.

Drop In The Ocean (Adam May, Chris Campkin, Chris Parks)

This has you stand in the center of a beautifully constructed structure, standing on a squishy floor meant to feel like a jelly fish, with a few participants. There’s a lot of gorgeous shots of underwater creatures coming at you, but also the important message of the dangers these species and our oceans are facing. The demonstration of trash and the effects it has is significant, and if you somehow walked in unaware or untouched by what we’re doing to the environment, you’ll leave feeling differently. This project was made possible by Vulcan Productions, Conservation International, and Vision3 with the support of SC Johnson.

Bonfire (Eric Darnell, Baobab Studios)

With Bonfire, you land on a new planet, searching for life and to investigate the terrain for possible terraforming to save the human race. You have a robot as a companion who directs you to do certain things (a terrific addition) and using controls you are instructed to physically move and engage. When you come across an innocent life form, you’re led to make a crucial final decision. I spoke with one of the creators who discussed how there are variations on what happens depending on your choices and the trust you build. That, along with the excellent visuals, made Baobab’s Bonfire one of my favorites as well. Afterwards, you can also have a video sent of your time, which, despite me looking like an idiot, is a fantastic idea.

Where There’s Smoke (Lance Weiler)

Where There’s Smoke is part art exhibit and part immersion. I joined a couple others for this, people I hadn’t met before, and we entered a room where we reflected on what we would take with us in the event of a fire (non-person/animal related). From there, you work together to find objects in the next room which reveals slides that tell you a story. The tale is straight from the creator who tells you very personal anecdotes from his life, his father’s life (he lost his father, so it’s an emotional one), as well as the fire that consumed his home. Aesthetically the room is constructed to look like how it did after the flames ravaged his childhood residence, and in that regard- it makes the experience engaging. I wish there was more interaction, more hands-on as we heard stories, but overall it was a very interesting visual and artistic endeavor.

Collider (May Abdalla, Amy Rose)

Collider was a fascinating journey, and I did this with a complete stranger which made it unique (I would have loved to have done it a second time with someone I knew). One is in power and the other is giving it up. I was the latter. This meant that I wore the device and had headphones on directing me. It also meant that the other participant was, in essence, directing my experience. The Collider was about memory and the collision of people, their interactions and the impact they have. In this way, this VR was a beautiful concept. When you’re finished you discuss the time with this other person, reflecting on what’s happened and how it made you feel. We had a mirrored experience, and yet it was completely individual.

Gymnasia (Clyde Henry Productions)

Gymnasia uses a lot of props and visual aids outside of the actual VR so when you walk into the room you’re given even more to absorb. As far as the virtual reality element, it’s a simple approach, but therein lies its power. You’re in a gym, reminded of youth, and there’s a creepiness and a decay around everything. Add in eerie children singing and lone balls bouncing… Gymnasia is like a little slice of subtle horror.

Cave (Ken Perlin, Kris Layng, Sebastian Herscher)

Cave invites you in with several others, all sitting down, propelled into a setting of a campfire, with cave drawings around you and each person ordained with their own look. This holographic VR experience is modest, but its coming of age story that you watch is worth taking in.

Doctor Who: The Runaway (Bonfire (BBC, Passion Animation Studios)

I have to say I was a teeny bit disappointed with the Doctor Who one. I felt like there was so much potential, but ultimately the VR was lacking in excitement. You’re within the TARDIS with a female Doctor Who (yay!) and she needs your help, and while the animation is terrific, I wish there was more interaction. Still, every part of the virtual arcade is really a blast, and this was no exception.

Conclusion:

I loved the variety that I was able to sample, and as always I left wishing I could spend a lot more time. When you go to the preview there’s so many people waiting that you generally only get to do a few at a time. There were many I had on my list that I was unable to catch, but I was happy with the ones I got to experience. This year’s lineup is impressive, and I left the festival feeling even more enamored with immersive programs than last year. I’ve experienced them elsewhere, and others don’t quite hold the candle to Tribeca’s. Until next year!

For more information of the immersive program, click here.