ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Expertise with this kind of technology is considered so rare by production companies that they have a term for XR professionals – ‘ unicorns ’. However , in training up XR practitioners , the Centre is addressing these skill shortages and has led the same industry leaders to refer to CCIXR as a ‘ unicorn farm ’.
“ Already our graduates from the Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries have landed jobs at top studios that are spearheading use of this technology , including the Imaginarium Studios , Industrial Light and Magic , and Vicon ,” Bostock says .
Between the industry-relevant training and the world-relevant partnerships , participating in a CCIXR project ends up being more a voyage of discovery for all involved … a voyage in real , imaginary or mixed realities .
It is a journey driven by a passion for the subject matter , a willingness to bend how the technology is used , and a eagerness to learn through the act of creation .
It is an intoxicating mix that has proven irresistible to an array of partners .
Fantasy made tangible
The Royal Shakespeare Company ( RSC ) partnered with CCIXR to explore merging theatre and orchestral music with virtual reality and gaming technology in a livestreamed production inspired by A Midsummer Night ’ s Dream .
Collaborative partners on the project included the Philharmonic Orchestra , Manchester International Festival and Marshmallow Laser Feast , among others .
Seven actors performed in a specially created motion-capture space supported by CCIXR . Set in a virtual forest , the actors ’ movements drove the virtual avatars that were streamed to viewers in real-time in the 50-minute online event called
Dream .
The delivery of this augmented reality only requires smartphones and GPS tracking of the participants . It allows a fascinating way to explore the intersection of Doyle ’ s biography , his storytelling and the city ’ s landscape and sounds . The innovation is not about technology , but how it is applied and the knowledge that is bundled into it
– Tom Garner
The experience was made immersive by allowing the audience to be present in the simulated forest in the form of fireflies that lead the character of Puck at key points in the story . The fireflies were controlled by the audience using their touchscreens , trackpad or mouse .
Given the importance of creative industries to the UK ’ s wider economy , the project was made possible by the UK Government ’ s Industrial Strategy in the form of an Audience of the Future demonstrator project funded by UK Research and Innovation .
Gregory Doran , the RSC ’ s ( now former ) Artistic Director , found the novel blend of technologies used to stream Dream exciting .
“ By bringing together specialists in on-stage live performance with that of gaming and music , you see how much they have in common and it also opens up new opportunities to engage with audiences ,” he said .
“ The experience also highlighted that the story is king . Stories haven ’ t changed , but the way we engage audiences with them can .”
In March 2021 , ten performances of Dream were live streamed to a total global audience of 80,000 people in 151 countries . Venues for the live stream included the Sydney Opera House .
20 ISSUE 04 / 2022