Back

The Future of Interactive Storytelling

Nov 10

05:35 PM - 06:00 PM

Description

Within USA TODAY NETWORK's DNA is the desire to innovate the way the organization tells stories, and 2020 proved to be a phenomenal year for interactive and immersive storytelling. USA TODAY NETWORK’s Emerging Technology team constructed over 15 highly engaging interactive projects that explored complex and trending news topics in ways that have not been done before. From interactive stories like exploring Perseverance’s mission to Mars, a visualization of how the COVID-19 vaccine works, and an animated graphic novelization of famous Women’s Suffrage speeches. USA TODAY NETWORK and its Emerging Tech team created a stronger experimentation and rapid iteration culture to meet their audience’s growing expectations for new forms of premium interactive experiences.
Ray Soto, Sr Director of Emerging Technology, will share insights into USA TODAY NETWORK’s development workflows, editorial challenges, and its vision for the future of premium interactive editorial experiences.

Speakers

Director of Emerging Technology , USA Today

Related Sessions

Nov 10

10:00 AM - 10:25 AM

Description

There remains a huge gap between hopes for scalability of wearable AR to the general public and real world success stories involving large volumes of paying customers. ARtGlass has bridged that gap. CEO Greg Werkheiser and Vice President Lexi Cleveland will present with client Therese Alvich of Merlin Entertainments. They’ll share lessons applicable across many verticals from a journey scaling to serve millions of thrilled visitors to iconic cultural sites globally who pay for 45-120 minute tours. How and why did ARtGlass and their client sites break through quietly, inexpensively, and with a team characterized by atypical diversity?

Speakers

Senior Project Director , ARtGlass
General Manager, Madame Tussauds , Merlin Entertainments Ltd
CEO , ARtGlass
Nov 10

10:30 AM - 10:55 AM

Description

Black Movement Library (BML): BML is a library for activists, performers & artists to create diverse XR projects, a space to research how and why we move, and an archive of Black existence. BML seeks to grow community through the use of performances, xr experiences, workshops, conversations and tool making.

Speakers

New Media Artist , Black Movement Project
Nov 10

11:20 AM - 11:45 AM

Description

Post our successful second year of BRCvr Burn Week, Doug and Athena will share what they learned, new discoveries, best practices and ways utilized to bring the community together while empowering them to create in the digital plane.

Speakers

CEO , Big Rock Creative
CTO , BRCvr
Nov 10

11:50 AM - 12:45 PM

Description

The use of XR in entertainment, from production to marketing and distribution, continues to grow as consumers expect more immersive and engaging content. This panel of studio executives will share their perspectives on why XR creates a stronger medium for more authentic brand storytelling and how they apply XR as a part of their larger branding initiatives. They’ll also discuss best practices for deploying these experiences, learnings from new technologies and their future outlook for XR in entertainment.

Speakers

VP, Emerging Products Group , ViacomCBS
Senior Client Partner , Trigger
Director of Interactive Experiences , Disney Consumer Products, Games, and Publishing
Nov 10

02:15 PM - 02:40 PM

Description

What does live performance look like in virtual worlds and how can virtual production be used? Step behind the curtain with Director Kiira Benzing of Finding Pandora X, winner of the Venice Film Festival’s Best VR Immersive User Experience Award and the Audience Award at the 2021 SXSW Festival. This production features Broadway actors embodying virtual avatars. Immersive narrative, ancient mythology, escape rooms, and virtual environments collide in this hour-long interactive performance that transports the audience into a neon-colored immersive storyworld. The audience has a critical role to play, embodying avatars and collectively forming a Greek Chorus. Rooted in the principles of interactivity, liveness, presence, embodiment and community, these productions enable global audiences to socially connect. Join Benzing as she describes the Double Eye Studios’ process for virtual collaboration and explore what types of media can be used to build live virtual performances.

Speakers

Executive Creative Director , Double Eye Studios