Sundance Ignite On Tour Event Will Feature Virtual Reality Discussions, Installations

Sundance Ignite On Tour returns to Syracuse University for a two-day virtual reality (VR) event Thursday, March 23, and Friday, March 24. The event will feature panels and VR installations such as “After Solitary,” “Out of Exile,” “Giant” and “Tree,” as well as SU student projects.

The event kicks off Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Joyce Hergenhan Auditorium in Newhouse 3 with a panel discussion on “Immersive Video in Journalism” featuring filmmakers Cassandra Herrman and Veda Shastri.

VR installations will be available in the Joyce Hergenhan Auditorium until 9 p.m. Thursday and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday.

Additional VR creators and journalists will participate in panel discussions at the Joyce Hergenhan Auditorium from 2 to 5:30 p.m. Friday.

Sundance Ignite is a program designed by the Sundance Institute to excite a new generation of audience members and film artists around the power of storytelling. The program includes Sundance Ignite On Tour, a traveling component intended to engage with students and emerging filmmakers.

Sponsored by the Alan Gerry Center for Media Innovation and The Jimmy Kuhn Film Fund, this event is a collaboration between the Newhouse School and the College of Visual and Performing Arts.

For more information, contact Keith Giglio at kegiglio@syr.edu.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Thursday, March 23

5-7 p.m.
“VR Journalism Workshop”
The producers and directors will provide feedback to students and others who have current VR projects, or have done some VR production. Contact Dan Pacheco (drpachec@syr.edu) if you are interested in attending the workshop.

7-8:30 p.m.
“Immersive Video in Journalism” with Cassandra Herrman and Veda Shastri
Two virtual reality veterans discuss the evolution and recent innovations in immersive video in journalism. Presented by the Alan Gerry Center for Media Innovation.

7-9 p.m.
VR installations will run in the Joyce Hergenhan Auditorium and the the Alan Gerry Center for Media Innovation, Newhouse 2. Sign up in 15-minute increments using the signup sheets outside the auditorium. Student volunteers will meet appointees at the signup area and escort them to the experience they chose. (Note: In order to accommodate the most people, only one VR experience per person is allowed per day.)

Friday, March 24

9 a.m.–1 p.m.
VR installations will run in the Joyce Hergenhan Auditorium and the the Alan Gerry Center for Media Innovation. Sign up in 15-minute increments using the signup sheets outside the auditorium.

2-2:45 p.m.
“Virtual Reality Beginnings” with Cassandra Herrman, Milica Zec and Winslow Porter; moderated by Dan Pacheco
A background discussion of virtual reality and development. Guest panelists will talk about their beginnings in the VR industry and their current projects, why they prefer virtual reality as their medium of choice and the uses of VR, and growth in the field.

3-3:45 p.m.
“Your Brain on VR: The Ethics and Impacts of Virtual Reality” with Cassandra Herrman, Milica Zec, Winslow Porter, Mark Costa and Dan Pacheco; moderated by Ken Harper
Is VR an “empathy machine”? What are the ethics of VR? How are audiences reacting to VR stories? How do you reach audiences with VR?

4-5 p.m.
“Virtual Reality in Syracuse” with Lorne Covington, Amber Bartosh and SU students Juan Kuang, Carly Port and Jackie Prager; moderated by Dan Pacheco