Rose Troche, a writer-director on the US television series The L Word, will present at the upcoming 360 Vision event to be held in June.
360 Vision is Australia’s first virtual reality development initiative. Invitation-only, attendees of the one-day event is designed to stimulate thought and discussion about VR spaces and content among local creative talent and technology developers.
Troche is best known for her contributions to The L Word, but has also directed episodes of series including Law and Order, Ugly Betty, Finding Carter, and Six Feet Under. Her first film, Go Fish, was a defining film of the then-burgeoning independent film movement, debuting at Sundance in 1994. Troche’s VR film Perspective Chapter 2: The Misdemeanor was featured as part of the Sundance New Frontier program this year.
Other international guests presenting at the lab include Ana Serano, Chief Digital Officer at the Canadian Film Centre and Founder of CFC Media Lab, Gabo Arora, Senior Advisor and Filmmaker at the United Nations (UN) and Barry Pousman, Co-Founder, CEO of Variable Labs and a Chief Digital Strategist at the UN.
Media Release
Rose Troche to present at 360 Vision
Event Cinemas and Screen Australia join the ABC and Screen NSW Virtual Reality initiative Screen NSW to launch 360 Vision VR App
Internationally renowned director, producer and screenwriter Rose Troche (The L Word, Go Fish, Concussion) will present at the 360 Vision lab intensive being held during Vivid Sydney. Initiated by Screen NSW, with the ABC, it has been announced that Screen Australia and Event Cinemas will also partner the 360 Vision event.
360 Vision is Australia’s very first Virtual Reality development initiative. The initiative kicks off with an intensive one-day invitation-only lab at Carriageworks to be held on June 7. Rose Troche will present at the lab along with other international and Australian leaders in the VR field.
Rose Troche is best known as the co executive producer, writer and director of the groundbreaking Showtime series The L Word. She has also directed episodes of Six Feet Under, Ugly Betty and Law & Order. Rose first came to prominence in 1994 with her directorial debut Go Fishwhich premiered at the Sundance Film and she produced last year’s festival favourite Concussion. Her other director credits include The Safety of Objects and Bedrooms and Hallways.
Rose has spent recent years developing pioneering VR works, including Perspective Chapter 2: The Misdemeanor which featured as part of the Sundance New Frontier program this year and is a powerful example of the kind of storytelling that is only possible in VR.
“I am honored to be a part of the Screen NSW Virtual Reality event – 360 Vision. The line up is incredible and I can’t wait to fill my head with inspiration and share all I know,” Rose said.
Other international guests presenting at the lab include Ana Serano, Chief Digital Officer at the Canadian Film Centre and Founder of CFC Media Lab, Gabo Arora, Senior Advisor and Filmmaker at the United Nations (UN) and Barry Pousman, Co-Founder, CEO of Variable Labs and a Chief Digital Strategist at the UN.
Ana Serano established the CFC Media Lab, a world-renowned and award-winning institute for interactive storytelling, in 1997. Three of her VR projects will screen at 360 Vision including Body/Mind/Change/Redux, starring David Cronenberg, Skate 360 and Qualia: Eagle Island. To date, Ana has directed the development of over 130 digital media projects, mentored over 50 start-ups, and has received numerous awards from the digital media, film, and theatre industries in both Canada and the U.S.
Gabo Arora is a Senior Advisor at the UN where he uses his filmmaking and VR skills for social advocacy. A VR specialist, his most recent work – in collaboration with Barry Pousman – was as a co-creator, director and producer of a VR film on Syrian refugees with digital artist Chris Milk.Clouds Over Sidra was commissioned for the World Economic Forum in Davos and immersed global leaders and CEOs in the life of a 12-year-old Syrian girl in a refugee camp.
Barry is co-founder and CEO of Variable Labs, an immersive media company, as well as a Chief Digital Strategist at the UN. His clients include Google and other Fortune 500 companies where he creates Virtual Reality content, platforms and activations around the globe. Formerly the Director of Programming at Discovery Digital Networks, Barry spearheaded Discovery VR, focusing on science, curiosity and global awareness.
Clouds Over Sidra will screen at 360 Vision as well as two further collaborations between Gabo and Barry, Waves of Grace and My Mother’s Wing.
Australia’s Lynette Wallworth, the first artist ever selected for the Sundance Institute New Frontier/Jaunt VR Residency Program, is the 360 Vision mentor. Lynette’s groundbreaking project Collisions, supported by the Adelaide Film Festival, premiered in January at the World Economic Forum, Davos, and at the Sundance Film Festival, and will be screened at the lab.
Deputy Premier and Arts Minister Troy Grant said: “Screen technology is moving at an incredibly rapid pace and Virtual Reality is a concept capturing the imagination of global audiences and screen professionals, including the world renowned performer Bjork who is bringing her Virtual Reality show to Vivid Sydney.
“360 Vision, with its development day located at one of our most exciting cultural venues, Carriageworks, is a fantastic pathway for NSW creatives to move into immersive storytelling and be amongst the very best in the world in this thrilling new space.”
Courtney Gibson, CEO of Screen NSW, said: “Our line-up of presenters provides an extraordinary opportunity for NSW screen content creators. They are the global pioneers in the field of VR and what we can learn from them is exponential.”
Richard Finlayson, ABC Director of Television, said: “ABC TV is proud be creating an opportunity for content makers to experiment with the power and possibilities of Virtual Reality. As the home of Australian conversations, culture and stories, this collaboration is an exciting investment in the future of immersive storytelling.”
Sally Caplan, Head of Production at Screen Australia, said: “Virtual Reality is the new frontier for audiences to experience stories for the screen. Through artists like Lynette Wallworth, Australia has been at the forefront of this exciting technology. Screen Australia looks forward to the evolution of this space and the experience it provides for the audiences.”
“Event Cinemas is thrilled to be partnering in the foundation stages of a new and exciting project that will engage our Australian filmmakers and story tellers to develop and present film experiences in cinemas that will be as enthralling and captivating as if journeying into the cinema for the very first time,” said Anthony Kierann, Area General Manager Event Cinemas.
Australian producers, directors and writers across all genres – including drama, factual, children’s and entertainment – will be invited to participate in the lab.
Following the lab, submissions will be sought for Virtual Reality content across all genres, with up to six projects selected for further development under the banner of 360 Vision.
Screen NSW is working closely with Triggar VR as they develop a Virtual Reality platform for iOS, Android, Gear VR and the web, to be launched May 31. Audiences will be able download the Screen NSW 360 Vision app to experience Virtual Reality content. Triggar has developed Virtual Reality apps for clients including Airbus and the United Nations and is now working closely with Google.