REAL WORLD VR – TALKS – Q&A – DEMOS – END OF YEAR PARTY
Virtual, Immersive Art, Gaming & Filmmaking Session #17
Real World VR presents a series of talks and panels featuring some of Australia’s most talented immersive artists, producers & game developers with works/experiences exhibited at the NGV, NASA, JAXA, SXSW, MIFF, New York Film Festival and Cannes Film Festival.
Real World VR will host an end of year party to celebrate the XR-VR/AR/MR industry, a night of talks, panels, live immersive demonstrations and networking. We will provide catering (food, small bar tab) and a DJ.
SPEAKERS:
Tom Crago – CEO – Tantalus
Dr. Sarah Jane Pell – Artist Astronaut
Lester Francois – Producer/Director
BIOS:
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TOM CRAGO – CEO – TANTALUS
Tom Crago is the CEO and owner of internationally renowned video game developer Tantalus, a studio with more than forty titles to its credit, including a handful of million-unit sellers. Tom is a past President of the Game Developers’ Association of Australia (GDA), the peak body representing the interests of the local game development industry and has advised State and Federal Governments on IT policy in Australia. He has degrees in Arts, Law and Business and is presently completing a PhD at the Victorian College of the Arts. His first book, Flashbacks from the Flow Zoneis published internationally by Hardie Grant.
Tom will talk about his recent VR art project ‘Materials’ which featured in the inaugural Triennial at the National Gallery of Victoria. Materials was subsequently acquired by the NGV for its permanent collection, and will travel next week to Hong Kong for the Hong Kong Business of Design Fair.
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DR. SARAH JANE PELL – ARTIST ASTRONAUT
Australian artist Dr. Sarah Jane Pell is exploring themes of extreme performance and discovery in her work. An experienced commercial diver, performance artist, commercial spaceflight candidate, and analogue astronaut, the artist is designing interdisciplinary simulation scenarios, and research interactivity for “performing astronautics” through immersive visualisation platforms.
Dr. Pell is currently an Adj. Associate Professor (Research), in the Faculty of Engineering, Engineering Office of the Dean, and the Faculty of Art, Design & Architecture, at Monash University; and Vice-Chair of the International Astronautical Federation Technical Team for the Cultural Utilisation of Space [ITACCUS]. She has exhibited and performed all over the world. Prestigious Awards include Australia Council Fellow, TED Fellow, and Gifted Citizen (Hon. Mention).
Dr. Pell will talk about current collaborations with the Monash Immersive Visualisation Platform during 2018 MoonMars Simulation Mission – from working with the Insta360 pro at high altitude in spacesuits, to VR for training astronauts to work in the dark on the far side of the Moon.
www.sarahjanepell.com / Twitter / LinkedIn
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LESTER FRANCOIS – DIRECTOR/PRODUCER
Lester Francois is a filmmaker working across many formats including VR. In 2017 he released the short VR documentary RONE which screened at the Melbourne International Film Festival. The interactive version of RONE premiered at SXSW 2018 and also screened at Cannes Film Festival and New York Film Festival. RONE is the first episode in the VR arts doc series KINETIC.
Since making RONE Lester has made three more VR street art documentaries and was flown to South Africa to direct a series of short VR arts docs for an exhibition in Soho, London.
In addition to working in VR Lester produced the 2018 Scripted Comedy Sitcom, Dave and Produced and Directed the 2015 feature documentary, GameLoading: Rise of the Indies, he is currently developing a slate of TV projects across scripted comedy and factual.
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SCHEDULE:
6:00 pm: Doors open
6:45 pm: Overview
7.00 pm: Speaker Tom Crago + Q&A
7:30 pm: Speaker Dr. Sarah Jane Pell + Q&A
8:00 pm: Panel with Lester Francois + Q&A (Cannes VR + Film)
8.30 pm – late: Demos, Networking / Drinks / Music – DJ/ Licenced Bar
FREE ENTRY:
Must register as spaces are limited.
VENUE:
Loop Project Space & Bar
23 Meyers Place Melbourne (CBD)
Loop Project Space & Bar is a safe space and supports, not for profits, The arts, film, music and community. One of Melbourne’s most atmospheric and iconic venues with an exceptional menu, wine & cocktail list & a large range of craft beers.
We look forward to seeing you on the night.
Thank you
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OUR PARTNERS:
Real World VR would like to thank Film Victoria, Reality Reload, Loop Project Space & Bar and Kaiju Beer for their support.
Real World VR would like to acknowledge the Wurundjeri Tribe people as the traditional owners of the land.
