Description

“Ship of the Dead” is a first-of-its-kind immersive storytelling experience that is viewable in both VR and AR. Based on the short story by international best-selling author, Kate Mosse, audience members use their smartphones or headsets to have a frightening encounter with the Ankou, a ghostly creature from Breton lore. As the audience uncovers the story, their decisions impact whether or not they will become the Ankou’s next victim. This project turns a piece of literature into two experiences that can be enjoyed in both VR and AR. The AR version features the author accompanying readers throughout the narrative. The VR version is self-driven and encourages readers to explore the story world themselves.


This will be a lively panel to discuss the creative process behind “Ship of the Dead” and the inevitable intersection of immersive technologies and literature. Aside from a best-selling author, the “Ship of the Dead” team consists of talented heavy hitters who previously worked for Marvel, Magic Leap, Apple, Riot Games, Royal Shakespeare Company, and more. 


Panelists will discuss a wide array of topics such as: combining the worlds of traditional literature with XR, contract considerations for partnering with a published author, the challenges of creating experiences that are accessible in both VR and AR, the development of a custom cloud-based technology for the experiences, strategies for marketing and distributing an immersive literature piece, and ways to approach authors for potential XR partnerships.


Panelists

1. Andy Lanning - Creative Director at Qxr Studios. Former Marvel/DC Comic Book Artist/Writer and Creative Director for Magic Leap

2. Graeme Devine - CTO at Qxr Studios. Former Magic Leap, Apple, Microsoft, Lucasfilms, Activision, and Virgin Interactive Engineer.

3. Kate Mosse - International best-selling British author and OBE (Office of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire)

4. Lou Doye - Executive Producer at Qxr Studios. Former Immersive and Live Theatre Producer for London’s West End, Royal Shakespeare Company, and Magic Leap.

5. Elena Piech - Experiential Producer at AMP Creative. Former Senior Marketing Manager for AR/VR platform company The Glimpse Group, and an Emmy-nominated journalist.

6. Rory Mitchell - Producer at The Mercantile. Former Beard & Glasses VR.

7. Naomi Augustine Lee - Art Director at Qxr Studios. Former Raytheon, Riot Games, and Magic Leap

Speakers

Elena Piech

XR Producer , ZeroSpace

Naomi Augustine-Yee

Art Director , QXR Studios

Graeme Devine

Creative Technical Officer , QXR Studios

Kate Mosse

Author