The StoryFutures Academy Podcast

Episode 5 - Making Immersive Stories: Writing for characters in VR

Jan 11, 2021

Join Adam Ganz, Kerry Kolbe, and Russ Harding as they discuss writing for immersive experiences like VR. They delve into challenges faced by traditional screenwriters, explore audience engagement with Punch-Drunk, and share insights on creating immersive character-driven narratives for VR experiences.

25:12

Creator website

Episode guests

Adam Ganz

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Writers play a crucial role in crafting immersive experiences by focusing on character autonomy and interactive decision points.

Collaboration between writers and technologists is essential for overcoming challenges and finding innovative solutions in creating immersive worlds.

Deep dives

The Role of Writers in Immersive Storytelling

In the podcast, writers are highlighted for their increasingly significant role in crafting immersive experiences, particularly in projects like the Star Wars and Doctor Who VR experiences. It's emphasized that creating immersive worlds requires collaboration with various professionals like creative technologists and animators. Writers are urged to adapt to the unique challenges of writing for spatial content, focusing on engaging audiences and creating interactive decision points that drive the narrative forward.

Balancing Game Mechanics and Storytelling in Immersive Writing

01:30

Intro

2min

Transitioning Traditional Screenwriters into Immersive Storytelling

4min

Exploring Audience Engagement and New Storytelling Mediums

2min

Writing Immersive Stories for VR Experiences

6min

Navigating Authenticity and Collaboration in Writing for VR

2min

Creating Immersive Character-Led VR Worlds at May's Theory

10min

This week, we're talking about the role of writers in immersive storytelling. Some of the biggest IP on the planet is beginning to wake up to the possibilities that virtual reality can offer. In the last few years, Star Wars and Doctor Who have launched VR experiences for the Oculus Quest. Writers are going to have an increasingly important role in the creation of new character-led experiences. This episode brings together the sage voices of Adam Ganz, Head of the Writer's Room at the StoryFutures Academy, Kerry Kolbe a TV writer who is making the leap into writing for VR, and finally Russ Harding, the man entrusted by the producers of Peaky Blinders to bring the world of 1920's Birmingham onto a headset near you.

Presenter: Shehani Fernando,

Producers: Chris Hogg & Shehani Fernando,

Assistant Producer: Max Bower,

Executive Producer: Will Saunders,

Editing and sound design: John Wakefield & Matt McGuinness,

The title track is: ‘A Thousand Years’ by David A Molina,

Additional music: Neil Cullen & ‘Algea Tender’ by Blue Dot Sessions courtesy of the Free Music Archive

Special Thanks:

Peaky Blinders Clip provided courtesy of Caryn Mandabach Productions www.peakyblinders.tv

SFA Writer’s Room: https://www.storyfutures.com/academy/experiment/writers-room

Peaky Blinders: https://peakyblinders.tv

Maze Theory: https://www.maze-theory.com/projects