There's a theme to this one, if you look hard enough. XR Artist and Immersive Media Director Brenda Chen ( The Wave ) is on hand to talk about her work bringing virtual concerts to life. Jenny Koons and Sam Pinkleton — co-directors and choreographers of the production of Head Over Heels currently playing at the Pasadena Playhouse join us to talk about the all-new experientially staged vision of the GO-GO’s jukebox musical. And Ian Hamilton of Upload VR drops in and we get philosophical about wha...
Nov 12, 2021•1 hr 17 min•Season 1Ep. 318
Another slightly unconventional episode starts with a double-header from Noah on the VR experience The MetaMovie: Alien Rescue and the Stranger Things Official Store [29:05], which turns the Selfie Palace concept upside down. (WHAT? Like you didn't see that coming.) Patrick comes back from vacation with tales of reading Choose Your Own Adventure books [37:51], and Kevin lets us choose his segment and we pick his first steps into the narrative-heavy roleplaying game Disco Elysium [52:00]. Hosted ...
Nov 12, 2021•1 hr 1 min
After a week away we are BACK with a FIVE STAR RUNTIME episode. Every segment a main event in and of itself. We kick things off with Ahmed Best, director of The Echo Theatre Company's Ascension here in Los Angeles. Best draws upon his long history with and love of theatre – he was a cast member of STOMP for years – for this production which was developed for Zoom but brought to life on stage instead. Then we check in with our friend Scott Stein of CNET to discuss all the Meta and Metaverse news ...
Nov 05, 2021•1 hr 42 min•Season 1Ep. 317
This week a breather of sorts as Noah and Blake wax poetic on Inscryption , a video game that takes cues from both escape games and ARGS, Kevin brings us up to speed on the latest jumping-off point for Blaseball, and Blake tells us all about the incredible sounding The Great Escape , a Korean reality show that puts B-list celebrities into elaborate escape game scenarios. Next week: back to business! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Nov 04, 2021•53 min
This time out the crew – in the form of Laura, Blake, Leah, and our host Kevin – take a look at what was Spooky Season 2021. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 03, 2021•1 hr 13 min
Before a short break a BIG SHOW: Jonny Grant of Department Studios comes to talk to us about Arkham Asylum , which opens in London next Fall, with tickets going on sale next week. Artist Johann Diedrick joins us to talk about his web and VR project Dark Matters which explores how voice assistants like Alexa are being trained in ways that leave them incapable of hearing Black voices. 8 Players creator Ross Tipograph drops in to share details on Sleepy Hollow , now open in Chicago and soon to be i...
Oct 22, 2021•1 hr 17 min•Season 1Ep. 316
We pack a lot into the hour and a quarter runtime this week: online escape games, an incredible story box, immersive theatre in LA, opera, virtual reality. Racing through as fast as we can and having a blast (and some technical glitches) while we do it! Laura: The Keeper and the Fungus Among Us -- Headlock Escape Rooms [2:00] Noah FIVARS -- Festival of International VR & AR Stories [13:56] Patrick: The Light in the Mist - PostCurious 27:03 Noah: LA Immersive Beat: IKWDYLS Pop-UP and Hollywoo...
Oct 21, 2021•1 hr 18 min
A big show this week with guests from around the globe. Joep van Gorp of Doloris Meta Maze in the Netherlands joins us to talk about their immersive art experience, Evan Neiden of Candle House Collective on their current epic festival run, and LA Times Game Critic Todd Martens chats with host Noah Nelson about LA haunts, Avengers Campus, and the VIVE Flow which he spent time with ahead of its reveal this week. Plus BIG HEADLINES and the PICK OF THE WEEK. RUNDOWN Doloris Meta Maze [5:30] Todd Mar...
Oct 15, 2021•1 hr 13 min•Season 1Ep. 315
This episode splits into two big chunks – first up the Crew talks about the two big show reveals this week: Arkham Asylum in London and the Secret Cinema produced League of Legends: Arcane based on the Netflix series in Los Angeles. We go NERDY. Then its a kinda normal Review Crew with: Laura on Wayfinding by Chloë Bass [41:30] Noah on Ascension from The Echo Theatre Company [53:35] Patrick on Dr. Crumb’s School for Disobedient Pets from Adventure Lab [1:09:00] Kevin on Disneyland's Halloween [1...
Oct 15, 2021•1 hr 27 min
This week on the show we talk with Keram Malicki-Sánchez, the founder of FIVARS – Festival of International Virtual and Augmented Reality Stories – about the festival's transplantation from Toronto to West Hollywood for 2021. FIVARS opens in WeHo on Oct. 15 and is accessible online soon after. Then David Bassuk, professor of Theatre Arts at Purchase College SUNY joins us to kick off a new segment we're calling THE BIG IDEA – where we talk with educators in the immersive & experiential field ...
Oct 08, 2021•51 min•Season 1Ep. 314
This time around it's a Halloweenapalooza as Blake and Kevin dive into haunted attractions and cult cases, while Patrick adds some song with the online musical The LEA Project. SHOW RUNDOWN Halloween Nights at Eastern State Penitentiary - Blake [1:00] Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood - Kevin [12:52] Unravel - Blake [26:10] The LEA Project - Patrick [36:27] Featuring: Blake Weil, Patrick McLean. Hosted by: Kevin Gossett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informa...
Oct 08, 2021•1 hr 6 min
This week on the show: Clem Garritty of Swamp Motel dials in from London to talk about the origins of the company, their work on the Isklander Trilogy, and just how the pandemic pivot opened up incredible new doors for the Swamp Motel team. Then Julie Tremblay of PHI Studio taps in to share with us the installation side of The Infinite, their collaboration with Felix & Paul Studios that is currently in Montreal and headed to Space City in Houston in December, and how PHI Studio approaches ma...
Oct 01, 2021•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 313
This week it's four members of the crew with five shows broken into two blocks. First up is a podplay triptych in the form of the Tender Absence festival, then its a double dose of LA Spooky Season as both Creep & Delusion held their press nights this past weekend. The Rundown Part I: Tender Absence The City at Your Feet w/Leah [0:57] A Walk in the Park w/Patrick [7:00] Run Club w/Kevin [9:20] Part II: LA Spooky Season [35:33] Delusion: Reaper's Remorse w/Noah [36:25] Creep w/ Kevin [46:00] ...
Sep 30, 2021•1 hr 12 min
This week on the show we go bicoastal, with Illumination NYC , a Festival of Lights that's warming up Brooklyn this October and The Last Syllable , the online exploration of the Scottish Play from LA's Independent Shakespeare Company, known for Free Shakespeare in the Park in Griffith Park. Plus: the first series of Immersive 101 wraps up with a long look at larp or LARP if you're old school. Show Flow Headlines [1:00] Ron Fisher of Illumination NYC [3:12] Pick of the Week [15:14] Immersive 101:...
Sep 24, 2021•56 min
Hey there, True Believers! Before you jump in know this: there's a-cursing ahead. Just a little around the 29:00 mark and then a whole $@%^#!! lot of it in the last segment. Context at the top of the show, but consider yourself warned. The Rundown Kathryn - Venice VR [3:42] Blake - Artifacts of No Consequence [17:20] Laura - Pipilotti Rist: Big Heartedness, Be My Neighbor [28.30] Noah - Knott’s Scary Farm and the trouble with Orange County in 2021 [44.05] With Kathryn Yu, Blake Weil, Laura Hess,...
Sep 24, 2021•1 hr 2 min
This week: Felix Lajeunesse of the Emmy Award-winning Felix and Paul Studios is with us to talk about The Infinite their collaboration with PHI which brings their work with NASA on the International Space Station down to Earth and gives it a whole new dimension. Prof. Julia Ritter joins us to talk about her new book Tandem Dances , which explores immersive work their the lens of choreography and opens up some fascinating dimensions of discussion. And Matthew Stein of the Room Escape Artist Hive ...
Sep 17, 2021•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 311
This week Kevin hosts, Patrick basically triple dips, and Noah is loopy from a flu shot and talks Star Wars. Of course, he's supposed to talk Star Wars, so at least he's not totally gone. Kevin & Patrick tackle Deadbolt Mystery Society — Conspiracy [1:45] Patrick reports back on Welcome to Retropolis [14:42] and I Expect You To Die 2 [23:09] Noah & Patrick on Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge — Last Call [35:22] Hosted by Kevin Gossett w/Patrick McLean & Noah Nelson Hosted on A...
Sep 16, 2021•1 hr 6 min
A special bonus episode focusing on the release of Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy's Edge -- Last Call . We interview ILMxLAB's Jose Perez III, Ian Bowie, and Ronman Ng about the Last Call expansion that brings the Tales duology to a satisfying conclusion. Get ready to nerd out with NoPro's Star Wars Geek in Chief, because it's lightspeed to Batuu. For more with Jose Perez III and ILMxLAB's Alyssa Finley check out episode 273 of the show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informat...
Sep 15, 2021•20 min
This week on the show: new work from some of Third Rail Project's long time collaborators, a look at how neuroscientists measure immersion, a peek inside the VR Chat Prefabs community and more more more! The Rundown: Zach Morris and Tara OCon on Return The Moon [4:00] Immersive 101 [28:23] Fionna of Studio CyFi [32:22] Pick of the Week [43:00] Paul J. Zak of Immersion Neuroscience [46:09] Associate Producer: Parker Sela Music: Chris Porter of the Speakeasy Society Headlines: Kathryn Yu, Executiv...
Sep 10, 2021•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 310
This week we break format a bit as the Crew talks about the earthshaking news of the new Punchdrunk show -- The Burnt City -- coming to London next year. Then we get into a bit of Venice VR Expanded [27:00] and the Vellum LA/Standard Vision collab in LA [40:00]. It's a weird one but a fun one! With Kathryn Yu, Kevin Gossett, Laura Hess, Blake Weil, and Noah Nelson in the host chair. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Sep 09, 2021•49 min
This week it's the kickoff for SPOOKY SEASON here in our home territory of Southern California so we're going all out with: A visit to CREEP LA's brand new venue THE GHOST LIGHT [4:00] A talk with Jon Braver, creator of Delusion [19:00] And we round up our Haunt Club with writers Juliet Bennett Rylah (The Hustle), Jeff Heimbuch (HorrorBuzz), and NoPro New England's own Leah Davis. [35:00] Plus headlines from Kathryn and the Review Crew's Pick of the Week [15:00]. Associate Producer: Parker Sela ...
Sep 03, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 309
This week: Anthony Robinson on The Vandermist Dossier Kevin Gossett on Planning Your Escape [16:30] Patrick McClean on BRCvr [29:23] Blake Weil on I'm So Hot [42:21] Hosted by Kevin Gossett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 03, 2021•58 min
This week we've got some BIG NEWS about our upcoming events as we evolve into our next form (I'm hoping for Charizard) as a non-profit organization. We've also got a regular episode for you with a fantastic lineup from Venice VR Expanded, Superblue, and more. Venice VR Expanded w/ curators Liz Rosenthal and Michel Reilhac [5:33] Immersive 101 [26:13] Superblue's Kathleen Forde and Margot Mottaz interviewed by Ricky Brigante (Pseudonym Productions) [31:00] Pick of the Week [43:35] Jesse Damiani (...
Aug 27, 2021•1 hr 16 min•Season 1Ep. 308
This time out, technical difficulties leaves the crew down a member, but that doesn't stop us. Patrick McLean on RECON, the Reality Escape Convention [1:56] Blake Weil on Alterra's Gala [20:40] Noah Nelson on Gatsby: An Immersive Illumination [33:55] Hosted by Noah Nelson Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aug 26, 2021•52 min
This week on the show: We walk the digital playa of BRCvr and reflect on Burning Man 2020 with an eye towards the 2021 Virtual Burn. [4:30] Odyssey Works' Abraham Burickson & Ayden LeRoux tell us about their new Experience Design Certificate Program. [18:00] Emma Buttin, New Media officer of the French Embassy in the United States tells us about the upcoming Digital Playgrounds program, which seeks to bring French and American XR creators together in New York this Fall. [37:10] Plus Headline...
Aug 20, 2021•55 min•Season 1Ep. 307
This time out, three reviews and a long look at pricing models for online work. Patrick McLean: Once in a Blue Moon (Mobile Escapes, Online) [0:50] (This rolls into the pricing model convo.) Noah Nelson: Optika Piñata (Optika Moderna/La Jolla Playhouse, San Diego, [29:23] Kathryn Yu: Field Guide to Memory (Jeeyon Shim and Shing Yin Khor, printed materials) ( [50:30] Hosted by: Kevin Gossett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Aug 20, 2021•1 hr 9 min
This week on the show we will take you from the virtual Burning Man playa of BRCvr to a chat with the author of Tamara the original hit immersive play which is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a new printing of the text that dropped just this month. That plus we check in with Scott Stein of CNET, bring you an all-new Immersive 101, and the Pick of the Week. Show Clock Headlines [1:10] Doug Jacobson of BRCvr [4:27] Immersive 101 [18:47] Scott Stein of CNET [24:43] Pick of the Week [41:12] Jo...
Aug 13, 2021•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 306
This week: Laura on Divine Immersion: The Experiential Art of Nick Dong [2:12] Patrick on Trover Saves The Universe - Squanch Games [14:36] Kathryn on The Walks - Rimini Protokoll [25:00] Hosted by Noah Nelson Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aug 13, 2021•38 min
Another packed week! We visit the Emmy nominated Little Cinema Digital in their new digs in Vernon, CA. Wait. That Vernon? (4:22) Kathryn drops in for some Immersive 101 (13:47) NoPro's Arts Editor Laura Hess shares thoughts on her latest adventures (18:36) David Hutchinson of Gamepath Experience shares how they're bringing Monopoly Lifesized to London (31:06) Patrick McLean has the Pick of the Week (44:29) Lois Neville of Hollywood Fringe Festival talks with us about this year's Festival which ...
Aug 06, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 305
This week we start off with something a little different, as the Crew reacts to the Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser news, specifically the PRICE and what we think the longevity of this premium experience will be. Then it is on to the reviews: Patrick tackles Wraith: The Oblivion - Afterlife for VR (17:50) Laura discusses the digital art installation DATA | ergo sum | RELOADED by Spanish multidisciplinary artist Ana Marcos that appeared this weekend at the LA Art Show (29:47) And Kevin takes anoth...
Aug 05, 2021•59 min
