Cinema in Focus｜Enjoy “On the Spot” Event with Curators

What is the secret behind such a fun project?

The Cinema in Focus - SIFF VISION LAB section of the 25th Shanghai International Film Festival has attracted much attention among people since its launch, with many visitors actively booking to experience the wide range of digital film and TV projects available early. During the exhibition, many visitors also wondered: How far away are these eye-pleasing and fun projects from our real life? What challenges will the development of technology bring to the industry? What kind of experiences can we expect in the future?

On June 10, the first edition of the Cinema in Focus - SIFF VISION LAB presented the specially curated “On the Spot” event. And the planning consultant Wang Yiquan, curator Che Lin and founder of SandmanStudios, Lou Yanxin, introduced the technical features and project concepts of the various zones to the audience on site as guiders. During the conversation session, they also gave an insightful overview of the development of the XR (Extended Reality) section at international film festivals and the current ecological landscape of XR productions, helping the audience to gain a comprehensive understanding of the latest developments and trends in the XR field today.

Secrets behind projects

“Did you all hear the conversation that just came through? This is a motion capture actor interacting and performing in real time with six viewers wearing headsets.” Guided by Wang Yiquan, the planning consultant of the Digital Film and Video Experience - The Mental Test Site, Che Lin, the curator, and Lou Yanxin, the founder of SandmanStudios, the audience at the afternoon session on June 10 embarked on a special “guided tour”.

Take for example the VR play MANDALA, performed live and interactively by motion-capture actors, this project sparked a huge response when it debuted at the 79th Venice International Film Festival last year. “Initially the project was the same as what you see today, with motion-capture actors and audience members performing offline in the same set; it slowly evolved to a stage where it could be performed fully remotely and interactively, such as the screening in Venice, while the audiences were watching in person in Italy and the actors were actually performing in Paris.”

SUPER TROUBLEMAKER , which has been overcrowded with bookings since its launch, also has a “special origin”. “It's a project developed by an Argentinian team and usually requires four people to play together. The team has a background in animation. This is their first game project, and they have made good use of their character design skills to present a very funny image of an egg.” Lou Yanxin explains.

Beyond that, the Cinema in Focus - SIFF VISION LAB also allows visitors to experience the iterations and updates of digital film and TV productions from different perspectives, both horizontally and vertically, through a wide range of projects. In addition, during interactions with headset, while some projects require the use of a handle, why do others simply require gestures?

“From handle control to steps, gestures and sound, you can now ‘watch’ with your feet and escape the time maze, and also, you can participate in the project with your applause. And these are the reflection of the changes and iterations of interactive devices and projects”, said Che Lin.

Digital film and TV in spotlight, and why?

“Film festivals offer the chance for film enthusiasts to try out new audiovisual works, so they are gradually becoming vital platforms for exploration into digital film and television works and devices by the masses.” According to Che Lin, more and more film festivals, including the Venice International Film Festival and Cannes Film Festival, are incorporating special sections for XR and VR, and there is no shortage of content of a competitive nature, “which is nothing but part of the historical development.”

In Lou Yanxin’s view, the fact that major film festivals are actively launching XR and VR sections mirrors the open, evolving side of film festivals, “Film festivals have stepped outside the box, and we, the creators, shall also embrace the new, as after all, it is content that is at the core of metaverse.” He believes that in the face of new technological trends, creators should take the initiative to learn the language of new media as much as possible with a back-to-basics mentality, and then they will definitely have the chance to make great works.

According to the report, there will be four more “On the Spot” special events on June 14, 15 and 16 at the Cinema in Focus - SIFF VISION LAB. Sun Bin, Director of the Future Image Research Center of the School of Theater, Film and Television, Communication University of China; Chen Qiufan, science fiction writer; Fan Fan, VR director and head of PICO CLIMAX Studio; Guan Yu, director and Chen Chen, executive producer of NEQ-WULIN: THE ERA OF BLACK ART; Huang Ruogu, multi-media producer; and Zhang Daming, director and scriptwriter of OR BIT will be invited to attend as guests.