Immersive Journalism Collaboration with ICT’s MxR Lab Heading to Sundance Film Festival

Hunger in Los Angeles, a virtual reality project with real-world impact is scheduled to appear at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, January 19-29, in Park City, Utah and January 20 – May 19 at the Salt Lake Art Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Part of the New Frontiers exhibit highlighting work that pushes the boundaries of storytelling and the moving image, Hunger in Los Angeles recreates an eyewitness account of a crisis incident on a food bank line at the First Unitarian Church in Los Angeles. Former journalist and USC Annenberg Fellow Nonny De la Peña combined the game development tool Unity 3D, a head mounted display with motion tracking, and live audio, to construct a simulated world in which audiences can suit up, walk around, and interact with other characters on the scene. The project was developed at the ICT MxR Lab, with additional support from the USC Annenberg School of Communications and Journalism.  Several ICT team members contributed to the project. Mark Bolas served as the creative producer, Bradley Newman was the lead artist and programmer and John Brennan performed art direction and motion capture.
Read the story on the USC Annenberg School’s website.
Visit the Sundance New Frontier Website.
Visit Nonny de la Pena’s website.