The No Proscenium Podcast

We kick things off this week with the creative duo Lola Tango, that's Jessica Kantor & Eve Weston, whose latest work is the exhibit Be Water My Friend which explores the life and mind of martial arts superstar Bruce Lee, currently on display at Seattle's Wing Luke museum.Then NoPro's Patrick McLean stops by for a long chat with host Noah Nelson about what they've been playing, together and separately, in VR of late. That would be Walkabout Mini Golf's Labyrinth expansion (based on the Jim Henson movie), Moss Book II, and the tabletop dungeon crawl simulator Demeo, which is the not-so-secret origin of this segment. [27:00]Show NotesThe Look ClubTrailheadsNoPro Recommends: Best of 2022 (So Far)Review Rundown Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our annual check-in on the Venice Immersive part of the Venice International Film Festival means we get to talk with Liz Rosenthal and Michel Reilhac once more, and there's a LOT to unpack with 43 projects from 19 Countries and 32 VRChat worlds in the mix.Then we settle in for a chat with Eric Kohn of Indiewire who had a banger of a column last week "Embrace the Metaverse! Only, Please, Ignore Mark Zuckerberg’s Version of It," where he laid out a case that the metaverse is going to be to the entertainment industry as a whole what the VCR was to the film biz.Show NotesCall Sheet 8.25.22BFI London Film Festival Immersive lineupThe DIGNoPro Discord  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: another double header — we start with Keith Tralins and Kyle Prestenback of Hunt A Killer who stop by to talk about the mystery company’s extensive line up of boxed experiences, and the live action origins — and future — of the company. [2:50]Then returning to the pod is one of our favorite people to talk immersive with designer and director David Ruzicka, whose latest work was experienced by those lucky enough to attend HBO’s House of the Dragons activation produced by Giant Spoon at San Diego Comic Con. [27:25]SHOW NOTESHunt A KillerTricks and Treats at CA's Great AmericaTricks and Treats at ValleyfairReview RundownCall SheetImmersive 5: Paul King of Party Geek Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we have a not-so-subtle theme: gaming outside the home.When that's your theme there's no one better to kick things off with than Kevin Williams of Spider Entertainment and The Stinger Report, the Global Amusement & Attractions news service, who shares his insight into the state of VR in the location based entertainment sector as evidenced by the arrival of Sandbox VR in London.Then we hop the Atlantic to talk with James Cobalt about the Malden Gaming District in Malden, MA, a unique neighborhood in the Boston suburb gathers gaming experiences of all stripes into the city's historic downtown core.SHOW NOTESSandbox VR - LondonThe Immersive Game TheatreThe Immersive 5: The Light PoetsReview Crew: Ring Ring! Phone Shows Calling! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

They're Baaaack.The Crew – Kevin Gossett (LA Reviews Editor), Laura Hess (Arts Editor), Leah Davis (New England Curator), and Blake Weil (East Coast Editor at Large) – answer the call of three phone based shows... but first Leah travels to LA and encounters The Nest before it ends it run (1:00).Those Phone Shows:I Cut Myself Shaving and I Bled So Much 11:40Lennox Mutual 24:55Our Options Have Changed 49:11 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two great interviews this week with two luminaries of immersive.First: writer Margaret Kerrison, whose work includes Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, joins us to talk about her new book Immersive Storytelling For Real and Imagined Worlds: A Writer's Guide. This is a must-read for everyone who makes immersive work. Period, full stop. Then Charlie Miller, Executive Director & Curator of the Denver Center for Performing Art’s Off-Center program, stops by to talk about Off-Center's new position in the DCPA and the work they have on tap for Denver in the Fall.Show NotesMargaret Kerrison, In Conversation With Nancy Seruto at Vroman'sTheatre of the MindThe DIGReview RundownCall Sheet Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We settle in for a long chat about storytelling and the art of immersion with Frank Rose, the man who literally wrote the book on the subject. Frank's latest book, 'The Sea We Swim in: How Stories Work In A Data Driven World' takes center stage and we also touch on his work with Columbia University's Digital Storytelling Lab and their annual Digital Dozen list.Show NotesThe Art of ImmersionThe Sea We Swim InColumbia University's Digital Storytelling Lab2022 Digital DozenThe Denver Immersive Gathering Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the show: Chris Alderson of Polyarc Games joins us to talk about the MetaQuest release of Moss: Book II and what the studio learned about creating virtual characters you can’t help but form a bond with. [6:30]And Félix Lajeunesse of Felix & Paul Studios is here to bring us up to speed on the latest with their collaboration with NASA — the final episode Space Explorers: The ISS Experience and the upcoming Artemis mission livestream. [30:50]All that plus HEADLINES.SHOW NOTESSDCC Activations @ Everything ImmersiveTender Claws Human UnionMeow Wolf Workers CollectiveCommunication Workers of AmericaWalkabout MiniGolf VR Tour SignUpThe Metaverse And How it Will Revolutionize EverythingThe NoPro DiscordThe Denver Immersive GatheringWho’s The Bossk? The Force AwakensNoPro Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For our 350th episode we bring on members of the Senior Staff at NoPro: Leah Davis (New England), Patrick McLean (Chicago), Blake Weil (East Coast), and Kevin Gossett to talk about the state of immersive in their neck of the woods. It's a big sprawling convo that finds us diving deep on installation art, the mainstreaming of immersive experiences, LARPing, and XR. Hosted by Noah Nelson. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For years now, first in a backyard and then inside an early 20th century storage building, one of the most unique immersive creations in the world has been one of Los Angeles' treasures: Scout Expedition Co.'s The Nest.Created by themed entertainment designers Jarrett Lantz and Jeff Leinenveber, The Nest has both delighted audiences and broken our hearts since it first turned up, almost like a rumor, years ago. A visit to a storage unit reveals the shape of a life, told through audio tapes (literal tapes), and interactive moments that unlock more and more of the story of a woman named Josie, whose legacy is now yours.This special episode of the podcast, our 349th, brings Lantz and Leinenveber together with Mackenzie Firgens, the voice of Josie, and was recorded inside The Nest itself. The Thea Award-winning show will close this August. But there's still time to discover it, or revisit it, and the code NOPROPODCAST will unlock a discount for these last shows. Scout Expedition will also be offering up Behind The Scenes tours over the summer, so keep an eye out for that.Show NotesThe NestScout Expedition Co.The DIG Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.