This studio production course introduces students to the technical and conceptual foundations of Virtual Reality and immersive media production. We will examine VR within the framework of creative media arts and 3D animation, paying particular attention to the fundamentals of immersive world-building using the Unity3D engine. Throughout the course, we will explore the possibilities of the medium by doing short weekly VR exercises. Alongside our production work, we will critically examine an array of VR/immersive works by artists, filmmakers, and critical game designers in order to gain an overview of the historical landscape of the field. Students will develop competency in the technical, conceptual and artistic foundations for more advanced work in virtual reality and immersive media production.

Course Requirements:

Students will complete weekly production exercises, reading responses, a midterm project, and a final project.

Intended Audience:

This course is appropriate for students with a background or familiarity with the conventions of filmmaking, but who are interested in expanding their practice to include immersive storytelling, 3D animation, and VR. Previous knowledge of VR or 3D animation/graphics is not required. This course is appropriate for beginners.

Class Format:

The course will meet once a week for 4 hours and will include lectures, in-class demos, in-class studio production, and critique of student work.