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| Industry | Film Production |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | , |
| Website | www |
Mechanical Dreams VR (MDVR) is a VR content production company that produces virtual reality films and television shows.[1] Co-CEOs Lacey Leavitt and Mischa Jakupcak, along with Joe Jacobs, Mara Auster, and Chris Mosson started the virtual reality content company in XXXX and since then they have produced six VR films, 5 of which are directed by women.[2] They are currently housed in the University of Washingtons CoMotion incubation space.[3][4]
Mechanical Dreams VR has made it a priority to shatter the majority of users of VR from being white males from gaming backgrounds, and introduce diverse voices and people into the mix. Hoping to steer the medium's development away from the same male dominated fate as the film industry currently is.[5] MDVR focuses on original, diverse voices in storytelling.[4] Specializing in everything from social justice documentaries to immersive 360° storytelling.[6]
Ch'aak' S'aagi
[edit]Also known as Eagle Bone, Ch'aak' S'aagi, is the first film produced by MDVR, and was one of the five chosen to be screened at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) as part of the new POP VR section.[7][8] The film is one of the first VR films to be directed by a Native American Filmmaker and Indigenous activist Tracy Rector. As described by the Huffington Post, Eagle Bone is a "lyrical, visually mesmerizing contemplation on indigenous identity, heritage and our relationship to nature".[3]
The film was shot an produced in under 2 weeks to allow for its debut screening at SIFFX, a new 4 day festival within the Seattle International Film Festival.[5][9]
Power
[edit]Directed by Lynn Shelton and starring Cherdonna Shinatra, Power is a comedy that portrays "gender-as-drag and the uneasy dynamic between artist and patron".[3]
Experience PRIDE
[edit]Directed by a local Seattle queer hispanic filmmaker, Dacia Saenz, this film allows the viewer to be transported into Pride celebrations.[5] Created as an option for viewers to be able to experience a life changing event for whom actually attending may not be a possibility in their life. [3] This short is the pilot episode in a future documentary series about the lives of LGBTQ community members who have experienced discrimination and marginalization before featuring scenes from the Seattle Pride parade.[10]
Future planned films
[edit]- Dom: A Story of Rebellion- Directed by queer African artist, Netsanet Tijrongo, documentary about Evanna, a black dominatrix.[5]
- Slow Moving Houses- Directed by Mischa Jakupcak, a dream-like representation of a young girl who leads a male stranger through the lowest point in his life to give him hope.[10]
- Arcadia Flats- Directed by Joe Jacobs and starring Jessica Martin, Evan Mosher, and Marc Kenison. A short horror film about a young woman who discovers she is a werewolf.[10]
References
[edit]- ^ "Innovation District Grows with Opening of New UW CoMotion Headquarters Building | CoMotion". comotion.uw.edu.
- ^ Bernstein, Paula. "Mechanical Dreams Uses VR to Amplify Diverse Voices | Filmmaker Magazine". Filmmaker Magazine.
- ^ a b c d Hurley, Wes (11 October 2016). "Filmmakers Bring Underrepresented Voices To VR". The Huffington Post.
- ^ a b "UW CoMotion opening new HQ with space for virtual, augmented reality startups". GeekWire. 30 June 2016.
- ^ a b c d "Seattle's Virtual Road to Transcendence - Seattle Weekly". Seattle Weekly. 12 October 2016.
- ^ "Mechanical Dreams Makes VR Dreams Come True | Washington Filmworks". washingtonfilmworks.org.
- ^ "Mechanical Dreams VR". Immerse Technology Summit 2016.
- ^ "My First TIFF: POP VR gives virtual reality the platform it deserves". NOW Toronto Magazine - Think Free. 16 September 2016.
- ^ "SIFFX". Seattle International Film Festival.
- ^ a b c "Mechanical Dreams VR". Kickstarter.