| Programme | Local Development and Culture |
| Selection | Open project |
| Competition title | Virtual Reality play “Briefly About the Universe” |
| Donorstate/international project partner | Limited liability company (AS) "Stargate Media", Norway (https://www.stargatemedia.no/) |
| Project national Nr. | EEZ/2021/1/06 |
| GrACE project Nr. | LV-LOCALDEV-0009 |
| Contract No. | 4.3.1-12-2 |
| Contract Date | 15.12.2021 |
| Project title | Virtual Reality play “Briefly About the Universe” |
| Project promoter | SIA “Binoklis” (http://www.binoklis.eu/) |
| Start of project eligibility | 15.12.2021 |
| Project end | 14.06.2023 |
| Total eligible costs | 292 040.00€ |
| Grant financing | 210 664.00€ |
| National co-financing | 37 176.00€ |
| Project promoter co-financing | 44 200.00€ |
| Project status | Completed |
| Project goal/description | The goal of this project is to produce a Virtual Reality Science show “Briefly About the Universe” and distribute it to the school audiences using a mobile Virtual reality kit. The idea is based on the New Riga Theatre performance “Briefly about the universe” (2016) which was directed by one of the founders of Binoklis - Gatis Šmits. The performance was very successful with the young audiences and will serve as a foundation for the new VR Science show.
Each of the four 15-20 min segments will deal with one scientific topic. The content of each part will be developed in collaboration with leading experts in the field – scientists, science teachers and performers. School children will also be involved for test demonstrations (and creative workshops.) In order for the scientific content to meet the official education requirements as well as to help promote and distribute the project in schools - experts from the organization “Skola 2030” will be involved. The four sets will be built in a studio pavilion and after the rehearsal stage the shows will be tested with a live audience of 30 schoolchildren per episode. After the testing, the final adjustments can be made. The four shows will be recorded in the 360 degree 3D VR format allowing to add the interactive and CGI parts later, in post-production. This stage is executed by our partners from Norway - Stargate Media which is one of the leading companies working with the Virtual Reality technology in Norway.
Once the VR production is complete, the show runners will distribute the product in classrooms all over Latvia. The kit of VR headsets and controllers will provide the interactive VR experience for up to 30 people at a time. Norwegian company Stargate Media will be an important collaborator throughout the project as it provides the technical and creative know-how of VR content development and production. Children age (9-15) will take their first steps in the Virtual Reality world and learn about scientific phenomenon in creative and immersive way. The project is aimed at promoting the natural sciences and encouraging imagination and creativity in children. Besides the VR product, an additional methodology material will be provided for the teachers in order to facilitate the discussion and further elaborate on the scientific topics presented in the show.
The result of project, Summary:
The four-part VR science show demonstrates basic scientific facts and concepts in a theatrical way, using interactive tools in 3D stereoscopic VR technology. The show presents science in an imaginative, adventures way. It will inspire the young audiences' curiosity and sense of wonder about the world and at the same time it will provide understandable analogies and impressive means of visualization.
As in fair and circus shows that were popular at the beginning of the 20th century, the Viewer is led into a tent or small theater space where the show takes place. Each of the four episodes is presented by an extravagant character originating in classical vaudeville tradition - strong man, musical acrobat, crazy naturalist and the ape-man. This world, at the first glance, seems nothing like modern scientific concepts and technology. However, the theatrical setting and expression will blend with the state of the art VR technology and advanced methods of visualization. Although, this product is completely digital its aesthetics and atmosphere will be created to resemble an “analogue” setting.
Each of the four parts will have a distinctive design – set design, props, costumes, sound and built in special effects. Each set will be built to cater to the needs of VR recording. Each part will be staged and captured as a one continuous experience lasting 15-20 min. In post-production, the video will be blended with innovative 3D graphics. Each of the parts will have an interactive/ gamification part, which will give opportunity for the viewer to individually explore the phenomenon presented in the show. This will be achieved by the help of VR controller sets. The showrunner will explain the options and allow the VIEWER to explore the space on his own.
Episodes
1. EARTH and UNIVERSE
This 15-20 min performance deals with the large numbers and distances in the Universe, celestial movement and gravity. Using the analogy of grains of sand, the big numbers and distances are conceptualized and visualized. A mechanical size-to-distance model of Sun, Earth and Moon is presented as well as the gravity demonstration using rotating objects in a large funnel.
The viewer sits at a large round table (3mD). The table is placed in the middle of a round platform (6mD). The platform is floating in the air and is surrounded by 360-degree 3D CGI sky that gradually fades to starry night. A Character appears riding a one-wheel scooter. It's a traveling street musician and acrobat riding around the Viewer on the narrow edge around the table. The Character directly addresses the viewer, demonstrating the science analogies and concepts as they were a part of a street performance. He or she impressively rides the one-wheel, does magic tricks and plays ukulele. Meanwhile we get to know the Character more closely, he or she is a traveling clown, working hard to make a living in the lonely Universe.
There is an interactive segment following the performance inviting the viewer to review or further explore the topics covered in the performance. The platform and the table are built in full size. The performance is shut against the blue-screen. In post-production, a 360-degree 3D image of sky is added serving also as a 360 demonstration screen. There is a custom-made mechanical scale model of the Solar system and spandex gravity table with rotating objects of different characteristics.
The final version of the script will be developed in collaboration with science experts and a professional circus performer.
2. ENERGY
This 15-20 min segment deals with the concept of energy – from calories in one tic-tac to nuclear. It also looks at energy from human civilization standpoint - from taming of fire to internal combustion and further. It is an in-person lecture with practical demonstrations.
The Viewer is located in a mechanical shed – full of tools and mechanisms. The Character - a vaudeville Strongman - arrives on an impressive motorized vehicle – he demonstrates his own strengths as well as manages a fleet of working engine models and other impressive energy-related devices – flywheels, levers, weights etc.
The shed is built as a real set. The space behind the shed – seen through the doors/window is a CGI back-projection. The engines and chemical demonstrations are shown “live”. In the interactive part the Viewer will be able to start devices and experiments using controllers.
3. SMALLEST LIFE FORMS
This 15-20 minute segment deals with the smallest life forms inhabiting water – starting from bacteria, infusorias, flagellates, to arthemia salina and tardigrades. These forms of life can be demonstrated by shining a laser beam through a drop of water. The laser generates a clear life projection of stationary and moving forms of smallest life. The Character is a 19th century naturalist – The Microbe Hunter. The performance takes place in a field tent in Africa. The Character delivers a micro safari experience showing life animals in projection.
Different types of animals live in different glass vessels. Besides the projection the Character also demonstrates the Year calendar of Life on Earth, where bacteria appears in early March, Arthemia salina in late December and us in the very last few seconds of the year. The story also addresses the fact there are thousands of living organisms inhabiting our body.
The naturalists' Tent is a fully built set, the projections of animals are recorded during a life performance. CGI is used to add the background for the set and for interactive part of the show where the Viewer can inspect the vessels with micro animals.
4. DISTANT ANCESTORS
This segment deals with our ancient ancestors and the other human species that became extinct. The show is a cinema-slide show that tells three short stories about three ancient characters – 300 000, 100 000 and 50 000 years ago. Each of the stories deals with an important event in each character’s life. The oldest story is about a character that sleeps at night in tree, is recently bipedal and lives in the world were humans are the hunted. The second story is about a person during the times when people started to use more comprehensive language and gained more competitive advantage. The third story is about Neanderthal male living in cave with his family, using fire, weapons and clothing. Returning from successful hunting trip he discovers his wife is missing she has been abducted by another tribe – the Humans who have recently arrived in the area. The trail leads the Neanderthal to a cave, where he for the first time sees the cave paintings left by the humans.
The Viewer sits in a small old cinema hall (30 seats). The Character is a vaudeville Ape-man, a non speaking person in ape costume, who serves as the cinema hall host – checking tickets, offering snacks, explaining the rules, etc. The three short stories are recorded by an actor with added sound effects and music. On the screen, the viewer sees large realistic portraits of the characters – photographic portraits of human ancestors as well as exotic, now extinct animals, our ancestors encountered. |
| Implementation place | Visa Latvija |
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