Immersive Media Production – What is it?

Immersive Media Production. That’s the degree I’ve immersed myself in (see what I did there?!) And one year on, I’m no closer to knowing what it is. But that’s ok, because neither does anyone else. It seems to be a catchall phrase for … stuff. Really exciting, cutting-edge technology stuff. Stuff I’d never heard of before September of this year. 

I’ve learned how to write scripts, create non-linear narratives in Inkley, I wrote, produced, and directed a short film. I’ve written interactive fiction in Fungus, made a walk-through Virtual Reality game in Unity and a chill out beach hut in Unreal (that one had wine). Oh, and I sculpted an ear. And an eye. Sure, why not. 

Today, I donned a motion capture suit and played the part of a vampire in a computer-generated environment created in Unreal Engine and filmed on a LED wall. I barely understand what that means, but I did it and it was the craic. 

I’ve had so much fun this year, floundering out of my depth for a lot of it, but being pushed and stretched and supported by the incredible team in BCFE. My crazy classmates and their unhinged imaginations know no boundaries when it comes to our technical abilities and so they have pushed us beyond the learning outcomes of our modules and into a world where anything is possible. 

I need these summer months now to recover, reflect and replenish in preparation for what’s coming in year two. I can’t wait.