Creating an Interactive VFX Experience

Project: Launchpad Open House

Objective: Promote Digital Media Lab studios to showcase how members could book and use the studio for their own creative projects.

Target Audience: Current and prospective Artscape members, creative entrepreneurs.

The Pitch

Invite guests onto a sitcom living room set to play a series of improv games. As an ice breaker the host will prompt guests to run onto the couch, referencing the TV show “The Simpsons.” A monitor enables guests to see themselves on set with the virtual background.

The Iterative Process

When I pitched this concept I never designed a set with a green screen from scratch before, but I was ready to figure it out! Through trial and error I experimented with different props, and invited members and coworkers to gather feedback. It’s really important not to develop in a silo, because even though I thought the set was convincing enough, someone would step on set and ask all the hard questions and I’d have to re-jig my approach. Not mad at it though, incorporating feedback is about putting your ego aside and working towards a better outcome.

Result

This was the most popular activation on the floor! I knew that guests would come to the event with their buddies so all we needed to do was give them the space to freestyle. We had an excellent host with background experience in improv / theater. Guests were more than ready to hop on set, and it made for some great candid moments.