'Virtual reality for producers' event in NYC

While the hardware platforms that power VR experiences showed themselves to be stand-alone drivers of entertainment, it was the lower-end side of the VR market that took off, with Google Cardboard and related WebVR experiences driving excitement.

At the heart of the VR experience is a core group of producers who, on a global basis, are leveraging early funding from state organisations, as in France, as well as major media firms, in Canada and the US. As with high-definition video, a small but passionate group of production companies have taken on the task of defining the early grammar of VR. Teams such as RYOT have created immersive journalistic VR experiences, while Felix & Paul Studios have delivered high-end commercial experiences. Dozens of small shops – from datavized to Azimyth – create new worlds for clients daily.

The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) estimates that by 2020, the overall VR market will be somewhere between $50-150bn. As VR content moves onto mobile devices and cost-effective headsets at an increasing pace, producers will be in greater demand for new forms of immersive storytelling.

Speakers

• Alissa Crevier, Global head of partnerships, Littlstar Alissa Crevier maintains partnerships for Littlstar, creating channels for Showtime, Disney, Discovery, Nat Geo, Wall Street Journal, ABC, and others. She previously held executive positions with PledeMusic and Spotify.
• Christian Egeler, Director of VR/AR product development, Verizon envrmnt Christian Egeler manages and develops disruptive products in the field of AR/VR for Verizon Labs, managing business development, user interface, VR design, and engineering for one of the industry’s few end-to-end immersive experience studios.
• Paul Cheung, Director of interactive, Associated Press Paul Cheung is the director of interactive for the Associated Press, where he oversees AP’s portfolio of digital innovations and revenue-generating products including interactive, print and broadcast graphics, mobile app, digital news sites and two Knight Foundation funded projects.