University of Miami School of Communication is hosting several hands-on and interactive events during this year’s FilmGate Interactive Creative Conference.
Guests can explore dynamic student and faculty work, meet cinema and interactive media creators and innovators, and attend informative workshops and panels with the school’s faculty.
“This is a terrific way for us to bring our ongoing educational efforts alive for a much broader community of industry professionals, business leaders, and creatives, and to highlight the impressive work that goes on year-round,” says Professor Christina Lane, chair of the Department of Cinema and Interactive Media.
FilmGate guests are invited to visit ’Canes Interactive, a showcase of more than a dozen Interactive Media faculty and student projects. Explore UM’s Interactive’s innovative games, interactive installations, 360-degree short films, and immersive storytelling adventures. This showcase features sensor-based narratives, virtual reality (VR) experiences, and creative projects using emerging technologies including Unity, p5.js, openFrameworks, Oculus Rift, and Arduino. Come experience the groundbreaking work happening at the University of Miami. ’Canes Interactive is free and open to the public on February 26 from 12-6 p.m., and on February 27-28 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
“The student and faculty work coming out of the Interactive Media program is both innovative and diverse in terms of technology platforms, content, and user experience. We are excited to share our interactive art and design projects and the quality of our student work with both the local community and FilmGate’s international guests,” says Lien Tran, assistant professor of interactive media.
University of Miami at FilmGate Interactive highlights include:
’Canes Arcade
From endless runners and geometric puzzles to twists on pop and local culture, play the latest video games created by students and faculty. The games will be playable Friday through Sunday in the ‘Canes Interactive showcase.
Mind Movies
A short film composed of three separate stories mixed together and generated by your attention level. Strap on an EEG headset and let your brain guide the story in the ’Canes Interactive showcase Friday through Sunday.
Calle Ocho
One of the first narrative 360-degree films, Calle Ocho, will be featured in the conference’s Virtual Reality Pavilion. The film was developed by students and faculty from the Department of Cinema and Interactive Media and takes place in a Cuban coffee shop on Miami’s famed Eighth Street. Experience the film in the VR Pavilion and in the ’Canes Interactive showcase Friday through Sunday.
Structure, Style and Screenwriting Principles
Professor Tom Musca, producer and co-writer of Stand and Deliver, will lead a workshop on Saturday, February 27 from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Attendees will be lead through the process of screenwriting from inception to final draft.
How to Make Virtual Reality a Reality
Faculty from the school will join a panel discussion co-hosted by WeLens. The panel will delve into what it takes to tell a story using virtual reality. The discussion takes place on Saturday, February 27, from 2:30-4:30 p.m.
University of Miami School of Communication Information Booth
During FIlmGate’s Tech Playground, UM’s Department of Cinema and Interactive Media faculty are available to answer questions and to demonstrate creative work from its students and alumni. Come and learn more about graduate- and undergraduate-level opportunities available to those wishing to pursue a career in film or interactive media.
“We have a lot going on under one roof. This is a major strength of our department, and the School of Communication as a whole. We encourage our students to experiment across platforms, to break out of traditional categories, to be hands on, and let their curiosity guide them,” says Lane.
The Department of Cinema and Interactive Media offers a complete curricular experience in critical understanding and effective creation of contemporary moving image media and interactive design. The departments programs are designed to prepare a new generation of innovators, storytellers and leaders in the field of cinema, transmedia, and interaction design with a mission to explore the creative uses of narrative, documentary, technology, design, and human behavior to entertain, impact, augment, and influence how people communicate. See more at http://com.miami.edu/cinema-interactive-media
FilmGate Interactive Creative Conference takes place February 20-28 at the Deauville Hotel, 6701 Collins Ave, Miami, FL 33141. Visit http://www.filmgate.miami/ to learn more about the conference and to register for events.
