VRX 2018 San Francisco, XLIVE Conference and Expo, Unreal Garden and LMNL Year-end Event, Mumbai Comic Con, are calendar highlights in December’s media and showbiz industry events

Set in Liège, Stereopsia is an international event that started in 2009. It encompasses all aspects of immersive technologies: 3D cinema and sound, virtual or mixed reality (XR). It is the meeting and networking place of the community of international professionals of the immersive technologies and all their applications and content. Stereopsia gives the floor to the world’s leading experts in a series of Thematic Conferences to better understand the issues, the technologies and therefore the new opportunities. Also, Stereopsia has strong connections with Hollywood. For the past seven years, Stereopsia has teamed up with the Advanced Imaging Society, which entrusted the event’s organizers to present the Lumiere Awards. Furthermore, this year, Stereopsia will launch the XR Tech Venture Forum, which will connect companies with investors (VCs & large companies) who can finance their innovation projects. 

Stereopsia is an international event dedicated to all forms of 3D / XR / AI. It features a series of conferences, panels with international experts, exhibition and demos, networking opportunities, and awards. There is nominated content in 3D and 3DVR, as well as the program for screenings. The best content will receive a golden Lumiere statuette during the remarkable registration-only Awards dinner on December 7 – at the close of the three-day forum. This international event is organized in close collaboration with the Hollywood-based Advanced Imaging Society & VR Society and their EMEA Chapter, and it bestows their prestigious Lumiere Awards to exceptional 3D and 3D VR content makers.

In the Exhibition area, you will find 17 exhibitors, with AR/XR demos and games, first-hand information on immersive technologies, Business-dating sessions, a VR Cinema… all free of charge. It is also the place where coffee and lunch breaks will be taken by Stereopsia’s participants. On behalf of the Advanced Imaging Society based in Hollywood, CA, Stereopsia organizes – for the seventh consecutive year – the competitions for the “Lumiere Awards” covering the regions consisting of Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA).

In brief, the program topics will include: Lumiere Awards, International Conference on 3D Immersion (IC3D), Awards Dinner, XR for Health and Wellness, AR for AEC and Industry 4.0, Location-Based XR, Spatial 3D Sound, XR and Artificial Intelligence, Networking Reception, Content Screenings, XR Tech Venture Forum, Business Dating, exhibitions, Emerging XR Tech and Apps, Trends in Stereo 3D, Eye Tracking and Analysis for XR, Cinematic VR and Video Games, OpenXR Standard By Nvidia, Directing In VR By Randal Kleiser, XR Meetup.

Set within the Union Square district of San Francisco for two days through December 7, VRX 2018 is the global summit that has been planned to address an increasingly advancing and crowded marketplace in immersive tech. VRX’s purpose is to cut through the noise and provide a reality check on the current state of VR and AR market development. Here business leaders are shown the resources to track the real market opportunities and impacts of virtual and augmented reality. With visionaries from across the globe speaking, and case studies from those succeeding on the front line, attendees will hear about the latest advances and innovations in immersive tech along with insight on real-world opportunities that are arising as the markets mature. With leanings toward practicality and application, VRX 2018 summit will throw its focus on where are the biggest opportunities for XR in business, where VR/AR technologies and content are having the greatest impact and delivering the most benefit, how to assess if VR/AR is a good fit to the problem at hand, and exploration into how immersive tech is providing real-world cost savings and increased productivity across industry verticals.

VR and immersive tech are creating an entirely new medium for storytelling and new immersive tech developments are changing the game for interactive storytelling. Visitors looking to learn more can assess the variety of narrative possibilities in VR and how to approach this from a creative standpoint while considering what needs to change from traditional linear storytelling. Discover how the tech can be both a help and a hindrance in storytelling, and how creatives and tech companies are both adjusting to the new medium to develop the best possible experiences. Also, how does the rise of AR / MR play into this? What challenges and opportunities do these new platforms provide for creatives in telling meaningful and engaging stories? Visiting scholars and industry representatives participating in talks you can expect to hear from include, Steven Kan, Google; Amy Allison, Skydance Interactive; Pearly Chen, HTC; Prince Gupta, Qualcomm; Ted Schilowitz, Paramount; Kelly Kandle, MediaMonks; Timoni West, Unity Labs; Jennifer Magee-Cook, Dreamscape Immersive; Andy Mathis, Occulus; Ricardo Rodríguez, BASF; Vinay Narayan, HTC Vive; Mike Pell, Microsoft Garage, and many others not listed here.

At VRX 2018, participants can expect a conference agenda that reflects the current state of how immersive technologies are currently shaping the business and social landscape with real application. Hear examples of how VR and AR is allowing brands to create interactive and engaging worlds and experiences for customers. Which technical and experiential components are most important to consider when creating great immersive experiences, and what are the latest advances in visual fidelity – how realistic can experiences now truly be. Gaming: What’s the real state of VR gaming, and issues such as VR games vs. flat screen games – differences in marketing strategies and execution. In seeking a route to mass consumer adoption, regarding location based VR and arcades, get insight on why VR and location-based entertainment pair so well and why having the right content is crucial, and how centers are managing this. Find out how Simulated Reality has the potential to fundamentally change the way we interact with the digital world and gain understanding how removing wearables allows users full merging of the real world and the virtual world and allows for more natural interaction.

XLIVE (#XLIVE2018) is an annual conference for music festival industry professionals to discover and discuss trends and issues surrounding the industry. It will be conducted in Las Vegas, December 9-12, a city known for its history of staging and showcasing sensational live musical acts. Organizations attending include music festivals, film festivals, beer festivals, wine and food festivals, eSports events, Convention and Visitors Bureaus, Economic Development Corporations, event tech solution providers, event services companies, travel providers, financial services firms, production companies, event services, providers, A/V and staging companies and other organizations serving the live event and festival community. For three days you will interact, learn from and build relationships with the CEO, president, owner, founder, producer, executive director, manager, functional titles – marketing, finance, operations, IT, sales, project manager, talent buyer and other professionals working at festivals and live events. The XLIVE Opening Keynote is a joint presentation that features speakers John Boyle, President, Live Nation Japan, and Ted Cohen, Managing Parkner, TAG Strategic.

The XLIVE Welcome Reception will at the MGM Grand in the evening. All attendees with an XLIVE badge will have the opportunity to network, play free games, 2 for 1 drinks, and have access to Hakkasan nightclub after the reception. This tech-savvy, adult playground features a variety of pay-to-play games in a social atmosphere. Designed to attract the next generation of players and existing players alike, this new ‘place to play’ concept features an extensive selection of traditional games with an interactive twist. From pool tables to multiplayer PacMan and skill-based slot machines, there should be something for everyone. In addition to next level entertainment, the 12,000-square-foot venue also features the “Live Lucky Bar” offering guests a variety of craft beers and specialty cocktails, a live DJ and endless entertainment and sports games across the multiple screens on display.

The live entertainment industry represents a dynamic and influential community valued over $100 billion. XLIVE seeks to be a player in the way live events share expertise, learn and revolutionize experience. XLIVE convenes industry leaders at the intersection of music, sports, film, culinary, beverage, cannabis culture, eSports, technology, brands and the experiences that are part of festivals and live events. XLIVE will bring in a legion of speakers from various industries to share their insights with attendees through panels, workshops and labs. Topic areas on the set agenda include, Understanding Cannabis Within the Live Entertainment Marketplace, Rethinking Strategic Partnerships With Your Live Event, What Technologies Your Attendees want at Your Event, The State of Live, The Big Picture: Festival Cancellations and What It Means for the Industry, Experiential Media: A Deep Dive into the Rise of Experiential Activations of Media Properties, It’s Time: Women As Leading Influencers in Live Events, International Expansion: Taking Your Event Into All Regions of the World, Fail-Proof Ways to Market Your Events – Beyond the Basics. Augmented Reality and Other Technologies and How It’s Affecting the Live Event Space. The XLIVE Closing Party will be held at the Skyfall Lounge.

Celebrate the emergence of the Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality sector in the Bay Area when VRARA Association will be welcoming members of the VRARA Association as well as anyone interested in networking with the local AR and VR community of the Bay Area. Take part in a night, on December 18, at the Unreal Garden, an immersive mixed reality experience where virtual artwork comes to life all around visitors using the HoloLens headset. Event host, Onedome presents The Unreal Garden, an immersive mixed reality experience featuring the work of a visionary group of MR/VR/AR artists, and assembled by a team of technologists, innovators and storytellers, As an interactive-immersive exhibit, the Unreal Garden merges multiple layers of perception to engage the imagination and senses.

The event is free for VRARA members, but interested parties still should apply for membership at this link. Members are permitted to bring an additional guest for free. The event opens with a formal welcome, giving way to networking. Presentations and panel discussions are part of the event and attendees are given a chance to network with speakers. Food and panel discussion are included in the admission, and all attendees receive an ARtillry Intelligence report added at no charge.

The corporate entity, Onedome, is an immersive media company and artist platform fostering a synergy from creativity, collaboration, connection and community. Onedome curates interactive arts and immersive entertainment in partnership with global visionaries, artists, technologists and storytellers. San Francisco is the first of Onedome’s permanent locations. At Onedome, visitors take part in experiences that merge art, story and technology. Onedome San Francisco, is a community space where all are invited and welcome. Normally, no ticket is required to come in (except for this event) and enjoy the space or sit in the cafe lounge while experiencing the 20,000 square feet of immersive activity. While at the lounge, create virtual artwork, and take part in many other activities that invite connection and collaboration with other participating guests. Augmented reality, projection mapping, soundscapes, food and drink, and even the physical space itself all work together to immerse the visitor in an otherworld known as The Unreal Garden.

Later in the month (December 20 to be precise), Onedome rolls out LMNL, an immersive experience designed using 14 interactive rooms and installations, interconnected into explorative exhibits created in collaboration with 11 leading new media and visual artists from around the world, as well as Onedome’s own artist collective. According to Onedome, “LMNL exists at the evolutionary edge of technology, art, and human connection.” Part of this exploration will also draw upon the visitors that take part in and/or interact with the interactive exhibits where the art magically responds to and is created by its visitors, where collaboration with others yields spontaneous surprises and where curiosity becomes a guide to new kinds of experiences. Contributing artists or artist groups involved in the LMNL exhibition include, Vincent Houze, Storylab Interactive, Leans, Gabriel Pulecio, B-Reel, Dave & Gabe, Lynchini, Hybycozo, Design I/O, and Matt Elson.

The district of Goregaon East in Mumbai will host its own Comic-Con that closely resembles the better known Comic-Con in San Diego. In fact, the producers of the recently inaugurated New York Comic Con are directly responsible for the initiation of this event as well. In general, the Comic-Con concept features the best of comics, graphic novels, movies, television, gaming and cosplay. So Comic-Con in any region of the globe is a place for getting close to as well as interacting with pop-culture and its heroes. And the Mumbai Comic Con will be no different in what it has to offer during its two-day run beginning December 22. Special guest appearances from within India as well as the international community will include, Sana Takeda, Yaya Han, Vivek Goel, Sumit Kumar, Shamik Dasgupta, Saumin Patel, Rajiv Tamhankar, Rahil Mohsin, Gaurav Basu, Alicia Souza, Abhijeet Kini, Sahil Shah. And at most any comic and movie convention, adoring fans are always eager to learn about viewing and/or participating in Cosplay, that for the Mumbai Comic Con, will represent five categories: Comic Books/ Graphic Novels, Icons of Movies/Television/Animated, Gaming, Anime/Manga, Sci-Fi/Fantasy.

Mumbai Comic Con Cosplay Contest takes into its regard all pop culture. All entries represent a character or element from the pop culture realm drawn only from five pre-selected categories. Contestants are required to register on-ground, get their photograph clicked and then do their reenactments on the Main Stage for first place in their respective categories. Those first place winners will then move on to the Final round to win the Grand Prize of The Cosplay Contest. No speaking or individualization of music is allowed as pre-selected music will play throughout the event. Contestants will submit a costume description for the attendant emcee to read as they get their time on the stage and exhibit two to three poses before exiting. There is a time limit for each participant on stage which is approximately 30 seconds. The Grand Prize winner from each day and each city will also qualify automatically for the finals of the National Indian Championships of Cosplay to be held at a time and date that will be made available to contestants.

Fan experiences will largely be themed on contemporary television and movie experiences. AXN, India’s English entertainment channel, will be recaptured through the AXN Live R.E.D. Zone. The iconic shows come to life as fans get to play their favourite characters. Marvel Studios in India will offer the Marvel Studios Experience zone on the heels of the 2018 release of ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ that broke records in India and worldwide, and the anticipated upcoming release for both Captain Marvel and Avengers 4 (WIP title) in 2019. The Marvel zone will its India based fanbase to engage with some of their favourite superheroes. The ‘House of Amazon’ has put together programming of the best of their Amazon Originals. Experience Mirzapur, Jack Ryan and The Marvelous Ms. Maisel, replete with experiences and a chance to win swag and merchandise at the House of Amazon zone. At the Sony Pix Zone, visitors get a chance to meet, play, challenge and engage with their favorite characters and actors including Minions, Batman, The Mummy, Tom Cruise, Dom Toretto and others.

The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed. Complete details are on the “Calendar of Global Media and Showbiz Industry Social Networking Events” page. If you like this report and other content found on The Actor’s Checklist, like the Facebook page at this link. In this month’s photo placement (starting at the very top), the works of immersive artists (from left to right) John Park, Gabriel Pulecio, Noah McGinley, Android Jones, are featured at OneDome’s unveiling of The Unreal Garden in the Civic Center district of San Francisco. Next, the Lumiere statuette awarded at Stereopsia, VRX 2018 in San Francisco, XLIVE music conference in Las Vegas, The Unreal Garden, Mumbai Comic-Con in Goregaon East. Welcome to January 2019! At this point coming from out of the Christmas and New Years holiday period, expect the calendar to be a bit slow. Nevertheless, here are some worthwhile events to know about. The Golden Globe Awards are set for early January in Los Angeles, The Sundance Film Festival happens again in Park City, Variety will stage its B2B Entertainment Summit at the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) convention that happens in Las Vegas, NATPE Miami 2019 will be in Miami Beach, Anime Los Angeles happens in the city of Ontario, Cos Mo Cosplay Modena happens in the city of Modena, Palm Springs International Film Festival placing an emphasis on productions from Internet and Startups comes to Palm Springs.