I’m super excited to announce that the adaptation of Lincoln in the Bardo I produced and shot was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Innovation In Interactive Programming! This was a real dream project to work on as we had the amazing support of NYTVR as well as strong connection with George Saunders for the adaptation through our director Graham Sack. The narrative and writing of the book was uniquely suited for an adaptation into VR, and it definitely pushed my creative boundaries helping bring this world to life.
Aside from the Emmy nomination, the release also garnered extensive coverage through major news and magazine outlets. Time Magazine hailed Lincoln in the Bardo as one of “five virtual reality films you should experience right now,” calling the experience “impeccable.” The project also garnered laudatory write-ups in Variety, Entertainment Weekly, Fast Company, and Publishers Weekly, which wrote an in-depth piece about its significance as the first ever VR literary adaptation.
Moreover, Lincoln in the Bardo is also being screened in cities around the world. The project was invited to the Paris Virtual festival and screened at the National Association of Broadcasters, the Unity Vision Summit, Adobe/99U’s creative industry conference, Versions (sponsored by the New Museum and Killscreen Magazine), and the Kosmopolis Literary Festival in Barcelona. AMD also sponsored screenings at SXSW and the Art of VR at Sotheby’s in New York.
I personally feel the experience garnered the nomination because of the amazing immersive environment conjured for the shoot as well as the clear role carved out for the viewer. The experience was also technologically aspirational in pushing the boundaries of VR. Although structured like a play set in a single location with the narrative unfolding around the viewer, we shot live action with heavy VFX overlays and extensive use of a greenscreen studio. This allowed us to mix practical make-up, costumes, and VFX to create unique visual looks that express the psychology of the dead souls that narrate the piece.
Check out Lincoln in the Bardo via the web, but it’s best seen through the YouTube app in a headset like the Oculus Quest or Vive!
