Summer 2021 Update
In spite of the COVID-19 pandemic, over the past 15 months we’ve been super busy working on some really exciting and influential programmes here at B3. Here’s a bit about what we’ve been up to.
B3 Origin
Inspired to take a fresh approach to our programming that responded to the needs of artists of color during the pandemic, we created B3 Origin, a new mentoring scheme for multicultural talent, with the help of film producer, writer, and director Nelson George. We took participants on a creative journey where they received invaluable insights on breaking into the industry, starting a career, developing their voice as an artist, and staying true to their vision.
Given the challenges we all have faced during lockdown, we’ve found that such guidance is more important than ever, as there is no real roadmap for emerging creatives to navigate the new, constantly changing limitations in place. Due to restrictions at the time, the programme was held online via Zoom, which allowed us to connect with a diverse range of creatives from across the UK.
Our B3 Origin participants reconnected with and re- discovered their voices as creatives through a series of hands on exercises followed by a collaborative project that the group developed together from scratch.
Participants were then encouraged to apply the ideas they learned into their own creative practice. From here, we selected a cohort of Associate Artists who each received a share of a £5k bursary to help with their own individual projects.
TalentLab XR
During such a period of massive disruption, technology has become even more of a priority and opportunity for the creative sector.
To bring our flagship TalentLab programme up to the minute we piloted our first ever series of immersive storytelling labs through TalentLab XR.
We selected 12 incredible and inquisitive Black, Asian, and ethnic minority creatives based on their compelling project proposals ,which explored a vast range of pertinent topics and themes from femicide, domestic violence, and the migrant experience to spiritual healing, afro-futurist magical realism, and trees.
At the start of the first week, participants received their very own Oculus Quest 2 headsets and were encouraged to watch a range of shorts to gain an understanding of the growing potential of immersive storytelling and extended reality.
In daily online interactive sessions and a number of 1-2-1s, participants met a network of mentors and industry practitioners who helped explain the basics of XR technologies and storytelling and shared their own work and industry tips.
The sessions included a range of insightful daily talks and Q&A sessions from XR industry pioneers and funding bodies. Equipped with the tools and know-how to put together an impressive pitch deck, participants then resubmitted their revised project proposal to B3.
We have now selected the seven artists that will go forward with us as TalentLab XR Associate Artists. They will each receive a £1,000 bursary as well as bespoke mentoring and additional support from B3 to help develop their projects further over the next 6-8 weeks.
We are really excited to see how our Associate Artists apply their bursaries and our bespoke support to the development of their projects and can’t wait to update you on their progress!
Emilie Dubois (Creative Producer): “Cric Crac Tales”
“Cric Crac Tales” is a table-top augmented reality experience about Caribbean myths & legends and the tradition of oral storytelling showcasing
a series of 3D animated stories.
“It has been great to have access to such a welcoming and accepting space full of industry experts and other creatives.” - Emilie
Isaac Ouro-Gnao (Multidisciplinary Artist): “The Coconut Vessel Travels Through Water, Space, and Time”
“The Coconut Vessel Travels Through Water, Space, and Time” is an interactive, location-based, 6d of theatrical VR experience for theatre audiences.
The story places audiences as members of Black Atlantis, an african futurist fictional underwater civil- isation in 2121, made up of enslaved Africans who escaped or were thrown overboard slave ships.
As they face environmental apocalypse threatening the earth, their solution for salvation is to travel back to the 1700s, save drowning slaves who did not find Black Atlantis at the time, and escape to a distant safer planet to rebuild as a complete people.
“Warm, guiding, and helpful mentors, staff, and speakers have made this programme a unique, fruitful experience. I learnt so much in such a short time, and feel empowered to carry out my idea and project. All from not knowing about VR/AR/XR just 4 weeks ago!” – Isaac
Leann O’Kasi (Actress / Writer): “Just Passing”
“Just Passing” is an interactive VR thriller where you will embody both the worlds of a homeless undocumented migrant called Sami, and Del,
a young police woman searching for him.
You will pass through several environments and
will be asked to complete small missions throughout the experience to receive either a golden pass or red card to free you from a threatening situation.
Each environment will leap you back and forth in time to piece together your life and the characters’ connection to each other. The paths of a homeless migrant and a police officer clash on the streets of London...but in this dangerous game of cat and mouse, who is hunting who?... and who gets the golden pass.
“Talent Lab XR was an exhilarating and dynamic process. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and encouraged me to see that so much more is possible!” – Leann
Gopal Dutta (Multidisciplinary Artist): “Tree Love”
“Tree love” is an augmented reality app that allows you to creatively combine your own art with your favourite trees and patterns in nature.
“No better way for a creative person to get a glimpse of immersive other realities.” – Gopal
Lara Kobeissi (3D artist): “Nazar//VR”
“Nazar//VR” is a multi-sensory personalised and immersive mixed reality experience that ranges between 10 to 20 minutes. It explores one of the oldest and most notorious superstitions in the Middle East, the Evil Eye. Nazar//VR is a protection ritual to ward off the evil eye gazing at you with envy online causing you pain and loss.
“TalentLab XR came in the perfect moment in my life and career. I wanted to transition from film production to XR because I believe it’s the future of storytelling.
I had a good idea when I started and finished a great one. An unforgettable and eye-opening experience and I will recommend it to everyone even remotely interested in XR!” – Lara
RCL Graham (Writer / Director): “Astronauts & Afropuffs”
“Astronauts & Afropuffs” is an episodic Afrofuturist / Sci-Fi narrative VR experience. Each episode has
a run time of approximately 15 minutes and is based upon several different perspectives from residents of an unknown planet. In the series, Ashanti, a black woman on an unknown planet, flies off into space, gets lost and inadvertently causes the Big Bang
and our universe as we now know it.
“My idea of XR and what is actually possible has been vastly expanded.” – RCL
Wanda Hu (Architect / Moving image Artist): “Sacred Space”
“Sacred Space” is a location based XR journey
that enables you to experience praying in spiritual spaces of various faiths that have been built digitally. It aims to bridge the divides and heal our wounded world.
“The content and support from TalentLab XR is simply amazing for us to step in the XR world. Can’t ask for more!” – Wanda
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