Now Turn Your Attention to the Center Ring
That early work relied heavily on visual spectacle, dance, boxing matches, and acts from Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show. We found that the simple truth is that when showcasing new tech like this (which is the evolution of the work that started when Joseph Niépce took the first permanent photograph in 1824.
We identified Cirque du Soleil as perfect partner potential. Cirque traveling shows already perform in the round, and their performers are at the height of physical spectacle, perfect for volumetric capture to show from all angles. We built a mock-up prototype simulating what a Windows 8 experience, might look like to demonstrate viability:
Early in ideation with volumetric capture, we turned to the first days of cinema for inspiration in ways that we could get folk excited about volumetric content. The work of Méliès, the Lumière brothers, and Thomas Edison’s Black Maria studio provided fertile ground for ideas.
With a technical proof in hand and supported by Alex Kipman’s close relationship with Cirque leadership, our team ended up working together on multiple mixed reality projects over the years, most notably for HoloLens experiences, which truly gives you the best seat in the house for a Cirque performance.
Working with Cirque performers is really a treat. They just the most amazing artists at the top of their craft, and consummate professionals on the stage. The experience of working directly with their team has crafted a truly positive example of on set professionalism and creative partnership that has helped shape my own directorial craft.