After a week of thinking about what kind of workshop works best for my project, I think I should focus on my personal story. As Dan said, the most specific story can be the most universal one.
So this week, I am going to share the thesis project I made two years ago.
In 2017, I made a VR coming out prototype as the thesis for my master’s degree in media studies at Pratt Institute.
Ideally, I want to use this project to come out to my parents.
Pitch
My story combines 2D video and 360 video to give my parents an MR experience of me coming out to them.
I used a Nikon 360 camera to record myself coming out in VR, and I gave them a virtual hug in the end. Ideally, they can take off the headset and hug the real me, who is standing at the same place as in VR.
Behind the scene of Listen to Me (2017)
The virtual hug in VR. Screenshot from Listen to Me (2017)
Concept
My message was very straightforward.
First level--2D:I went back to China and interviewed my parents what’s their vision for my future. They said they want me to be happy and be myself.
Second level--360 video: So I showed them how happy I am as a queer and made my confession in VR.
Third level--MR: Virtual hug in the end, hopefully a happy family reunion and happy ending.
Some Clips from the Trailer
My parents’ interview on their vision for my future
The first step is to help my parents get used to the VR headsets by bringing in traditional 2D videos into the VR world. They can spin their head and turn to the video footage to be played in a pure dark environment.
I give a virtual tour to my parents of my life
On this level of storytelling, I used 360 video to give them an immersive environment. Not like a traditional walk tour, I can bring them everywhere in just few minutes.
I cried when I was saying, “I am queer.”
The third level is experimental. I project a close-up of myself to the wall in VR. This is what I think most exciting about VR storytelling, which is the possibility to embed so many layers of messages in just one shot. Also, the 360 camera at that time doesn’t have good enough quality to show the details of my facial expressions.
I also projected my childhood photo with my mom to the virtual space. I was also raising my arms and waiting for a hug.
In the end, I gave my parents a pure white space, and some texts floating in the air, to give them a space to consume the information and choose what they should do afterwards.
Problems
In the end, I didn’t show the project to my parents for many reasons. Personally, I was not ready and the timing was bad; also, the project was in bad quality, at least not as good as I expected. (I used Nikon 360 camera and Google cardboard, duh.)
My parents are not ready. They haven’t had any VR experience before, and my mom got dizziness watching the 360 video.
The experience is too short for the message. How much time do you think is enough to make sure your audience accepting the new storytelling platform, and to accept you are gay, and be okay with it? It sounds like each step takes normal parents years to achieve.
And Now…
I am ready now. I literally came out to myself and my social circle by finishing my thesis. I cried so hard by telling myself who I am to the camera, and when I showed my project to my program at Pratt, they are so touched and gave me a group hug. I was openly gay from that moment.
My society is kinda ready.
Taiwan legalized gay marriage in the summer of 2017, and my parents seems okay with homosexual issues. A friend of mine also made a short documentary about me being queer, and that video went viral on Chinese social media in 2019. Many Chinese netizens got inspired which encouraged me a lot.
3. Now, I want to create my dream project---a MR coming out prototype for my parents and a MR interpersonal storytelling tool kit for universal use.
I want to build a MR experience for my parents that is progressive, informative, multimedia, and interactive.
I want the approach to be as accessible as possible that everyone can be inspired and utilize it into their daily life for important interpersonal communication, like coming out, marriage proposal, break up, last message to the loved ones, etc.
Prototype Sketch
The “Closet”
One idea could be creating a real “closet” that audience can walk inside and experience what it feels like to be a closeted queer.
And inside the closet, there could be multiple mirror and screens that use video and AR to represent sexuality, desire and fear.
In terms of scale, the “closet” can be an exhibition, so that audience won’t worry about claustrophobia inside a real closet.
Critique Session
Questions:
Please critique my VR coming out idea from 2 years ago. Which part impressed you most? What do you think is a “bad design”?
Do you think the mixed reality storytelling that includes physical setup would be better or worse than just VR? Do you think the technology used is necessary?
Should stories like coming out involve social media feedback?
What do you think about the “closet” idea? Should the “Closet” be public or designed for my parents only? What do you think should be included in the “Closet”?
Any other ideas?