105163Shared Immersion - innovations in production efficiency and art.ClosedCollaborative R&DISCF"Since the earliest peoples gathered around a campfire and shared their hopes and fears, humans have been hooked on experiencing stories together. Immersive technology is allowing consumers of leisure and entertainment to experience content in new ways, but these experiences are often based on individual and sometimes isolating consumption, such as with VR headsets. Fulldome (Planetarium) is a platform that allows an audience to experience immersive content collectively. However it has always been seen as a medium for education and documentary, and the current production process is cumbersome and time consuming, limiting creative ideas and opportunities for creative risk- taking. Tyneside based Arcus Animation Studios, are pairing up with fulldome veterans, Philippa Day and Ruth Coalson to develop new technology and production techniques that will speed up the fulldome production pipeline immensely, giving creators more flexibility and time to experiment with their work. We will use this time to begin to develop a visual literacy for fulldome, akin to cinema and television, that will allow creators and audiences to understand and share and stories in the immersive environment. Audiences crave experiences. Our proposition finds the shared outlet for immersive stories. An outlet which builds from existing successful models (theatre, cinema, public events) and human behaviour - to visit a venue, experience a story, and leave with others. We have the planetariums, we have the artists now all we need are the tools to make a new and exciting world of 360 degree media a reality for all."