In addition to crowd generation issues, my latest hurdles have been due to poor lighting builds, and packaging for deployment. Previously the lighting would render a dark, creepy environment, but after changing some materials and textures, and creating some architectural and area lighting for the…

Despite being a little behind my projected production schedule, I felt good about my final presentation in May. Everyone’s feedback was really helpful, and even though I could only provide a demo video instead of a user-testable version, it was very well-received. Notably, several comments…

Finally, a bit of a breakthrough! It had been slow going for the last few weeks, with not much progress. Working with Unreal is challenging to say the least, and even seasoned users will tell you that they still have to look up solutions to…

So much great feedback from our sessions, where to start..? I used a modified version of my midterm presentation to give an overview of the concepts and goals of my project, which gave everyone a good idea of where I’m coming from, I think. That…

In the run up to last week’s presentation, I spent a fair amount of time researching the more actionable steps I had ahead of me, but breaking the production timeline down helped me focus on what I’d need to have in place in order to…

I think I’ll have a far more accurate production timeline once I better assess the availability of completed assets and resources (and permission/conditions for their use) for both the virtual space and its audience. Needless to say, things will go faster if I can use…

A few nights ago, I went out for dinner with a friend for the first time in… I really can’t remember. We decided on a place in Chelsea where a friend works, to catch up over some food and a few drinks. Nothing crazy, as…

YOUR NAME: George Faya WHAT IS YOUR THESIS QUESTION? (limit to one question and approx 2-3 sentences for an additional explanation) What is it about shared experiences that makes them special? Our physical and social isolation during the COVID pandemic has heightened our need for…

What is it about shared experiences that makes them special? We’ve all felt it in some way, but is “it” merely being in the company of another, so we don’t feel alone? Is it just a sensory phenomenon, the roar of a crowd cheering, laughing,…

“George Faya’s exploration of audience/performer dynamics reveals more about us than merely our relationship to art and performance – he seeks to get to the heart of what shared experiences mean to us as humans and social creatures. This becomes especially timely as we slowly…