Hi, this week, I’m building a prototype of my van installation. It’s far complete:

Imagine the boxes full of objects, things scattered about, eery lights, sounds in the background, and projections lining the walls. I think it could be cool. Tomorrow, I plan on renting out a bunch of equipment from the ER (projectors and light), and I will begin prototyping.

Initially, I set out using the lighting, audio, and projections as thematic elements, but for now they will be used to enhance the atmosphere. I’m still figuring out how to incorporate content of the tech into the story (projections that further the story), but I think focusing on the atmosphere is a good starting point.

I’ve been trying to map out the guest flow— the beats that I want to hit. Follow me.

  • My guest is walking in the neighborhood and then stumbles upon a vacant van.
  • Taped to the trunk doors, there’s an envelope with a letter written by someone named Finley. It explains his situation, what just happened, and your task. The Letter:

To Whoever Finds this Van,

I know this letter may sound like it belongs in a sci-fi movie, or book, or whatever, but this is real. I promise. Don’t walk away. Continue.

If you find this van, these are either my final words or one step in cementing who I am. Tonight, after my shift, I traveled forward in time… to meet myself. Though this has been meticulously planned, inherent risks come with an odyssey of this nature. I have been sitting with this plan for too long. I had no choice. 

I saw myself. He was hallowed, jaded, and bored. I needed to do something. My things are me. If only my future self could be reminded of who I am. 

I need your help. In this van, you will find pieces of me. Lying on the other side of these doors is my Time Scanner. I was only able to bring so many of my things to him. Scan the things in my van so I could receive them on my end. 

I could be gone by now, but this is my only hope to living a complete life. Tell my mom I miss her and I hope to make her proud.

Thank You,

Finley Sullivan

  • My guest opens the doors to the trunk of the van. Picks up the Time Scanner
    • The Time Scanner will either be a disguised iPhone or an Arduino with an NFC reader.
  • As you enter the van you are immediately situated in an ethereal environment. There’s a feeling that something magical happened in this van. It’s the “after glow” or reminisce of Finley’s time traveling. There’s eery audio that suggests different time periods and lights flickering.
  • My guest has the agency walk around the van exploring and scanning Finley’s objects. Some objects are detectable to the scanner, other’s are props to inspect. The objects that are scannable represent moments from Finley’s growth. They will roughly be laid out sequentially following Finley’s life, but the guest isn’t expected to follow this order.
    • Finley’s Adolescence:
      • Grade-school writing assignment describing his strange condition of time traveling. At this point, he isn’t sure if it’s real or if  he dreams about time travel.
      • CDs
      • Childhood books and toys
    • Finley’s Early Adulthood
      • Crossword puzzles
      • Knicks garb
      • Concert/ Festival Tickets
    • Finley’s Present Life as a Delivery Driver
      • Playing cards with scoresheet versus his mother
      • The note he never sent to his mom before leaving.
      • His trusty headphone and aux cord
  • Some of the objects are “charged” with the after-glow of timetraveling. Some objects glow underneath, some objects may reveal a projection towards the ceiling or the front of the trunk. Some objects may make a sound
  • The Final Moment:
    • Light’s come from the window and the front seat. Everything suggests that the objects you have been scanning are being sent to Finley. 
    • Finley then writes or speaks directly to the guest. He says thank you for helping him and wishes the guest to hold onto the things that make up who you are. The message, something like: don’t forget what defines you.