HotNoise

A collaborative event between Hotwire~ and Whitenoise

October 2024 in the Immersive Vision Theatre

This project, commissioned by Professor Dylan Yamada-Rice, launched the University of Plymouth’s Future Screen* initiative. A collaboration between myself (as part of Hotwire~) and Ronnie Deelen from White Noise, we structured the event as a participatory experience in which anyone could bring their creative practice to be shown.

It took place in the University’s Immersive Vision Theatre, which was filled to capacity, and buzzed with creativity and excitement all evening. Participants brought their own images, sounds, and tools, contributing to a vibrant tapestry of collaborative artistry that transcended the usual passive experience associated with immersive films.

We drew on the legacy of Stan Van Der Beek’s Movie-Drome for inspiration, a seminal project that blended cinema and viewers’ engagement in innovative ways, the event encouraged a participatory and dynamic approach to audiovisual storytelling. Like Movie-Drome, our attendees were not merely spectators; they became active contributors, jamming together and orchestrating their materials across multiple projectors. This multi-projector setup transformed the theatre into a lively playground for creativity, inviting participants to explore the boundaries of sound and image.

The collaborative nature of the event fostered connections and discussions, highlighting the power of community engagement in the creative process. The collaborative improvisation offered a refreshing shift away from the sedentary modes of traditional film-watching, allowing participants to immerse themselves fully in the experience.

In retrospect it is clear that the event did not only celebrate the convergence of sound and image but also underscored the importance of collective creativity. The success of this initiative sets a promising precedent for future events, showcasing the potential of participatory art in the immersive landscape. The Immersive Vision Theatre, with its state-of-the-art Fulldome’ architecture and 10.1 audio system, provided the perfect backdrop for such an innovative gathering.

* Exploring the idea that the future of screens might not be just ‘bigger, brighter, faster’ but could include hacking, making, community, sustainability and analogue materials