After a short introduction, students Annika and Max knew immediately that they wanted to work together. Five weeks later they presented the end result: Zeezusters (Sea sisters). An interactive VR installation based on the book 'Havbrevene' by Siri Ravna Hjelm Jacobsen. What did they gain by this interdisciplinary collaboration?

From concept to end result
Annika is a second-year Directing student at the Academy of Theater and Dance. Max studies Immersive Media at the Netherlands Film Academy. They met during the VR Theater workshop. Max: “The concept development happened together. Then it was time to focus on our own 'part'. Annika directed and I figured out, together with Annika, what our technical possibilities were.”

Careful thought was given to what needed to happen before and after the audience experiences the VR installation. “We made those moments part of the experience by involving actors and/or creating a set that matched what we wanted the audience to experience,” Annika explains.

Lessons learned
When asked what they have learned from this collaboration, Annika answers: “I have learned to ask for clarity. And also to express more clarity.” Max got a lot out of the project in terms of artistic content: “I learned a lot about Unreal Engine; a 3D creation tool. But I also gained more knowledge by working with Annika!”

Future music
“In the next collaboration, we want to start ambitiously and then adjust where necessary. This makes you immediately think about possible problems and feasibility of the project, but you remain motivated to work towards the 'big' idea,” they say.

The collaboration has not only resulted in a great project, but also a good friendship. “We will keep each other in mind for future collaborations. And of course we will stay in touch!”

Annika Taylor, student Theatre Directing at the Academy of Theatre and Dance
Max Slot, student Immersive Media at the Dutch Film Academy

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Are you a student at the AHK and do you also want to collaborate with students from other academies of the AHK? Then post your call now on the message board on MyAHK! Or are you going to start your own project soon? See if you are eligible for a contribution from the Cross Academy Fund.

The VRAcademy is an initiative of the Netherlands Film Academy and provides (interdisciplinary) workshops in the field of immersive for all AHK-academies. As an AHK student you are welcome in the VRSpace to do research in immersive techniques, like VR, projection mapping or motion capture.