VRSC returns with second annual virtual reality festival

With virtual reality at the forefront of the latest technological advances, VRSC, a community for virtual reality enthusiasts, will host its second annual student festival in the School of Cinematic Arts courtyard on Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The event features demonstrations of virtual, augmented and mixed reality projects from college students across the nation, as well as demonstrations and panels from industry leaders. It is the final event of SCA’s Talent Week, a series of events mixing students, alumni and professionals in the entertainment field, and it aims to foster a sense of community in the growing field of virtual reality.

Though it is centered around USC developers, students from universities such as Yale University, Chapman University, Harvard University and the University of California, Santa Cruz will also feature their work. Student projects will be seen by industry representatives from companies like Disney/ABC, Sony Entertainment and IMAX. However, the festival will also be open to anyone interested in the burgeoning field of virtual and augmented reality.

“Students should come to this event because VR and other interactive forms of entertainment are still in their infancy,” said Chandler Toffa, a sophomore majoring in film and television production and an organizer of the festival. “It’s incredible to see the amount of talent and innovation happening in this field, and it is inspiring to be shaping new communities and collaborations across the nation.”

The event begins with judging of the student demonstrations in the morning, and opens to the public at 1 p.m. In addition to demonstrations in the courtyard, there will be five presentations in the SCA Gallery, and the night concludes with a keynote speech and awards for student projects.

A panel of alumni, many of whom are MFA candidates in school or currently use virtual reality in their work, will present on integrating VR into film. Sony Pictures Entertainment will host a talk for students interested in being a VR Innovation Intern at the company, and industry experts will lead a discussion on the future of the form.

Professor Ranjani Mazumdar from the School of Arts and Aesthetics at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, India will deliver a lecture on virtual reality’s  power to innovate storytelling mediums.

“VRSC is paving the way for cross-collaboration across the country, and we’re currently taking steps to bridge students from across the world to continue to create and innovate in this new and exciting world of storytelling,” said Toffa, who first became interested in VR after trying the Google Cardboard, a low-cost VR setup. “The experience changed the way I perceived traditional storytelling by simply giving me a new perspective.”

Toffa’s passion for VR is not unusual, as the form gained traction throughout the entertainment sector.

The group of students that present at the student festival could be industry leaders in the fast-paced world of cutting-edge virtual reality, and Toffa said he was excited to meet these innovators and see their work.

“I am very excited to finally meet all the applicants in person,” Toffa said. “I’ve been organizing this event for the past three or four months now, and still have yet to see many of their faces. I am also excited to host industry professionals and foster a sense of networking between the demoers.”

VRSC Student Festival 2017 is free and open to the public. RSVP is required. More information can be found online.