The Immersive Fiction Lab is a talent development programme for creatives exploring humour in XR.
The in-person lab will take place in North Yorkshire, 22-28 November, with an Online Pitch session on 12 December.
This programme is open to writers, directors, artists or producers who are developing their first, second or third immersive fiction experience. Applicants must apply with a project that sits within a category of genre fiction such as: comedy, sci-fi, horror, crime, ect. It is essential that the project uses humour within its narrative.
Immersive Fiction Lab is a residential workshop programme which will take place at Gisborough Hall Hotel in North Yorkshire from 22-28 November. A maximum of 2 team members per project can attend for whom travel, accommodation and meals are all included. Participants will also be paid a daily stipend of £110 for each day of the programme (a total of £715 per person for the 6.5 day programme).
The Immersive Fiction Lab actively encourages applications from talent across the United Kingdom including creatives from underrepresented groups, including but not limited to, those from the global majority, LGBTQIA+ people, those who identify as a gender minority, those living with a disability or long term illness and/or those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
We will accommodate accessibility requirements as required and on a case by case basis to ensure your needs are met to the best of our ability. The lab venue is accessible and there is a provision of accessible accommodation within the hotel.
During a 6 day “hothouse” lab, participants will evolve their project concepts into market ready proposals and deepen their understanding of how humour works in XR storytelling. Along the way, participants will be carefully guided by a team of expert industry mentors from XR, comedy, theatre, film, games and scriptwriting.
The lab will focus on developing existing projects, but will equip participants with Crossover’s adaptable toolkit of processes that can also be used into the future.
The Immersive Fiction Lab curriculum will include:
- Comedy Workshops
- XR Production
- Audience Experience Design
- Audience & Outreach Strategy
- Technical Advice & Prototype Planning
- Budgeting & Finance Planning
- Honing Proposal Documents
- Pitch Training
- Mentoring
Participants will leave the programme equipped to seek financing for their project with a carefully honed pitch and proposal document to accompany a well developed concept that finds the funny in XR.
The programme will culminate in a closed pitch to an invited audience of funders, producers, exhibitors, market organisers and distributors during an online session to receive feedback and launch their projects as they go on to seek prototype or project funding.
Immersive Fiction Lab is delivered by Crossover Labs, through the BFI Creative Challenge Fund, made possible with National Lottery funding.
Information Webinar – Register Here: Monday 9th September, 1000-1100 BST
Applications close on Wednesday 9th October at 1700 BST.