Want to explore the power storytelling in VR, AR and MR? Join renowned Australian artist and filmmaker Lynette Wallworth and Australian multidisciplinary writer/producer Mike Jones for a nationwide series of masterclasses focused on storytelling in an immersive environment.
Brought to you by the New Zealand Film Commission‘s GPS 2026 Project – exploring the future of storytelling, in association with Te Papa Tongarewa and the NZ VR/AR Association.
Why you should take part:
If you are interested in working in virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) or mixed reality (MR), you will get an international perspective and gain unique insights from two Australians working at the cutting edge.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS:
Lynette Wallworth is an acclaimed Australian artist and filmmaker named by Foreign Policy magazine as one of 2016’s “100 Leading Global Thinkers.” Works include the interactive video Evolution of Fearlessness; the full dome feature Coral, with accompanying augmented reality work; and virtual reality narrative Collisions, developed through the inaugural Sundance Institute New Frontier – Jaunt VR Residency. In 2014, Wallworth’s feature documentary Tender won the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Award for best televised documentary. Find out more.
About Collisions: Collisions is a virtual reality journey to the land of indigenous elder Nyarri Morgan and the Martu tribe in the remote Western Australian desert. Nyarri’s first contact with Western culture came in the 1950s when he witnessed first hand an atomic test – a dramatic collision between his traditional world view and Western science and technology. Collisions focusses on the needs of future generations as we dive head-long into the fourth industrial revolution.
Mike Jones: is a writer, script-editor and creative producer working across screen, page & interactive media. He was co-creator of the virtual-reality detective-thriller VRNoir: A Day Before the Night with Sydney-based company StartVR, and is lead writer of upcoming speculative fiction VR drama, Awake: First Contact. He previously lead story development for multi-platform company, Portal Entertainment, and developed interactive projects for WarnerBros. Mike serves as script producer with the ABC, and is regular story consultant and collaborator with boutique TV production company SweetPotatoFilms whose recent success was the multi award-winning mystery drama series, The Kettering Incident. Find out more.
AUCKLAND – Thursday, 16 March
Harnessing the Power of Storytelling in VR
Masterclasses with Lynette Wallworth and Mike Jones (followed by networking)
6:00-8:30pm – Sir Paul Reeves Theatrette, AUT/Colab, 2 Govenor Fitzroy Place, Auckland
Register here ($10 Guild members/$15 non-members)
WELLINGTON
Friday, 17 March – Te Papa Talks Virtual Realities (talks, networking and displays)
6:30-8:30pm – Te Papa Soundings Theatre, 55 Cable Street, Wellington
Tickets $20 Guild members/$25 Public
Sunday, 19 March
Masterclass – Immersive Storytelling with Lynette Wallworth
1-3pm – TE PAPA, Mahuki Innovation Hub – meet in the main Te Papa foyer by the rolling ball and a Te Papa staff member will take you to the room
Tickets ($15 Public)
Monday, 20 March
Masterclass – Concepts of Narrative VR with Mike Jones
1-2:30pm – TE PAPA, Mahuki Innovation Hub – meet in the main Te Papa foyer by the rolling ball and a Te Papa staff member will take you to the room
Tickets ($15 Public)
DUNEDIN – Saturday, 18 March
Masterclass – Concepts of Narrative VR with Mike Jones (followed by networking)
2-4pm Petridish, 8 Stafford Street, Dunedin
Register here ($10 Guild members/$15 non-members)
CHRISTCHURCH – Sunday, 19 March
Masterclass – Concepts of Narrative VR with Mike Jones (followed by networking)
1-3pm Epic Centre, 76/106 Manchester Street, Christchurch
Register here ($10 Guild members/$15 non-members)
M?ORILAND FILM FESTIVAL – OTAKI – Saturday, 18 March
Lynette Wallworth will be in the Storyteller’s Tent (at 5 Rangatira Street, Otaki township) between 12:30 to 2:30pm along with Nyarri’s grandson Curtis Taylor who also narrates Collisions. This session is limited to 20 participants and is on a first come, first served basis. Curtis Taylor will present a workshop on Collisions at M?oriland Hub on Main Street Otaki Township at 10am -12 on Saturday 19 March. Find out more.