Putting a film into a virtual reality setting is the goal of 1991, a VR documentary that delves into the mind and depression of composer Suhan Tuyliyev, after the collapse of the USSR, when Turkmenistan's government shut down the orchestra, opera, and ballet, with the intent of reclaiming the country’s cultural roots. Currently in development, this documentary is directed by the composer’s son Akmyrat Tuyliyev, in collaboration with Christina Elizabeth Borins and designer Jason Simms. They will present a session about 1991 as part of XLIVE: Meta•Mersive, an online event on July 13, 2022, as well as at LDI2022 in Las Vegas in November.
“The goal of 1991 is to travel and be exhibited across this globe. Not only does the "physical" set need to be an accurate replica of Suhan Tuyliyev's office in Ashgabat that can pack up and travel, but it also needs to perfectly align with the virtual space that the audience or "user" will encounter once the VR goggles are worn. This requires millimeter collaborative precision," says Simms.
“As a project collaborator, my position is that of ‘production designer’, which involves designing and overseeing the fabrication of an aluminum structure that can accommodate rear projections as well as house a virtual reality experience. The primary set is a true-to-life replica of Suhan Tuyliyev’s Ashgabat office that is able to transform from a realistic space to one that can accommodate a multimedia immersive experience,” Simms adds.
“In addition to the office space set, and after considering conversations regarding trauma and triggers related to performative experiences, the need for a peaceful decompression or “off-boarding” space where audience participants can address their feelings (possibly with the guidance of a professional counselor or therapist) is clear. The happenings surrounding the collapse of the Soviet Union are traumatic and the experiential nature of this work may trigger a myriad of emotions for the viewer. As project creators, we need to accept this reality with sensitivity, responsibility, and care. We imagine this space to be a meditative space, possibility with biofeedback ambiance.
The set will require expert professional construction with touring and easy installation in mind. Steel construction with stretched printed fabric to mimic wallpaper—along with floor, ceiling, furniture and dressing will all be required to create this office replica and accommodate touring presentation in multiple kinds of spaces,” Simms explains.
For the audience participants, the experience will comprise:
• Individual enters the space—a true to life office replica complete with sounds, lighting, scenery, window, and furniture;
• As the lighting in the space shifts, suddenly the window becomes a television screen and the walls become projection surfaces. Depicted on these spaces are images that center the collapse through the Central Asian lens while juxtaposing the crisis with the western narrative of positivity and accomplishment.
• Like Alice in Wonderland, lights force the viewers’ focus toward a box containing a virtual reality headset, once the VR headset is worn by the participant, three-dimensional musicians inhabit the space playing music composed by Suhan Tuyliyev along with narration and three-dimensional video representations of the Tuyliyev family. The space dissolves into a musical abstraction complete with immersive animations and artworks that move and evolve with the music;
• As this experience resolves and the participant is prompted to remove the headset, a portal into another physical space presents itself;
• Through this portal is the off-boarding--a true-to-life representation of a Turkmen yurt in which participants are able to resolve their emotions as related to the experience with the help mental health expertise;
• After off-boarding, the participant is transformed.
Suhan Tuyliyev's old office was recreated in Unity Game Engine. The documentary's pivotal part is an ancient Turkmen Tale "Uzuklar," a musical tale about the power of music. Akmyrat is painting the tale in the form of a mural in Tilt Brush, which will cover the walls of his father's office in VR. Professional musicians are being filmed with a volumetric capture technique using Scatter's tool DepthKit (see image below).
The documentary is being created with the support from Sensorium Studios in NYC: sensorium.works.