Description:

For 7 years Artistic Directors  Genevieve Gearhart, Julianne Just, and Matthew Bamberg-Johnson of the Speakeasy society have shown LA’s immersive community the evolution of an artform. With more experience than most working in the LA area, they have a unique understanding of the word ‘play’ and why it’s so important to their work.

The Speakeasy Society is responsible for works like:
The Kansas Collection: A 10 part epic exploring the world of OZ
The Johnny Cycle: a series about lost youth and the horrors of war- based on Dalton Trumbo’s ‘Johnny Got His Gun’.
And Under the Bigtop: A series on time travel and the mystery of a 1928 circus -in collaboration with Two Bit Circus

For any in the LA area: as of 7/5/19, they are currently working to remount the Johnny Cycle and are looking for folks interested in living through a glimpse of that world.

Make it immersive:
The Magicians [15:00]

Selected links: 

• Speakeasy society
• Johnny cycle: Vidya
• Kansas collection
• The magicians 
• Dragon Lance
• Forgotten realms
• Edith Wharton: age of innocence 
• Immersive Design Summit
• Agousto Boal
• Invisible theater
• No Proscenium
• Indiecade festival
  GOAT test
• Knotts Berry Farm: Ghost Town Alive
• Hollywood fringe festival
• The Pod
• Meow Wolf
• Johnny got his gun
• Dalton Trumbo
• Two Bit Circus
• Under the Big Top

Show Notes:

• Introductions & Favorite worlds? [1:55]
• What kind of experience are you trying to give your audience? [7:57]
• Setting the stage & onboarding [12:56]
• Value of play:
• -Genevieve Gearhart [17:28]
• -Matthew Bamberg-Johnson [19:23]
• -Julianne Just [21:40]
• Art and personal reflection [24:25]
• Veterans healing through immersion [25:05]
• Make it immersive: The magicians [28:10]
• Starting with the test & a secret entrance [30:25]
• No two experiences alike [33:35]
• Rationing resources with a group [38:50]
• What do you tell the uninitiated about immersion [40:30]
• You have importance, you are seen.. [40:50]
• Should you surprise a friend with immersion? [43:40]
• Immersion on the horizon: Thoughts on star wars, VR, and collaboration [45:50]
• LA Immersive Supergroup [51:11]
• GET IMMERSED: A billboard [54:20]
• What Speakeasy has on the horizon [59:42]
• A collaboration with Two Bit Circus: ‘Under the Big Top’ [1:03:18]
• The means, team, and times of Speakeasy Society [1:05:27]