Last week saw several Kickstarter projects emerge and succeed with various forms of success, such as Pimax and its 8K head-mounted display (HMD) or ZephVR’s fan accessory. Another to launch wasn’t for hardware, instead 1RIC the studio of augmented reality (AR) artist Asad J. Malik has launched a funding campaign for an AR documentary Asad & Assad.
The film looks at the diversity of socio-political experiences of Muslims in the US, interviewing students as they recall stories of their childhood, family, work, faith, lack of faith, war, privilege, sex, drugs, youth, love, and a life far from home.
Currently Malik has captured interviews with three millennial students attending college in the US using spatial sound and 3D volumetric captured in partnership with Brooklyn-based startup Depthkit; Roua Sibai from Homs in Syria; Zubair Siddiqui from Karachi, in Pakistan; and Huma Javeed, an “Ismaili Muslim” from Chitral. Two further interviews are planned to round out the documentary.
The team are looking to raise $20,000 USD through Kickstarter although they acknowledge that will only form a small part of the investment needed to complete the project. To help buy further development equipment, travel to interview locations and pay the team of creators dedicating their time to the project 1RIC will need to raise a total of $120,000.
Those who want to see the project to succeed can pledge anywhere from $5 up to $10,000 on the various reward tiers, or simply make a pledge of any denomination they like above $10 without a reward. Rewards include an exclusive Q&A with Asad, iOS Early App access and web access to all the Asad & Assad interviews, all the way up to getting your own hologram made.
In terms of distribution, 1RIC initially plans on showcasing the documentary via Microsoft HoloLens in an exhibition format at festivals like Tribeca and SXSW. “We would also be hoping to bring the same experience to museums like LACMA and SFMOMA, Malik notes on the funding page. “Eventually the project would be available for over 500 million users to experience through an iPhone app that utilizes the newly released ARKit.”
The campaign has currently raised just over $12,000 with 26 days to go. As further updates are released, VRFocus will keep you updated.
via Mint VR