At the DLECTRICITY FESTIVAL, a celebration of light-based art & technology in Detroit, Klip brought The Librarian—a parable for the Information Age—to the Detroit Public Library. The installation featured a hands-on segment that added a new level of interactive augmented reality to the projection mapping experience.
Using HTC Vive trackers on flashlights and the Open VR SDK with Derivative’s TouchDesigner software, Klip put real-time motion tracking in the hands of festival goers. By pointing and moving the outfitted flashlights along the facade of the building, viewers could create x-ray spotlights, exposing hidden narrative elements happening inside the building. The result was a shared augmented reality experience, controlled by multiple viewers holding simple flashlights towards the projection installation.
At the end of the interactive segment, the facade of the library digitally melted away—revealing a short, topical narrative featuring a truth-seeking librarian protecting the fortress of facts. Inside the library, an otherwise quiet shift turns chaotic as a power glitch sends the Internet into hyper drive, infiltrating bookshelves with misinformation. She uses her humanity and common sense to tame the wave of fake news, and rescue patrons from turning into clueless drones. After the triumphant conclusion, audiences waiting for the next Librarian showing were treated to an ambient visual mix synced to an audio landscape by Pink Skull.
Written & Directed by The Rivera Brothers
Shot & Edited by Kevin Ritchie
Installation Design by JT James
Interactive Design by Mark McCallum
Music & Sound Design: JT James & Eric Zrynsky
Executive Producers:
Marie Patriarca
Michelle Barbieri
Production Coordinator: Lorna Miller
Installation Coordinator: JT James
Stylist: Ioana Chiorean
Animators: Jason Harmon, Steven Rivera, Beth Wexler, Sam Perlmutter
The Librarian : Mary Sharples
Mystic Book Sorter: Thom Roland
Info Desk: Jeffrey Perkins
Security Guard: Rahmad Halloway
Engineer: Melissa Guglielmo
Internet Dude: Brice Goldberg
Library Patrons: Rahkia Misun-Mitchumi, Ed Taylor, Sarah Jacoby, Rachel Shelar, Steven Rivera, John Shelar, Chris Urie, Mike Mak, Steve Taylor and Marie Patriarca
And featuring Ham Solo as the Hamster in Chief
klip.tv/dlectricity2017