Notes on Blindness
A journey into a world beyond sight
"Notes on Blindness : Into Darkness" is an immersive virtual reality (VR) project based on John Hull’s sensory and psychological experience of blindness released alongside the feature film.
The multi-awarded narrative VR experience is now available on Oculus Quest. ARTE gives you the opportunity to discover and rediscover Notes On Blindness, an emotional journey into a world beyond sight.
In 1983, after decades of steady deterioration, John Hull became totally blind. To help him make sense of the upheaval in his life, he began documenting his experiences on audio cassettes. These original diary recordings create the basis of this interactive non-fictional narrative which is a cognitive and emotional experience of blindness. Storytelling, art direction and graphical universe form a unique and singular immersion, completed by movement tracking, spacialized sound and controller interactions.
Produced by Ex Nihilo, Arte France in co-production with Archer’s Mark. Executive Producer, Novelab Audiogaming. Supported by TFI New Media Fund and Ford Foundation – JustFilms, CNC and Région Midi-Pyrénées.
Nominations and Awards
-
Winner
Prix Europa 2016
Best Web Project
-
Audience award
FNCeXPlore 2016
-
Winner
Kaleidoscope World Tour 2016
Best Experimental Experience
-
Storyscapes Award
Festival du Film de Tribeca 2016
-
Winner
Sheffield Doc/Fest 2016
Alternate Realities VR
-
Finalist
SXSW 2017
Innovation AR/VR
-
Winner
Trophée des Apps 2017
Meilleur Service Mobile de vidéo 360° ou de réalité augmentée
-
Winner
Miami Interactive FilmGate 2017
Best interactive experience
Credits
- Based on the feature documentary Notes on Blindness by Peter Middleton & James Spinney
- Production - Ex Nihilo, ARTE France, Archer’s Mark
- Executive producer - Novelab, Atlas V
- With the support of TFI New Media Fund and Ford Foundation – JustFilms Centre National du Cinéma et de l’Image Animée (CNC) Région Midi-Pyrénées
- Creative Director - Arnaud Colinart, Amaury La Burthe, Peter Middleton & James Spinney
- Artistic director - Béatrice Lartigue, Fabien Togman & Arnaud Desjardins
- Creative coder - Robin Picou
- Sound design and programming - Florent Dumas & Thomas Couchard
- Producer - Arnaud Colinart, David Coujard, Mike Brett et Jo - Jo Ellison
- Executive producer and audio director - Amaury La Burthe
- Projet assistant - Landia Egal & Corentin Lambot
- VR Representative - Vincent Dondaine & Fred Volhuer
Cast
- Narrator - John Hull