Empire At Sea | Mixed Reality Drama at Venice Immersive

Shared Mixed Reality at Venice Immersive

Ten people gather around a table, their Apple Vision Pro headsets creating a window into a different world. Through passthrough technology, the boundaries between the physical room and a digital stage dissolve. This is the premise of Empire At Sea, a 22-minute mixed reality production premiering in competition at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival. The project runs from September 2 to September 12, marking a new step for communal augmented reality experiences.

Director Peter Flaherty describes the work as a solarpunk drama. It centers on a group of climate scientists stationed on an oil rig, attempting to build a sustainable life at sea. Their isolation is total. A catastrophic event on the mainland leaves them cut off from society. Five years later, the arrival of a mysterious boat forces the community to make a difficult choice about the strangers who appear on their horizon.

Technology and Production Behind the Story

The experience relies on a custom-built LED table and volumetric video to ground the story in physical space. Participants can move around this central point to shift their perspective on the scene. This freedom of movement creates a sense of presence that traditional flat screens cannot match. Ten viewers can share the same space, observing the action as it unfolds in front of them.

Technological heavy lifting comes from 4DV.ai, the company responsible for the volumetric capture of the performers. The cast includes Orlando Jones, Ayelet Zurer, Geoffrey Arend, and Beth Grant. These actors appear as lifelike entities within the viewers' environment. Peter Flaherty brings experience from past projects like The Dial and the Eternals AR project, applying that background to this latest, more grounded narrative.

Future Distribution and Industry Impact

Venice is the starting point for Empire At Sea, but it is not the end of the line. The production received commissions from Lincoln Center and ASU Gammage. An exhibition at the Lincoln Center is already scheduled for January 2027. The creators have expressed intent to bring the story to home audiences as well.

While specific details remain under wraps, the team is working on versions for VR headsets and mobile phones. This move indicates a broader strategy to expand immersive media beyond exclusive, location-based events. If the project succeeds, it may set a blueprint for how high-quality dramas are presented in mixed reality environments. The industry will watch the performance in Venice closely to see how audiences respond to this hybrid of theater and tech.