Exploring the future of storytelling: Georgy Molodtsov’s immersive masterclass at EICAR
EICAR welcomed Georgy Molodtsov, an award-winning XR and film director/producer, and renowned XR festival curator, for a captivating masterclass focused on immersive technologies in contemporary storytelling. His session offered students a deep dive into the creative and technical dimensions of Extended Reality (XR).
Discovering XR through personal experience
Georgy introduced students to the world of XR by sharing his own journey in the medium, highlighting key moments in its evolution and the growing role it plays in modern storytelling. Through examples of his past projects, he illustrated how XR has developed in both narrative complexity and technological sophistication.
Understanding the global XR ecosystem
Beyond the technology, the masterclass explored the international ecosystem that nurtures immersive content. Georgy drew from his experience as a festival curator to present a range of XR and immersive media festivals, encouraging students to actively participate, whether by attending, networking, or submitting their own work.
Immersion in action: experiencing the XR firsthand
To give students a practical sense of XR’s potential, Georgy brought a Meta Quest headset and presented The Dawn of Art, an immersive film that demonstrates how storytelling can become interactive and audience-driven. This hands-on experience gave participants a unique window into the participatory future of cinema.
How challenges drive innovation in immersive media
Georgy also highlighted how moments of global disruption, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, accelerated the development of immersive formats. He shared behind-the-scenes insights from innovative XR productions, including virtual concerts by Jean-Michel Jarre staged at iconic landmarks like Notre-Dame de Paris and the Château de Versailles.
Empowering creators with practical tools
The session concluded with a concise tutorial on editing 360° video using Adobe Premiere Pro. This practical component empowered students with foundational tools to begin creating their own immersive content and experimenting with XR storytelling techniques.
A vision of storytelling without limits
This dynamic and forward-looking masterclass opened new creative horizons, blending technology, narrative, and interactivity. It offered a compelling vision of the future of cinematic experiences—one where viewers are no longer passive spectators but active participants in the story.