Shocap Entertainment secures second Epic Mega Grant
Support from Epic Games helps drive Shocap Entertainment’s innovative expansion into live XR performance with The 7 Fingers, building its own virtual production software.
Vancouver 24th February 2021 - Shocap Entertainment, a live entertainment and cross reality production company, has received its second Epic MegaGrant from Epic Games, which will be used to expand its range of XR projects developed this past year. Among the included projects is the live XR-Circus production, LiViCi, created in collaboration with The 7 Fingers. Primed for a final release in late 2021, Shocap Entertainment has revealed several teasers and a preview performance, including a recent four-day workshop showcasing the project’s impressive technological achievements.
The $100M MegaGrants program is a testament to Epic’s long-founded support of innovative teams and creators, and the grant will assist Shocap Entertainment on its mission to help change the shape of mixed reality performance.
Athomas: “We’re incredibly thrilled and honoured to have two projects receive Epic MegaGrants less than one year into the studio’s existence. Not only is Epic Games Unreal Engine integral to all of our projects, but the MegaGrant is helping us drive the next generation of XR and mixed reality entertainment. LiViCi combines all facets of real-time, performance capture, CG graphics, music, and real-life performance into one breathtaking showing. It’s the future of entertainment.”
Next generation of live entertainment
LiViCi is a unique performance brought to life through the use of the Unreal Engine and cutting-edge motion capture. Housed in Animatrik’s world-leading studio, the dynamic actions of The 7 Finger’s expert-performers drive the movement of digital characters and animated effects in a fully-realized interactive virtual world. It’s a true cross-reality achievement, demonstrating the incredible potential of Unreal Engine and its ability to enhance live productions in new and exciting ways.
It will also consolidate Shocap’s continued partnership with The 7 Fingers, an internationally-renowned contemporary circus company that combines death-defying acrobatic feats, physical theatre, music and dance. This recent February workshop served as an opportunity to test the final performance and the incredible technology behind it.
“We are delighted to support Shocap’s ongoing and innovative use of Unreal Engine,” said Jeff Peres, Director of Epic MegaGrants, Epic Games. “The Shocap team continues to push the boundaries of what is possible and we are incredibly excited to witness their real-time journey.”
While still in development, Shocap Entertainment’s proprietary Ringmaster Virtual Performance System is a revolutionary new tool that connects all of Shocap’s technological solutions under centralised control. Its development aligns in parallel with the LiViCi project, which is set to showcase the full extent of Shocap’s capabilities.
About Shocap
Created in partnership by Lifelike & Believable and Animatrik, Shocap Entertainment produces live cross-reality entertainment using real-time visual effects technology and on-stage human performance to create unique shared experiences simultaneously performed in front of live audiences, online audiences connecting from VR headsets, gaming PCs, and video streaming services. Each production draws from the contributions of multiple creative voices, with experienced collaborators from live performance, film, animation and video games.
https://www.shocap.com/
About The 7 Fingers (Les 7 Doigts)
Les 7 Doigts, a contemporary circus arts collective, tells stories using death-defying acrobatics with life-affirming theatricality that is unique to the company. Since its inception, the company has expanded from its own signature shows to creating theatrical experiences as diverse and unique as the very artistic directors themselves, original productions ranging from intimate one-man shows to large-scale arena performances, Broadway musicals, Olympic ceremonies, televised performances, fashion, art and music events, immersive experiences and much more.
www.7fingers.com
