A Ride in 2049
interactive VR experience
A RIDE IN 2049 is a Virtual Reality experience in which users can take a virtual tour through Frankfurt, Chicago and Los Angeles in 2049. Mobility of the future as a central theme will serve as a framework and show how deeply and comprehensively computer-controlled mobility will shape our cities.
One current question will decisively shape the life and appearance of our cities in 30 years: How much space do we want to give to autonomous vehicles? The VR experience is a journey forward in time to the year 2049, where the user gets a first impression and a feeling for the different visions of real cities in the future. The experience shows that the decisions we make today will shape the cities of 2049 – and that we have the choice now.
The Experience starts in the Los Angeles of the future. Myra, a future anthropologist and tour guide, welcomes the user. In front of her is a large, futuristic table with a digital citymap. In the back are skyscrapers glowing in the warm light of the sun.
interactive VR experience with stunning visuals
After Myra has explained what the user is going to experience, she then guides them through the future. Myra will show the user, that transportation after the completion of digitization will be much more than the mere transport of people and things.
Project Details
| German Title | 2049: Zeitreise Mobilität |
| Featuring | Kristen Bush |
| Executive Producer & VR Director | Alexander Herrmann |
| Director | Peter Baumann |
| Dirctor of Photography | Christoph Iwanow |
| Creative Technologist | Simeon Conzendorf |
| Costume Design | Hellen Nordmann |
| Commissioning Editor HR |
Bettina Oberhauser Ina Dahlke |
| Digital Consultant HR | Stephanie Schimo |
| written by |
Peter Baumann Alexander Herrmann |
| Scientific advice |
Steffen Brau Susanne Schatzinger Elisabeth Nagl Patrick Ruess (Fraunhofer IAO) |
| Production Manager | Thomas Bernhardt |
| VFX Producer | Stefan Hannig |
| First Assistant Director | Tom Kretschmar |
| Concept Art |
Sam Burton Martin Kepler |
| Unity Lead | Friedrich Schadow |
| Unity Programming | Anna Seel |
| 3D Modeling |
Sebastian Nerlich Nico Banisch |
| Shading | Marco Habeck |
| Sound Design | Philipp Barth |
| 3D Audio Implementation | Felix Maringer |
| Hair & Makeup | Katharina Kraft |
| Gaffer | Daniel Pauselius |
| Light Engineer | Oliver Joest |
| Light Assistant |
Viktor Boche Stephan Lau |
| On Set Audio Recording | Sebastian Löffler |
| Script Continuity | Leon Babucke |
| Voice Over Myra German | Hedi Honert |
| Voice Over Commercials | Sam Burton |
| Driver / Set Assistant | Stefan Nöbel-Heise |
| Studio | Studiopark KMZ Erfurt |
| Catering | Moloko Good Catering – Haschke & Winter GbR |
| Agency of Kristen Bush | Friends Connection Agency; Isabelle Münch |
| Agency of Peter Baumann and Hedi Honert | lux talents, Brigitta Watzka & Natasha Schoellkopf |
| Public Relations | Burkhard Schütz |
| Co-Producer | Hessischer Rundfunk |
| Scientific advice and studies | Fraunhofer IAO |
| Supported by | |
| Funders |
Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung Sächsische Landesanstalt für privaten Rundfunk und Neue Medien |
About the VR Experience
Together with Hessischer Rundfunk and Fraunhofer IAO, expanding focus is exploring the field of Cinematic VR in order to realize a unique experience with a learning factor on the topic of “transportation of the future”. Our funders are WunderbarTogether, the Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung, the Sächsische Landesanstalt für privaten Rundfunk und Neue Medien and Thüringer Staatskanzlei.
The Experience was directed by Peter Baumann, winner of the 41st Student Academy Awards in the Category Best International Short-Film (Student Oscar in Bronze). All Cinematographics were covered by Christoph Iwanow, who worked for ARD, Microsoft and BMW as a cinematographer.
A RIDE IN 2049 was shot in the KinderMedienZentrum in Erfurt. Kristen Bush as Myra was filmed in a blue 360° environment and implemented in post production in a fully computergenerated 360° 3D world.
Our partners from Mitteldeutschland include the VFX studio blendFX, Lumalenscape for further VFX, postproduction work and 3D modeling from a large number of freelancers.
With our partners and our freelance experts in the fields of storytelling, concept art, modelling and unity we started an iterative process to create the story, the world and the interaction. We went into iterative circles, designing all the aspects at the same time – influencing each other. We learned that it is inevitable to create concept art and design in space rather than on a sheet.
In a study, the Fraunhofer IAO investigates which feelings and attitudes the users experience. An academic science documentary about the mobility of the future takes up the results of the study and puts them into international mobility research.
A RIDE IN 2049 is part of the “Deutschlandjahr USA 2018-19” WunderbarTogether, a comprehensive and collaborative initiative funded by the German Federal Foreign Office, implemented by the Goethe-Institut and with support from the Federation of German Industries (BDI).
Impressions from the shooting
