1 00:00:00,595 --> 00:00:03,325 - It's once again time to get gutsy with Liz Hall 2 00:00:03,385 --> 00:00:06,325 and her expert guests on the Gutsy Babe Podcast. 3 00:00:07,925 --> 00:00:09,325 - Ed Lance is an entrepreneur, 4 00:00:09,325 --> 00:00:12,325 entertainment technology engineer, producer, 5 00:00:12,665 --> 00:00:14,645 and immersive experience designer. 6 00:00:15,425 --> 00:00:18,205 Vortex Immersion Media produces immersive 7 00:00:18,465 --> 00:00:22,245 and interactive experiences for Fortune 500 brands, 8 00:00:22,865 --> 00:00:25,245 top artists and audiences worldwide, 9 00:00:25,305 --> 00:00:28,645 and is developing a network of branded immersive venues. 10 00:00:29,075 --> 00:00:30,085 Welcome Ed. 11 00:00:30,935 --> 00:00:32,435 - Hi, Liz. It's great to be here. 12 00:00:33,845 --> 00:00:35,655 - Well, we're very excited to have you. 13 00:00:35,875 --> 00:00:38,935 Um, ed, I don't, actually no. 14 00:00:38,935 --> 00:00:41,975 If you recall this, but I actually heard you speak at my 15 00:00:42,155 --> 00:00:45,095 Rotary last year, uh, in 16 00:00:45,695 --> 00:00:47,855 downtown LA at LA Five Rotary, 17 00:00:48,115 --> 00:00:50,695 and you gave an amazing presentation 18 00:00:51,165 --> 00:00:53,015 with Kate McCollum, I believe 19 00:00:53,525 --> 00:00:54,775 - Kate, Kate McCallum. 20 00:00:54,795 --> 00:00:58,055 Yes. Yes. We're, uh, uh, both 21 00:00:58,055 --> 00:00:59,975 of us have been working in this space for some years. 22 00:01:00,005 --> 00:01:01,335 Kate came out of, uh, film 23 00:01:01,335 --> 00:01:03,975 and television in Paramount, universal like that. 24 00:01:04,155 --> 00:01:07,615 And my background actually originally as engineering, 25 00:01:07,845 --> 00:01:09,015 aerospace engineering. 26 00:01:10,115 --> 00:01:12,025 - Right. So you started as an engineer 27 00:01:12,165 --> 00:01:14,025 and you even worked on classified 28 00:01:14,105 --> 00:01:15,345 projects for the government. 29 00:01:15,965 --> 00:01:18,065 Can you share your journey from there, 30 00:01:18,385 --> 00:01:20,625 creating highly acclaimed Im immersive events. 31 00:01:21,495 --> 00:01:25,115 - Oh, sure. Um, well, I've always been part artist and, 32 00:01:25,215 --> 00:01:26,955 and tinkerer and inventor, 33 00:01:27,175 --> 00:01:30,115 and I just thought that the future of art 34 00:01:30,215 --> 00:01:33,635 and entertainment would be technology based. 35 00:01:34,535 --> 00:01:36,475 And so I went into engineering 36 00:01:36,575 --> 00:01:40,435 and kind of, you know, during the course of things, uh, 37 00:01:40,855 --> 00:01:44,875 got very much into, uh, photonic signal processing 38 00:01:45,135 --> 00:01:49,115 and quantum physics and electromagnetics and plasma physics 39 00:01:49,175 --> 00:01:52,355 and all sorts of cool stuff like that, which led me 40 00:01:52,535 --> 00:01:56,075 to take a job as a aerospace engineer at Harris Corporation 41 00:01:56,575 --> 00:01:58,195 on the Space Coast in Florida. 42 00:01:58,415 --> 00:02:00,355 Mm-Hmm. where they rockets and all. 43 00:02:01,095 --> 00:02:02,475 And, um, you know, 44 00:02:02,475 --> 00:02:06,185 after seven years of that, I started to, you know, I got 45 00:02:07,235 --> 00:02:10,045 more and more of a picture of what I was actually working on 46 00:02:10,105 --> 00:02:13,285 as you get these different, uh, uh, you know, 47 00:02:13,295 --> 00:02:15,485 clearances, SCI stuff. 48 00:02:15,785 --> 00:02:17,275 And, um, yeah. 49 00:02:17,515 --> 00:02:19,115 I just, I just decided, you know, 50 00:02:19,795 --> 00:02:23,895 I really wanna bring smiles to people's faces Yeah. 51 00:02:23,895 --> 00:02:27,415 Instead of, uh, removing them, so to speak. Yeah. 52 00:02:28,235 --> 00:02:29,615 And, um, yeah, and, 53 00:02:29,615 --> 00:02:32,895 and a job offer came up at a planetarium in Cocoa Florida, 54 00:02:33,715 --> 00:02:34,815 and I kept dismissing it 55 00:02:34,815 --> 00:02:36,895 because I'm like, oh, no, that's a technician thing. 56 00:02:37,075 --> 00:02:40,135 And I heard that they were trying to hire a PhD engineer, 57 00:02:40,975 --> 00:02:42,155 and I'm like, no way. 58 00:02:42,395 --> 00:02:43,995 I a master's degree. Right. 59 00:02:45,535 --> 00:02:48,635 So I, okay, well, uh, maybe I should check this out. 60 00:02:48,775 --> 00:02:51,625 And it was, it was perfect for me. 61 00:02:51,645 --> 00:02:53,585 It was intrapreneurial this, uh, 62 00:02:53,735 --> 00:02:56,985 planetarium had written software that went out 63 00:02:57,005 --> 00:02:59,025 and sold to 15 other theaters, 64 00:02:59,715 --> 00:03:01,005 dome theaters around the world. 65 00:03:01,065 --> 00:03:03,205 And Mm-Hmm. , they raised half a million dollars 66 00:03:03,315 --> 00:03:05,645 that they've invested in laser light shows. 67 00:03:06,505 --> 00:03:08,725 So, you know, um, I'd loved 68 00:03:08,955 --> 00:03:12,005 that entrepreneurial spirit Mm-Hmm. . 69 00:03:12,185 --> 00:03:14,765 And, uh, it was worth it to me to take a huge cut and pay 70 00:03:15,265 --> 00:03:17,165 and go work for a, uh, 71 00:03:17,355 --> 00:03:19,725 essentially a community college planetarium. 72 00:03:20,185 --> 00:03:24,005 - That's amazing. It's spiked your, uh, passion. Right. . 73 00:03:25,185 --> 00:03:26,485 - And it turned out to be a great choice 74 00:03:26,485 --> 00:03:29,605 because, uh, we got reinvent the planetarium, 75 00:03:29,605 --> 00:03:31,205 which were down the old one Mm-Hmm. 76 00:03:31,305 --> 00:03:33,485 And built the most advanced one in the world at the time. 77 00:03:33,485 --> 00:03:35,565 They called it the largest stone in Florida. 78 00:03:36,265 --> 00:03:37,765 And it was a hybrid planetarium 79 00:03:37,765 --> 00:03:41,485 that synchronized a digital projector, uh, star projector, 80 00:03:41,495 --> 00:03:44,085 which was kind of fuzzy at the time, not very crispy, 81 00:03:44,315 --> 00:03:46,765 with an optomechanical, uh, 82 00:03:47,325 --> 00:03:49,365 astronomical simulator they like to call it. 83 00:03:49,425 --> 00:03:51,085 Um, but a star projector essentially. 84 00:03:51,785 --> 00:03:54,885 And, um, we got them to track and syn each other, 85 00:03:55,105 --> 00:03:57,405 and it, it was, oh my god, a lot of math. 86 00:03:57,425 --> 00:04:00,285 It was a lot of fun. DSP code, you know, 87 00:04:00,285 --> 00:04:01,765 digital signal processing code 88 00:04:01,785 --> 00:04:03,045 for motion control and all that. 89 00:04:03,445 --> 00:04:07,045 I learned a lot. And, um, got very interested in the dome. 90 00:04:07,395 --> 00:04:09,885 Yeah. Because I'm at Thisme, that fills my field of vision, 91 00:04:10,985 --> 00:04:14,925 and I realized, what if we could map pixels to the dome, 92 00:04:15,555 --> 00:04:19,325 like, and turn it into a giant, like a cinema experience 93 00:04:19,345 --> 00:04:20,765 and fly people through the universe. 94 00:04:21,545 --> 00:04:22,565 - Wow. - Yeah. 95 00:04:22,565 --> 00:04:24,485 Because, you know, the star protectors just show the night 96 00:04:24,545 --> 00:04:27,045 sky as they appeared to like the cavemen even, you know? 97 00:04:27,315 --> 00:04:31,245 Yeah. Pretty much. Mm-Hmm. . And, um, yeah. 98 00:04:31,545 --> 00:04:36,005 So, um, the digital, we started edge blending, 99 00:04:36,185 --> 00:04:37,365 uh, multiple projectors. 100 00:04:37,405 --> 00:04:39,725 I took a job for a plantation manufacturer now, 101 00:04:40,105 --> 00:04:41,245 now known as Cosm. 102 00:04:41,595 --> 00:04:43,445 Yeah. And we created, uh, 103 00:04:43,655 --> 00:04:46,205 multi projector edge blended systems. 104 00:04:46,705 --> 00:04:50,965 Um, I got all into the computer graphics with siggraph, uh, 105 00:04:51,515 --> 00:04:53,565 community, you know, um, uh, 106 00:04:53,905 --> 00:04:57,645 and, um, so, so anyway, so, uh, it took off. 107 00:04:58,505 --> 00:05:02,065 Wow. Now there's 1800 digital domes in the world, and 108 00:05:02,605 --> 00:05:03,625 - Oh my gosh, I didn't, 109 00:05:04,065 --> 00:05:05,345 I didn't realize that there are that many. 110 00:05:05,935 --> 00:05:08,585 - Yeah. Now some of 'em are small portables or whatever. 111 00:05:08,925 --> 00:05:11,865 Um, Mm-Hmm. , you know, some of them are very large, um, 112 00:05:12,395 --> 00:05:15,325 giant screen cinemas, if you'll, right. 113 00:05:15,625 --> 00:05:17,965 So, you know, film kind of faded away, 114 00:05:18,065 --> 00:05:21,605 and now we're projecting digitally onto the domes, 115 00:05:21,665 --> 00:05:24,405 and that's created an overlap between the IMAX domes, 116 00:05:24,535 --> 00:05:26,325 giant screen cinemas like that. 117 00:05:26,825 --> 00:05:28,925 Mm-Hmm. and the Planet community. 118 00:05:29,025 --> 00:05:32,005 So now you have this larger distribution platform 119 00:05:32,275 --> 00:05:34,125 that you can access these theaters. 120 00:05:35,085 --> 00:05:37,035 - Right. So like the one in Vegas, right. 121 00:05:37,135 --> 00:05:40,795 That's the big massive one that everyone knows about. 122 00:05:41,415 --> 00:05:42,475 - Oh, yeah. Yeah. 123 00:05:42,475 --> 00:05:45,955 They put, they put the full format on the map, you know, 124 00:05:45,955 --> 00:05:47,355 literally Mm-Hmm. 125 00:05:47,435 --> 00:05:48,875 and figuratively. 126 00:05:49,295 --> 00:05:52,595 And, um, that theater, they did quite a good job on it, 127 00:05:52,655 --> 00:05:54,995 you know, but that basic theater design, honestly, 128 00:05:55,245 --> 00:05:56,955 Uhhuh is pretty much the same 129 00:05:57,185 --> 00:05:59,165 as the original Omnimax Theater 130 00:06:00,115 --> 00:06:03,125 that opened in Balboa Park at the Ruben h Fleet Science 131 00:06:03,125 --> 00:06:05,005 Center in 1973. 132 00:06:05,785 --> 00:06:06,885 - Wow. - Right. 133 00:06:06,905 --> 00:06:09,925 So that was like 30 degree tilted dome, uh, pretty steep. 134 00:06:10,585 --> 00:06:11,885 And it brings the dome down 135 00:06:11,885 --> 00:06:14,365 to your knees when you're sitting, unlike a lot 136 00:06:14,365 --> 00:06:16,045 of plantars where you have to look up. 137 00:06:16,135 --> 00:06:18,055 Right. So, and, 138 00:06:18,055 --> 00:06:20,535 and that turns out to be a great storytelling format 139 00:06:21,275 --> 00:06:23,825 where audience is all facing in the same direction. 140 00:06:24,695 --> 00:06:26,875 Uh, and you can take people on 141 00:06:26,875 --> 00:06:28,235 journeys, incredible journeys. 142 00:06:28,955 --> 00:06:32,285 - Yeah. So can you share even more about the domes 143 00:06:32,285 --> 00:06:34,445 and the immersive experience offered to the public 144 00:06:35,245 --> 00:06:36,925 besides the one that's in, you know, Vegas 145 00:06:37,015 --> 00:06:39,565 where most people can't get to, or sometimes 146 00:06:39,875 --> 00:06:40,875 - Sure. 147 00:06:40,875 --> 00:06:43,325 Well, you know, the Vegas dome is showing the potential 148 00:06:43,345 --> 00:06:45,605 of both live performance and cinema. 149 00:06:45,675 --> 00:06:47,485 They, they have both shows, right. 150 00:06:48,865 --> 00:06:52,005 And then two, and Phish, and now, uh, dead 151 00:06:52,005 --> 00:06:53,765 and Company the next one coming up. 152 00:06:54,065 --> 00:06:56,525 But, uh, we've been actually in, in, um, 153 00:06:56,895 --> 00:07:00,565 these smaller domes, uh, which are, you know, more intimate. 154 00:07:01,105 --> 00:07:04,525 Uh, we've been doing similar things for many years. 155 00:07:04,795 --> 00:07:05,805 This is nothing new. 156 00:07:06,065 --> 00:07:08,245 And, uh, you know, uh, what, what I realized, 157 00:07:08,245 --> 00:07:11,405 however, in the planetarium community, many planetariums are 158 00:07:12,155 --> 00:07:13,365 very, uh, they're nonprofit. 159 00:07:13,595 --> 00:07:15,245 They don't even have a profit motive. 160 00:07:16,005 --> 00:07:19,185 Uh, they don't have any sort of in their charter 161 00:07:19,525 --> 00:07:21,985 or in their, um, you know, uh, 162 00:07:22,055 --> 00:07:23,625 mission statement or whatever. 163 00:07:23,805 --> 00:07:27,545 Uh Mm-Hmm. entertainment programming, culturally relevant, 164 00:07:28,045 --> 00:07:31,425 you know, uh, uh, arts or entertainment, 165 00:07:31,925 --> 00:07:34,385 or have nothing to do with their mission statement. 166 00:07:34,385 --> 00:07:38,185 Right? Mm-Hmm. , informal science education institutions 167 00:07:39,185 --> 00:07:43,185 offering astronomy or earth science, uh, you know, Mm-Hmm. 168 00:07:43,465 --> 00:07:44,545 documentaries and films. 169 00:07:45,455 --> 00:07:49,635 And, um, so that's actually why I left the planetarium 170 00:07:50,205 --> 00:07:53,635 space, uh, and started my own company in 2007. 171 00:07:53,795 --> 00:07:57,345 I started Vortex Immersion Media and Oh, cool. 172 00:07:57,765 --> 00:07:59,105 You know, and the point, the, 173 00:07:59,125 --> 00:08:02,345 the I idea there originally was to build our own brick 174 00:08:02,345 --> 00:08:05,145 and mortar, which I'd been doing all over the world, 175 00:08:05,205 --> 00:08:07,345 you know, when I was working at Cosm, I, 176 00:08:07,505 --> 00:08:11,345 I was designing like the Library of Alexandria in Egypt. 177 00:08:11,345 --> 00:08:14,225 Right. Uh, blote Nina, 178 00:08:14,285 --> 00:08:17,145 and the world's largest children's museum in Mexico City, 179 00:08:17,365 --> 00:08:18,705 and three in the uk 180 00:08:18,765 --> 00:08:21,145 and all over, you know, we're putting up these domes Yeah. 181 00:08:21,145 --> 00:08:23,425 And I'm like, this is powerful format. 182 00:08:23,605 --> 00:08:25,945 Why are we just restricting it to astronomy 183 00:08:26,045 --> 00:08:27,865 and space science and like that 184 00:08:28,255 --> 00:08:28,985 - Science? Right. 185 00:08:29,855 --> 00:08:32,305 - Okay. So maybe I just need to do my own thing, 186 00:08:32,305 --> 00:08:35,725 because you, you couldn't get them to go down that path. 187 00:08:35,745 --> 00:08:39,215 And actually what we've ended up doing is, you know, 188 00:08:39,325 --> 00:08:40,455 renting the theaters 189 00:08:40,515 --> 00:08:42,855 and running our shows, we sell the tickets, 190 00:08:43,035 --> 00:08:44,855 do the marketing and, and everything. 191 00:08:44,875 --> 00:08:48,535 We have distribution platform called Worlds Entertainment 192 00:08:48,545 --> 00:08:50,695 shows that we've been doing are quite successful. 193 00:08:51,385 --> 00:08:56,115 - That's amazing. Also, fascinating 194 00:08:56,115 --> 00:08:57,795 that you're saying that it's been around for 195 00:08:58,175 --> 00:09:01,475 so many years now, and now it, I mean, 196 00:09:01,505 --> 00:09:04,915 what you said since the early sixties or seventies? 197 00:09:05,455 --> 00:09:07,995 - Yes. Well, actually, we're celebrating this year, 198 00:09:08,135 --> 00:09:09,395 the hundredth anniversary of the 199 00:09:09,395 --> 00:09:11,035 Planetarium, which was first. 200 00:09:11,135 --> 00:09:13,595 Wow. The first Planetarium projector was designed 201 00:09:13,635 --> 00:09:14,755 and built in 1923, 202 00:09:14,895 --> 00:09:17,875 and then it, in 1924 in Germany, 203 00:09:18,255 --> 00:09:21,155 it was Carl Zeiss company created it. 204 00:09:22,025 --> 00:09:24,045 And, uh, so now it's being celebrated. 205 00:09:24,225 --> 00:09:27,845 Uh, and, you know, and, um, interestingly, uh, 206 00:09:28,075 --> 00:09:30,685 last year was the 50th anniversary of Omnimax, 207 00:09:30,685 --> 00:09:33,365 which was 1973. 208 00:09:33,875 --> 00:09:35,485 Okay. Um, and, um, 209 00:09:35,825 --> 00:09:40,285 and I suppose, um, uh, the 40th anniversary 210 00:09:40,285 --> 00:09:42,965 of the Digistar, which was the first digital planetarium 211 00:09:42,965 --> 00:09:46,645 projector, but it was just a single, uh, CRT, you know, 212 00:09:46,835 --> 00:09:50,725 projected monochrome dot lines on the dome, 213 00:09:50,845 --> 00:09:52,045 but it was still very powerful. 214 00:09:52,045 --> 00:09:54,045 You have a wire frame asteroid coming at you 215 00:09:54,625 --> 00:09:57,405 and like, getting huge on the dome, like a wow. 216 00:09:58,105 --> 00:10:01,525 And the kids scream and jump outta their seats, , you know, 217 00:10:01,705 --> 00:10:03,245 and that's how I realized, oh my God, 218 00:10:03,245 --> 00:10:06,245 this medium is powerful, psychologically powerful. 219 00:10:06,695 --> 00:10:09,485 - Right. - We do with it, you know, 220 00:10:10,135 --> 00:10:12,485 we're triggering brain states that are very difficult 221 00:10:12,485 --> 00:10:13,965 to trigger with film or television. 222 00:10:14,755 --> 00:10:16,455 - Oh, it's, it's so true. 223 00:10:17,055 --> 00:10:21,535 I, I recall your presentation, um, and you had the visuals 224 00:10:21,755 --> 00:10:23,215 and, uh, my rotary, 225 00:10:24,185 --> 00:10:26,915 just the imagery was, is fascinating. 226 00:10:26,915 --> 00:10:29,235 Right. It reminds me of like Star Wars, right. 227 00:10:29,235 --> 00:10:31,475 When you have the, the lights coming at you, 228 00:10:31,495 --> 00:10:33,635 but it's like surrounded all around it. 229 00:10:33,745 --> 00:10:38,435 It's, it really, like, it opens your mind and, and, 230 00:10:38,435 --> 00:10:41,955 and it's like a whole full ex life experience kind of thing. 231 00:10:42,095 --> 00:10:44,035 - Indeed. Well, it is an experiential medium, 232 00:10:44,255 --> 00:10:47,275 and, you know, just to illustrate if you're 233 00:10:47,795 --> 00:10:48,795 watching a film Mm-Hmm. , 234 00:10:48,945 --> 00:10:52,195 it's, it's a basically a rectangular frame on a wall. 235 00:10:52,335 --> 00:10:55,755 Mm-Hmm. , the film, the frame is very important 236 00:10:55,895 --> 00:10:57,515 to cinematic language. 237 00:10:58,065 --> 00:11:01,625 Yeah. So, for instance, if you have a, um, let's, 238 00:11:01,675 --> 00:11:02,705 let's say you have a scene 239 00:11:02,765 --> 00:11:05,625 and a fellow's walking down the street suit 240 00:11:05,785 --> 00:11:08,425 and tie clutching a briefcase, 241 00:11:09,165 --> 00:11:13,305 and you do a tight shot of his micro expressions, you know, 242 00:11:13,525 --> 00:11:15,625 and his shifty eyes and, and, 243 00:11:15,625 --> 00:11:17,385 and sweat on his brow, you know, 244 00:11:17,525 --> 00:11:19,385 and you know, these micro expressions. 245 00:11:19,385 --> 00:11:20,745 And then you do a tight shot of his 246 00:11:21,375 --> 00:11:24,665 hand gripping the briefcase with white knuckles. 247 00:11:24,765 --> 00:11:27,825 And, and then, uh, you know, more, a more establishing shot 248 00:11:27,825 --> 00:11:30,465 of him walking nervously and looking back and forth. 249 00:11:31,095 --> 00:11:32,865 Well, in the dome, it's like, what do you do? 250 00:11:32,865 --> 00:11:34,505 You, you want a tight shot of his face? 251 00:11:34,575 --> 00:11:37,145 Well, it's, there's no frame, right? 252 00:11:37,145 --> 00:11:39,625 So his head gets really big, like 40 feet tall, 253 00:11:40,445 --> 00:11:43,545 and people, uh, you know, it's shocking and scary . 254 00:11:44,605 --> 00:11:46,145 But, uh, but here's the other thing. 255 00:11:46,145 --> 00:11:48,855 When you're watching a film in the frame, 256 00:11:49,535 --> 00:11:51,495 somebody pulls out a gun and threatens, you know, 257 00:11:51,495 --> 00:11:52,695 your favorite character, oh, 258 00:11:52,695 --> 00:11:54,085 and oh, oh, I hope he doesn't shoot her. 259 00:11:54,205 --> 00:11:55,285 I love her. Right. 260 00:11:55,825 --> 00:11:58,765 If you're in a room and someone walks in with a, 261 00:11:58,855 --> 00:12:01,085 pulls out a gun and starts yelling Yeah. 262 00:12:01,195 --> 00:12:05,405 Your nervous system will have a very different reaction than 263 00:12:05,405 --> 00:12:07,005 if you're watching it on a film. 264 00:12:08,005 --> 00:12:11,545 And I think the frameless nature of the medium 265 00:12:12,285 --> 00:12:13,505 tricks the brain almost. 266 00:12:13,575 --> 00:12:16,065 It's we're trying to simulate reality. Mm-Hmm. . 267 00:12:16,205 --> 00:12:17,865 And it tricks the brain into thinking 268 00:12:17,865 --> 00:12:18,905 that you're actually there 269 00:12:19,005 --> 00:12:21,785 and your brain starts responding like you're actually there. 270 00:12:22,645 --> 00:12:25,665 And that's a big difference, both vr uh, 271 00:12:25,685 --> 00:12:27,225 to a lesser extent in the sense 272 00:12:27,225 --> 00:12:30,185 that you don't have a peripheral vision as much 273 00:12:30,185 --> 00:12:31,745 with the, the headsets. 274 00:12:32,075 --> 00:12:35,545 - Right. - But the dome, it really goes right out 275 00:12:35,645 --> 00:12:38,105 to your peripheral vision and behind your head even. 276 00:12:38,525 --> 00:12:39,785 Wow. Yeah. 277 00:12:39,885 --> 00:12:42,825 So that's, um, there's something about it and, 278 00:12:42,845 --> 00:12:45,505 and, you know, you can access brain states that you can't 279 00:12:45,505 --> 00:12:47,785 with film or television, like a sense of awe. 280 00:12:48,735 --> 00:12:50,385 - Yeah. Well, yeah. 281 00:12:50,385 --> 00:12:52,265 Because that's where the whole immersive 282 00:12:52,275 --> 00:12:53,465 experience comes in. 283 00:12:53,465 --> 00:12:56,905 Right? You're feeling everything, not just in your mind, 284 00:12:56,905 --> 00:12:58,385 but in, in your body. . 285 00:12:59,165 --> 00:13:00,185 - Mm-Hmm. It does. 286 00:13:00,285 --> 00:13:01,825 And it actually does mess 287 00:13:01,895 --> 00:13:03,825 with your nervous system in that way. 288 00:13:04,215 --> 00:13:08,025 Yeah. Since there's something I like to call the opto 289 00:13:08,615 --> 00:13:11,465 opto vestibular response, it's your sense of balance 290 00:13:12,205 --> 00:13:16,545 is partly, um, maintained by your visual field 291 00:13:16,565 --> 00:13:18,145 and especially your peripheral vision. 292 00:13:18,245 --> 00:13:20,385 Mm-Hmm. . So if your world starts to move 293 00:13:20,385 --> 00:13:23,065 or shift you, you know, that you know your right. 294 00:13:23,165 --> 00:13:25,505 Um, so, 295 00:13:25,505 --> 00:13:28,425 and then of course, your inner ear correlates with that. 296 00:13:29,455 --> 00:13:30,995 Uh, but in the dome, uh, 297 00:13:30,995 --> 00:13:33,075 the inner ear is telling you you're sitting still, 298 00:13:33,095 --> 00:13:34,555 but your eyes are like, oh my God, 299 00:13:34,815 --> 00:13:36,155 I'm on a rollercoaster. You know, 300 00:13:36,225 --> 00:13:37,225 whoa, - . 301 00:13:38,375 --> 00:13:40,315 - And, uh, and you can give people vertigo. 302 00:13:40,495 --> 00:13:42,515 You can even make people sick if you're not careful. 303 00:13:42,655 --> 00:13:43,795 So we have to Oh, for 304 00:13:43,795 --> 00:13:44,795 - Sure. 305 00:13:45,545 --> 00:13:46,955 - Tell artists coming into the medium. 306 00:13:47,225 --> 00:13:51,955 It's like, well, imagine that your, your art is, 307 00:13:51,955 --> 00:13:53,355 you're painting on a canvas, 308 00:13:53,535 --> 00:13:55,795 but in this case, the canvas is the nervous 309 00:13:55,795 --> 00:13:57,235 systems of your audience. 310 00:13:57,255 --> 00:14:00,035 Mm-Hmm. of your participants as we like to call them, 311 00:14:00,035 --> 00:14:03,675 because they are like an active participant in the show, 312 00:14:03,745 --> 00:14:06,835 providing meaning and Right. 313 00:14:07,015 --> 00:14:08,235 You know, and a lot of what we do, 314 00:14:08,255 --> 00:14:10,275 we use abstract art imagery, 315 00:14:11,265 --> 00:14:13,805 and it's almost like a Rorschach people project their own 316 00:14:13,805 --> 00:14:14,805 meaning onto the show. 317 00:14:14,905 --> 00:14:18,765 And music and voiceover sort of get so context. 318 00:14:18,985 --> 00:14:22,405 And it's, it's amazing how people respond to the shows 319 00:14:22,405 --> 00:14:23,445 that we've been producing. 320 00:14:23,795 --> 00:14:26,165 - Yeah, for sure. For It's like, you're going for a ride. 321 00:14:27,125 --> 00:14:28,565 - Absolutely. We call it a journey, you know? 322 00:14:28,625 --> 00:14:30,765 And in fact, we have a film called The Journey, 323 00:14:31,465 --> 00:14:35,925 and the whole idea is to provide continuous fascination, 324 00:14:36,745 --> 00:14:38,565 visual musical fascination. 325 00:14:39,305 --> 00:14:43,095 But thing that happens is it's like contemplative space 326 00:14:44,115 --> 00:14:46,895 is provided, and the monkey mind 327 00:14:46,895 --> 00:14:48,015 that's always chattering, right? 328 00:14:48,325 --> 00:14:52,125 Yeah. It's almost like it's fascinated by the visuals, 329 00:14:52,305 --> 00:14:54,885 and it stops, it's like captivated. 330 00:14:55,345 --> 00:14:59,325 And you can actually accelerate people into like mindfulness 331 00:14:59,385 --> 00:15:02,565 states, uh, very quickly, who would 332 00:15:02,565 --> 00:15:03,765 otherwise have trouble sitting 333 00:15:03,825 --> 00:15:07,045 and, you know, meditating on their breath for seven years 334 00:15:07,345 --> 00:15:10,485 or whatever, , you know, to, to achieve these brain states. 335 00:15:10,635 --> 00:15:14,325 Like we can, you know, supercharge, uh, 336 00:15:14,385 --> 00:15:17,685 or evoke, um, brain states that are very similar. 337 00:15:17,785 --> 00:15:20,045 And I'd love to do some cognitive research. Um, 338 00:15:20,675 --> 00:15:21,685 - Well, it's amazing. 339 00:15:22,395 --> 00:15:25,205 - Yeah. Neuropsychologist wants to work us with us on that. 340 00:15:25,905 --> 00:15:27,485 - Can you share a story about one 341 00:15:27,485 --> 00:15:28,845 of your most rewarding events 342 00:15:28,985 --> 00:15:30,565 and lessons you've learned from it? 343 00:15:31,315 --> 00:15:32,535 - Oh, good grief. There's so many. 344 00:15:32,725 --> 00:15:36,415 Well, one cool event was with Childish Gambino. Mm-Hmm. 345 00:15:36,955 --> 00:15:40,175 , and he's otherwise known as Glover. Mm-Hmm. 346 00:15:40,195 --> 00:15:41,775 Uh, but he sings and performs 347 00:15:41,775 --> 00:15:45,495 and, um, uh, live Nation was working with him, and, 348 00:15:45,515 --> 00:15:48,375 and they, he wanted to do something completely unique. 349 00:15:49,155 --> 00:15:53,455 And so we ended up popping up 160 foot diameter dome 350 00:15:54,375 --> 00:15:56,515 in the desert in Joshua Tree. 351 00:15:57,455 --> 00:16:00,515 - Wow. - And, and he brought in a whole team 352 00:16:00,575 --> 00:16:01,715 of artists and animators. 353 00:16:01,855 --> 00:16:03,715 We sat in our, uh, 354 00:16:03,975 --> 00:16:07,275 vortex Dome in downtown LA on a studio lot Mm-Hmm. , 355 00:16:07,575 --> 00:16:11,395 uh, where we were based for 10 years until the pandemic hit 356 00:16:11,395 --> 00:16:15,355 after a year pandemic, it was like, you know, um, uh, 357 00:16:16,015 --> 00:16:17,915 or paying rent, can't even use our own dome. 358 00:16:17,915 --> 00:16:21,925 But, um, this, uh, we packed 2,500 people per show 359 00:16:22,105 --> 00:16:23,925 and did five shows over three days. 360 00:16:24,505 --> 00:16:27,005 - Wow. And - It, it, it was really impressive. 361 00:16:27,125 --> 00:16:30,885 I mean, um, the, the, uh, entire performance was 362 00:16:32,115 --> 00:16:33,675 rendered real time unity. 363 00:16:34,185 --> 00:16:37,285 Mm-Hmm. . So it's a game engine creating these worlds and, 364 00:16:37,305 --> 00:16:38,645 and moving through these worlds. 365 00:16:38,645 --> 00:16:40,885 And there's characters like kina type 366 00:16:40,885 --> 00:16:42,205 characters in the worlds. 367 00:16:42,225 --> 00:16:45,045 And, and, uh, yeah. It was just very impressive. 368 00:16:45,045 --> 00:16:46,685 And it showed the power of the format. 369 00:16:47,615 --> 00:16:50,075 And when people came in, they actually took 370 00:16:50,755 --> 00:16:52,315 everyone's cell phone and put it in a little 371 00:16:52,595 --> 00:16:54,395 magnetic shielded bag. Right. Where 372 00:16:54,535 --> 00:16:55,715 - Oh, so they couldn't record it. 373 00:16:56,185 --> 00:16:57,915 - Yeah. You couldn't use your phone at all. 374 00:16:58,535 --> 00:16:59,555 - It makes you more present. 375 00:17:00,455 --> 00:17:02,755 - It does. And, and, you know, of course everybody wants 376 00:17:02,755 --> 00:17:05,875 to capture and, and, and, you know, Instagram 377 00:17:06,095 --> 00:17:08,395 and everything, but when you're there 378 00:17:08,575 --> 00:17:12,475 and you just are like, oh my God, this experience, you know, 379 00:17:12,615 --> 00:17:14,715 and, and everybody's not pulling up their cell phone. 380 00:17:14,715 --> 00:17:17,485 It, it did really help, I think, you know, people 381 00:17:17,665 --> 00:17:20,245 to get absorbed in in the experience. 382 00:17:20,875 --> 00:17:24,105 - Experience. For sure. I could see that. That's amazing. 383 00:17:24,965 --> 00:17:28,265 So, what visions of the future for Dom events in the US 384 00:17:28,325 --> 00:17:30,025 and around the world, do you see? 385 00:17:31,515 --> 00:17:35,325 - Well, I, I do have a very strong vision 386 00:17:35,395 --> 00:17:36,685 that motivates me. 387 00:17:37,665 --> 00:17:40,365 And it, it's a little hard to articulate sometime. 388 00:17:40,365 --> 00:17:42,005 You know, you, you just know something, 389 00:17:42,025 --> 00:17:43,325 but you're not sure how, you know, 390 00:17:43,465 --> 00:17:45,085 and then it's like, well, how do you even 391 00:17:45,085 --> 00:17:46,365 explain it to somebody else? 392 00:17:46,415 --> 00:17:47,605 Right. But the, 393 00:17:47,605 --> 00:17:49,565 the vision actually came to me as a teenager. 394 00:17:50,465 --> 00:17:54,165 Wow. I saw in my mind's eye, in fact, 395 00:17:54,205 --> 00:17:56,965 I wrote a little short story, a sci-fi short story 396 00:17:57,495 --> 00:17:59,525 about a performer in the future 397 00:18:01,095 --> 00:18:03,675 who came up in a dome in this, like an elevator 398 00:18:04,265 --> 00:18:06,115 console in the center of the dome, 399 00:18:06,815 --> 00:18:09,915 and was surrounded on this console by these crystals 400 00:18:09,915 --> 00:18:13,255 that picked up their thoughts, the performer thoughts, 401 00:18:13,255 --> 00:18:15,895 and projected them on the dome and immersed the audience 402 00:18:16,035 --> 00:18:17,375 and the performer's mind. 403 00:18:18,315 --> 00:18:21,775 Wow. So the performer had to have perfected consciousness, 404 00:18:21,955 --> 00:18:24,015 and they had to be able to hold the vision 405 00:18:25,185 --> 00:18:27,805 and people through that vision. 406 00:18:28,935 --> 00:18:31,755 And, uh, that, that just really inspired me. 407 00:18:31,975 --> 00:18:34,715 And, and again, you know, I went into engineering 408 00:18:34,715 --> 00:18:36,875 because I'm like, what I'm seeing in my 409 00:18:36,875 --> 00:18:38,075 mind doesn't exist yet. 410 00:18:38,155 --> 00:18:40,595 I have to create it, and then I can be that performer. 411 00:18:40,595 --> 00:18:43,635 Right. Yeah. Well, we're getting closer and closer. 412 00:18:43,855 --> 00:18:48,005 And so one of the things we're working is ai Okay. 413 00:18:48,105 --> 00:18:50,985 And have an AI supercomputer and, 414 00:18:51,085 --> 00:18:54,465 and A-G-P-U-A graphics processing supercomputer 415 00:18:55,095 --> 00:18:57,105 driving the dome so 416 00:18:57,105 --> 00:19:00,105 that we can offer experiences you'd never get at home in a 417 00:19:00,105 --> 00:19:02,265 headset, because it's all being rendered real time, 418 00:19:02,995 --> 00:19:06,345 maybe even pulling Instagram pages from the audience 419 00:19:06,405 --> 00:19:09,665 who have opted to share, you know, opted in. 420 00:19:09,665 --> 00:19:10,865 Yeah. And, 421 00:19:11,085 --> 00:19:14,345 and the AI can riff on this imagery as part 422 00:19:14,345 --> 00:19:16,385 of the dome experience, you know, 423 00:19:16,445 --> 00:19:18,185 so every show's unique and different. 424 00:19:18,285 --> 00:19:22,905 Mm-Hmm. . And the performer could be, for instance, we like 425 00:19:22,905 --> 00:19:24,985 to call this an immersive jockey , 426 00:19:25,545 --> 00:19:28,065 because you have a dj, you know, 427 00:19:28,135 --> 00:19:29,545 disc jockey, you have a Yeah. 428 00:19:31,105 --> 00:19:32,185 A video jockey. 429 00:19:32,245 --> 00:19:34,665 And often we use both of them while in, in, 430 00:19:34,805 --> 00:19:38,025 in these performances along with dancers or whatever. 431 00:19:38,165 --> 00:19:41,265 Um, so cool. Right? Yeah. 432 00:19:41,965 --> 00:19:44,985 But then, you know, there's also this mul, uh, 433 00:19:45,345 --> 00:19:46,865 multisensory possibility. 434 00:19:47,005 --> 00:19:50,185 Mm-Hmm. . So you can also have a touch jockey delivering 435 00:19:50,505 --> 00:19:53,775 VibrAcoustic stimulation to your body and, 436 00:19:53,915 --> 00:19:55,335 and even aroma or whatever. 437 00:19:55,755 --> 00:19:57,255 But what's cool about the AI is 438 00:19:57,255 --> 00:20:00,535 that one performer even could stand there 439 00:20:00,795 --> 00:20:03,575 and using gestures, command the dome command, 440 00:20:03,715 --> 00:20:06,015 all the multisensory experiences for people. 441 00:20:06,795 --> 00:20:08,655 And that's where you're now getting really close 442 00:20:08,755 --> 00:20:10,535 to going from the mind of the performer 443 00:20:10,565 --> 00:20:11,815 into the mind of the audience. 444 00:20:12,475 --> 00:20:15,335 Oh my God, that's amazing. It's cool stuff. 445 00:20:15,395 --> 00:20:17,695 And, and so, you know, uh, regarding the future, 446 00:20:18,865 --> 00:20:20,025 I think of the domes. 447 00:20:21,235 --> 00:20:23,535 You know, I mean, the planetariums are like 448 00:20:23,535 --> 00:20:24,655 cosmological cinema. 449 00:20:25,075 --> 00:20:27,415 Mm-Hmm. , you're flying into the universe. It's stories. 450 00:20:27,595 --> 00:20:30,215 It may be real time. You fly through the universe, uh, 451 00:20:30,695 --> 00:20:32,895 a known model, model of the known universe 452 00:20:32,915 --> 00:20:35,335 and the computer you fly through with the joystick. 453 00:20:35,665 --> 00:20:39,535 Right. fly out to thees and turn left. 454 00:20:39,595 --> 00:20:43,095 You know, Carter Imar, the, uh, director 455 00:20:43,095 --> 00:20:44,295 of astro visualization 456 00:20:44,355 --> 00:20:45,975 for the Hayden Planetarium in New York, 457 00:20:46,115 --> 00:20:47,605 the Rose Center for Earth and Space. 458 00:20:48,555 --> 00:20:51,455 He, um, he does, he flies real time. 459 00:20:51,515 --> 00:20:53,455 He knows, you know, the universe so well. 460 00:20:53,455 --> 00:20:55,815 He can fly you around and point out different things, 461 00:20:56,685 --> 00:20:58,305 but that's cosmological cinema. 462 00:20:59,065 --> 00:21:01,755 Okay. Now, some stuff we're doing with the art, I think 463 00:21:01,755 --> 00:21:04,155 of it as phenomenal cinema. 464 00:21:04,535 --> 00:21:08,245 Mm-Hmm. and phenomenology is where you look within. Okay. 465 00:21:08,345 --> 00:21:10,125 So it's almost as if we're, you know, 466 00:21:10,125 --> 00:21:13,195 taking you into the mind of the artist 467 00:21:13,455 --> 00:21:15,875 or we're evoking in your mind, you know? 468 00:21:15,975 --> 00:21:18,835 And it's, and people project their meaning outwards. 469 00:21:19,135 --> 00:21:21,475 Mm-Hmm. . So, so what, what is that? 470 00:21:21,615 --> 00:21:25,795 You know, what kind of, it's not a planetarium per se. 471 00:21:26,385 --> 00:21:28,035 It's something more, and, 472 00:21:28,135 --> 00:21:31,475 and I think of the domes as almost like digital temples 473 00:21:31,475 --> 00:21:32,555 of transformation. 474 00:21:33,655 --> 00:21:36,795 - Wow. - People come in, they have these heart opening, 475 00:21:37,105 --> 00:21:38,515 mind opening experiences. 476 00:21:39,185 --> 00:21:40,955 They, they feel a sense of awe 477 00:21:41,655 --> 00:21:45,995 and awe is scientifically shown to reduce people's fear 478 00:21:45,995 --> 00:21:50,195 of the future, reduce people's need to be right. 479 00:21:50,535 --> 00:21:55,035 Mm-Hmm. about things, uh, pro-social behavior stimulates, 480 00:21:55,865 --> 00:21:58,725 and gosh, I think the world needs that now. You know, 481 00:21:59,405 --> 00:22:01,925 - I, I couldn't agree with you more the word that comes 482 00:22:01,925 --> 00:22:03,325 to me as spirituality. 483 00:22:04,625 --> 00:22:07,245 - Indeed. And, and you know, what I think is happening, 484 00:22:07,945 --> 00:22:09,525 and, you know, I'm trained as a scientist. 485 00:22:09,665 --> 00:22:12,045 Mm-Hmm. , but I also think of myself as somewhat 486 00:22:12,045 --> 00:22:13,365 of a mystic Mm-Hmm. 487 00:22:13,465 --> 00:22:15,765 mystic being defined as someone who, uh, 488 00:22:15,765 --> 00:22:17,245 takes seriously the phenomena 489 00:22:17,865 --> 00:22:20,045 of the mind when you look within. 490 00:22:20,815 --> 00:22:23,245 - Right. - And visions, 491 00:22:23,425 --> 00:22:25,725 and like my childhood vision, you know? 492 00:22:25,915 --> 00:22:28,405 Yeah. It's real. Of course. 493 00:22:28,435 --> 00:22:30,805 It's real psyche stuff, right? Mm-Hmm. . 494 00:22:31,035 --> 00:22:33,445 - Yeah. - When you start looking at spiritual practices, 495 00:22:33,625 --> 00:22:35,165 um, what you see are really, 496 00:22:35,885 --> 00:22:37,365 I call 'em spiritual technologies. 497 00:22:38,375 --> 00:22:39,775 - I love that. - Right. 498 00:22:39,915 --> 00:22:43,175 So for instance, um, a power object, you know, like, um, 499 00:22:43,895 --> 00:22:47,255 a Native American, um, elder would maybe have a, 500 00:22:47,395 --> 00:22:49,935 it could be a pipe carrier or a rattle, you know? 501 00:22:49,935 --> 00:22:51,535 Mm-Hmm. . And what, 502 00:22:51,595 --> 00:22:54,255 what's happening there psychologically in a scientific 503 00:22:54,255 --> 00:22:56,575 sense, you're imbuing that object with meaning. 504 00:22:56,955 --> 00:23:00,015 Mm-Hmm. . And when you wield the object, you evoke 505 00:23:00,685 --> 00:23:03,175 that meaning or principle, or, or, or, 506 00:23:03,235 --> 00:23:05,415 or layer of your psyche, if you will. 507 00:23:05,585 --> 00:23:06,655 Right? Mm-Hmm. . Mm-Hmm. . 508 00:23:06,735 --> 00:23:10,895 So it's a way of accessing deep states of your inner being, 509 00:23:11,475 --> 00:23:14,815 you know, using ritual or ceremony or celebrations 510 00:23:14,995 --> 00:23:16,935 or whatever the case may be, right? 511 00:23:17,035 --> 00:23:19,455 Mm-Hmm. . So when you start thinking like this, 512 00:23:19,455 --> 00:23:21,295 you see spirituality in a whole new light, 513 00:23:21,805 --> 00:23:23,575 superstitious, you know, deities. 514 00:23:23,685 --> 00:23:24,855 It's like, oh, quain. 515 00:23:25,405 --> 00:23:27,295 Well, quain is, 516 00:23:27,395 --> 00:23:30,805 is like a certain feminine principle Mm-Hmm. 517 00:23:30,805 --> 00:23:32,445 That you can actually evoke 518 00:23:32,625 --> 00:23:34,005 and bring forth in yourself 519 00:23:34,225 --> 00:23:38,085 by meditating on this archetypal, you know, 520 00:23:38,495 --> 00:23:39,605 quote deity, right? 521 00:23:39,825 --> 00:23:42,285 Mm-Hmm. . So it's not superstitious at all. 522 00:23:42,355 --> 00:23:44,005 It's actually a spiritual technology. 523 00:23:45,105 --> 00:23:47,085 - That's beautiful. That is amazing. 524 00:23:48,045 --> 00:23:50,545 So how can people learn more about what you're doing 525 00:23:50,725 --> 00:23:53,425 and any upcoming events scheduled? 526 00:23:54,005 --> 00:23:56,585 The last I recall you had something going on in San Diego. 527 00:23:58,045 --> 00:24:01,325 - Absolutely. Well, you know, we do have, um, uh, two shows, 528 00:24:01,745 --> 00:24:06,365 um, actively playing in, gosh, I think they're in about 40, 529 00:24:06,785 --> 00:24:10,605 uh, planetariums, um, uh, across, uh, 530 00:24:10,605 --> 00:24:11,885 north America currently. 531 00:24:12,105 --> 00:24:16,485 Uh, there's, uh, the first show we did is called Meer, 532 00:24:16,925 --> 00:24:18,365 ME sm E-R-I-C-A. 533 00:24:18,985 --> 00:24:20,805 And you can just google that, um, 534 00:24:21,425 --> 00:24:24,485 or go to tickets meer com. 535 00:24:25,185 --> 00:24:27,845 Uh, the other show is called Bea, 536 00:24:28,465 --> 00:24:31,045 and these are both, um, uh, featuring the artist, 537 00:24:31,175 --> 00:24:33,285 James Hood and James. 538 00:24:33,505 --> 00:24:37,165 Um, there's a very special, uh, artists, uh, we, we, um, 539 00:24:37,435 --> 00:24:39,445 when we first connected with him, we were like, 540 00:24:39,465 --> 00:24:40,605 oh my God, you get it. 541 00:24:41,225 --> 00:24:43,565 You get how to use this format. Mm-Hmm. . 542 00:24:43,745 --> 00:24:47,485 And, uh, so he's doing what we call a visual musical journey 543 00:24:47,595 --> 00:24:48,845 with poetic narrative. 544 00:24:49,625 --> 00:24:51,125 And this is the abstract journey. 545 00:24:51,155 --> 00:24:55,245 There's like beauty and, and awe inspiring, you know, 546 00:24:55,385 --> 00:24:58,405 but then he has this positive voiceover track 547 00:24:58,405 --> 00:25:01,885 where he is like, talking about happiness and whatnot, 548 00:25:02,265 --> 00:25:04,445 and people come out going, oh my God, I feel so 549 00:25:04,445 --> 00:25:05,445 happy, - . 550 00:25:06,825 --> 00:25:08,125 - It works. It actually works. 551 00:25:08,185 --> 00:25:10,525 At least on 75% of the people. It works. You 552 00:25:10,525 --> 00:25:12,565 know, - , that's a pretty good percentage. . 553 00:25:13,075 --> 00:25:17,095 - Yeah. Pretty good. Pretty good for, so, um, yeah. 554 00:25:17,155 --> 00:25:19,415 So both of those shows are playing, uh, 555 00:25:19,515 --> 00:25:22,055 my company is Vortex immersion. 556 00:25:22,435 --> 00:25:26,975 Mm-hmm. Com or vortex dos com is a short version. 557 00:25:27,795 --> 00:25:31,255 And, um, you know, we also have a, a dome film festival, 558 00:25:31,255 --> 00:25:34,295 which is, uh, we just held Boulder, Colorado. 559 00:25:35,025 --> 00:25:36,815 We're coming back to Boulder next 560 00:25:36,815 --> 00:25:38,255 year, the first week of May. 561 00:25:38,885 --> 00:25:40,695 It's called Dome Fest West. 562 00:25:41,555 --> 00:25:42,935 - Wow. - Yeah. 563 00:25:43,675 --> 00:25:45,535 So, uh, if you're really interested in the format 564 00:25:45,595 --> 00:25:48,335 and wanna explore more, dome Fest is a great way to do that. 565 00:25:48,595 --> 00:25:51,495 Um, and you can see the films on the site now 566 00:25:51,495 --> 00:25:53,215 that won the awards from this year. 567 00:25:54,275 --> 00:25:55,335 And, um, yeah. 568 00:25:55,535 --> 00:25:57,855 People are, the creativity coming into the 569 00:25:57,855 --> 00:25:59,175 format is really amazing. 570 00:25:59,195 --> 00:26:02,175 Mm-Hmm. . It's, it's heartwarming, you know, lots 571 00:26:02,175 --> 00:26:06,295 of experimentation, art, science, you know, education, 572 00:26:07,115 --> 00:26:10,855 um, you know, uh, live performances that we give awards for 573 00:26:10,855 --> 00:26:13,895 as well live performers at the Dome Festival. 574 00:26:13,995 --> 00:26:15,135 So it's really cool. 575 00:26:15,765 --> 00:26:19,935 - That is cool. I love how you're bringing the science 576 00:26:19,955 --> 00:26:22,575 and the art and meshing it together so beautifully. 577 00:26:23,325 --> 00:26:25,615 - Yeah. You get it. That's, that's what it's really, uh, 578 00:26:25,775 --> 00:26:28,255 a lot of this is we call S Art, you know? 579 00:26:28,565 --> 00:26:30,135 - Okay. There's actual name for it, , 580 00:26:31,395 --> 00:26:34,375 - If you, you know, if you hand scientific data sets 581 00:26:34,825 --> 00:26:39,605 - Uhhuh - To artists, they'll riff on it in ways 582 00:26:39,635 --> 00:26:44,545 that really help people, I think, assimilate, you know, some 583 00:26:44,545 --> 00:26:47,425 of the scientific concepts by making it interesting 584 00:26:47,425 --> 00:26:48,785 and compelling and like, wow. 585 00:26:48,955 --> 00:26:50,385 Right. Mm-Hmm. , uh, 586 00:26:50,445 --> 00:26:52,665 but then you, then you realize, oh my God, 587 00:26:52,695 --> 00:26:55,825 this was actually, this is real data, you know? 588 00:26:56,085 --> 00:27:00,425 So in some cases, right? Yeah. Yeah. So, cool. Yeah. 589 00:27:00,485 --> 00:27:02,625 And I'd love to see the planetarium sort 590 00:27:02,625 --> 00:27:05,135 of redefine themselves, you know, is, 591 00:27:05,275 --> 00:27:07,375 is this just space and stars? 592 00:27:07,925 --> 00:27:10,235 Well, it's the cosmos. 593 00:27:10,425 --> 00:27:13,435 It's the, it's the entire universe, the universe without, 594 00:27:13,495 --> 00:27:16,355 and the universe within, let's explore it all. 595 00:27:16,975 --> 00:27:18,525 - Yes. I couldn't agree more. 596 00:27:18,865 --> 00:27:20,165 And maybe they will, 597 00:27:20,235 --> 00:27:24,805 because it domes are becoming more popular people now. 598 00:27:25,235 --> 00:27:28,445 It's the one in Vegas has put it on the map for people 599 00:27:28,445 --> 00:27:30,565 that have never even heard about the dome world. 600 00:27:30,575 --> 00:27:33,725 Right. Um, that maybe now they're like, 601 00:27:33,745 --> 00:27:35,665 oh, ed was onto something , 602 00:27:36,655 --> 00:27:38,305 - It's in the field, you know, it's in the field. 603 00:27:38,485 --> 00:27:43,025 And vortex in my company would, uh, very much, uh, 604 00:27:43,375 --> 00:27:47,745 like, uh, partners to support the development 605 00:27:47,745 --> 00:27:50,025 of a network of arts and entertainment films. 606 00:27:50,825 --> 00:27:54,765 That's great. That's the Future is a network of these venues 607 00:27:54,765 --> 00:27:57,405 that can, um, you know, so when an artist, uh, you know, 608 00:27:57,685 --> 00:27:59,045 producer creates a show, 609 00:27:59,685 --> 00:28:02,135 they can get it out onto the network and monetize it 610 00:28:02,135 --> 00:28:04,535 and make enough money to make the next show, you know, and, 611 00:28:04,535 --> 00:28:05,695 and pay the rent, whatever. 612 00:28:05,795 --> 00:28:07,615 So that, that's the future. 613 00:28:07,835 --> 00:28:09,735 And right now it's a little bit painful 614 00:28:09,735 --> 00:28:12,135 because, you know, there's not a lot of venues that, 615 00:28:12,395 --> 00:28:14,655 you know, if you create a, a film 616 00:28:14,795 --> 00:28:17,135 or whatever, that's, uh, you know, 617 00:28:17,315 --> 00:28:19,375 not science-based Mm-Hmm. , 618 00:28:19,455 --> 00:28:22,095 you know, there's not a lot of opportunities out there quite 619 00:28:22,095 --> 00:28:23,615 yet, but that's gonna change real fast 620 00:28:24,855 --> 00:28:26,025 - Yeah. With the technology. 621 00:28:26,615 --> 00:28:29,875 - Yeah. Yeah. So we need more either, uh, 622 00:28:29,875 --> 00:28:32,515 open-minded planetariums or more arts tainment. 623 00:28:33,695 --> 00:28:38,035 And, and, and my personal hope is that hope, you know, 624 00:28:38,055 --> 00:28:42,045 we don't bring in the kind of, you know, drama 625 00:28:42,315 --> 00:28:45,925 that we've been doing in film and television, you know, guns 626 00:28:45,985 --> 00:28:47,325 and car chases and, 627 00:28:47,465 --> 00:28:48,525 and all that sort of thing 628 00:28:48,525 --> 00:28:50,285 that we can really raise the bar now 629 00:28:50,285 --> 00:28:52,995 that we can evoke these other emotions 630 00:28:53,775 --> 00:28:58,125 and feelings, you know, like bliss, awe, mindfulness, all of 631 00:28:58,125 --> 00:29:01,165 that, that are very pleasurable states of consciousness 632 00:29:01,265 --> 00:29:03,125 and ought to sell tickets as much 633 00:29:03,185 --> 00:29:05,725 as shootouts or car chases. Do you know? 634 00:29:06,565 --> 00:29:08,505 - Yes, they should. 100%. 635 00:29:08,905 --> 00:29:10,785 I think the world needs that more instead of all 636 00:29:10,785 --> 00:29:13,665 of the car chases in the gun shooting action. 637 00:29:14,445 --> 00:29:17,105 - And in some ways, I think we're triggering latent brain 638 00:29:17,105 --> 00:29:21,605 states that people, that if we could maintain 639 00:29:22,365 --> 00:29:24,045 a, a state of a Yeah. 640 00:29:24,045 --> 00:29:25,845 And it's almost like gratitude. Yes. 641 00:29:25,905 --> 00:29:28,285 We walk around with an open heart and an open mind. 642 00:29:29,395 --> 00:29:31,915 I don't see how things could go bad in the world, you know? 643 00:29:32,195 --> 00:29:35,195 I think, you know, it's, uh, when we get too greedy 644 00:29:35,195 --> 00:29:39,795 or you fall 645 00:29:40,695 --> 00:29:43,445 bi base impulses Mm-Hmm. , 646 00:29:43,585 --> 00:29:45,165 you know, yeah. Things can go awry, 647 00:29:45,265 --> 00:29:47,805 but there's, there's a certain, almost like a transcendent, 648 00:29:47,905 --> 00:29:51,795 uh, state of consciousness that you can, uh, 649 00:29:52,435 --> 00:29:53,715 actually start to maintain. 650 00:29:53,975 --> 00:29:57,995 Mm-Hmm. . And, uh, in my mind, if you look at technology, 651 00:29:58,175 --> 00:30:01,635 the Moore's law curve for tech, technological power 652 00:30:01,635 --> 00:30:03,355 that we're putting, democratizing, 653 00:30:03,375 --> 00:30:06,755 and putting into everyone's fingertips, like ai Yeah. 654 00:30:07,215 --> 00:30:10,075 And anybody with a smartphone can be a, an influencer 655 00:30:10,135 --> 00:30:12,995 of millions of people, and 80% of the population 656 00:30:12,995 --> 00:30:14,315 of the planet has a smartphone now. 657 00:30:14,315 --> 00:30:18,555 So it's like, okay, power out to, okay, go play children. 658 00:30:18,695 --> 00:30:22,395 Here's some matches, go play, you know, not matches, 659 00:30:22,545 --> 00:30:25,155 blow towards, you know, like, this is powerful stuff, 660 00:30:25,155 --> 00:30:26,475 and it's getting more and more powerful. 661 00:30:26,895 --> 00:30:29,475 And so, to me, the only solution I've come up with is like, 662 00:30:30,385 --> 00:30:32,485 we need a more long curve for wisdom. 663 00:30:33,505 --> 00:30:37,005 We need to accelerate, you know, wisdom on the planet and, 664 00:30:37,065 --> 00:30:39,725 and being able to sit with ambiguity, not having 665 00:30:39,725 --> 00:30:40,805 to be right all the time. 666 00:30:40,985 --> 00:30:42,285 Mm-Hmm. , you know, being able 667 00:30:42,285 --> 00:30:45,165 to maintain an open heart more often and stay in a loving 668 00:30:45,265 --> 00:30:48,085 and state of empathy or compassion and, 669 00:30:48,725 --> 00:30:51,345 and, um, you know, it's not a, uh, a woo thing 670 00:30:51,445 --> 00:30:53,065 or ladi da thing. 671 00:30:53,245 --> 00:30:56,745 It, it's like, I mean, it takes courage, uh, 672 00:30:56,805 --> 00:31:00,545 and it takes discipline to be able to, you know, rise 673 00:31:00,715 --> 00:31:01,945 above the noise Mm-Hmm. 674 00:31:02,045 --> 00:31:03,305 And take a higher road. 675 00:31:04,005 --> 00:31:06,385 And I think that's, that's what the future 676 00:31:06,445 --> 00:31:09,745 of humanity depends on our ability to 677 00:31:10,825 --> 00:31:13,165 evolve into these, um, higher brain states, 678 00:31:13,185 --> 00:31:15,205 if you'll, whatever you wanna call it. Mm-Hmm. 679 00:31:15,345 --> 00:31:16,765 - That's beautifully said, ed. 680 00:31:17,035 --> 00:31:19,885 It's like you said, gratitude change everything. 681 00:31:21,135 --> 00:31:23,175 - Absolutely. And you know, when you read a book 682 00:31:23,315 --> 00:31:25,015 and it makes sense Mm-Hmm. 683 00:31:25,015 --> 00:31:26,215 But it still just talk 684 00:31:27,205 --> 00:31:31,305 - You - Experience that evokes that state in you Mm-Hmm. 685 00:31:32,325 --> 00:31:35,065 It, it's, it's opens the door. 686 00:31:36,485 --> 00:31:39,015 - Well, I love what you're putting out in the world, so 687 00:31:39,575 --> 00:31:41,575 I look forward to attending one of your 688 00:31:42,085 --> 00:31:44,535 dome experiences, um, very soon. 689 00:31:44,715 --> 00:31:45,975 I'm gonna look that up. It, 690 00:31:46,195 --> 00:31:48,575 so it's at the Vortex Immersion Media. 691 00:31:49,635 --> 00:31:51,375 - Yes. Vortex domes.com. 692 00:31:51,475 --> 00:31:55,895 And, um, feel to free to reach out to me, uh, personally, 693 00:31:56,335 --> 00:31:59,175 ed at vortex com if you really wanna connect. 694 00:31:59,395 --> 00:32:00,575 I'm pretty open. 695 00:32:00,855 --> 00:32:04,215 I don't always have time, uh, to, you know, cater to, 696 00:32:04,355 --> 00:32:05,655 uh, everyone's needs. 697 00:32:05,795 --> 00:32:09,135 But, um, happy to point people in the right direction. 698 00:32:10,075 --> 00:32:11,525 - It's been such a pleasure, ed. 699 00:32:11,685 --> 00:32:15,005 Thank you very much for sharing this experience with, um, 700 00:32:15,595 --> 00:32:17,925 with me and, uh, our listeners. 701 00:32:18,405 --> 00:32:20,305 Thanks for tuning in, gutsy Babes. 702 00:32:20,355 --> 00:32:22,585 Until next time, move with Lebanese. 703 00:32:24,265 --> 00:32:26,245 - Is it hard to go when you are on the go? 704 00:32:26,555 --> 00:32:28,205 Well, you're not alone travelers. 705 00:32:28,205 --> 00:32:30,005 Constipation affects millions daily. 706 00:32:30,415 --> 00:32:32,765 Don't let irregularity ruin your next trip. 707 00:32:33,185 --> 00:32:35,565 Try travel, lease, especially formulated 708 00:32:35,565 --> 00:32:38,525 to keep you going on your next vacation or business trip. 709 00:32:38,705 --> 00:32:41,485 Unlike Common Over-the-counter therapies for constipation, 710 00:32:41,705 --> 00:32:44,605 travel ease is all natural, doesn't produce cramping 711 00:32:44,745 --> 00:32:45,765 and won't dehydrate. 712 00:32:45,905 --> 00:32:49,925 You wanna find out more? Go to Easy natural health.com. 713 00:32:50,105 --> 00:32:53,965 That's ee ZE natural health.com. 714 00:32:54,915 --> 00:32:57,335 Now also available@walmart.com.