SXSW: Rosario Dawson to Narrate Immersive Virtual Reality Project ‘Soul Paint’ (Exclusive)

Damiano D’Agostino
·2 min read
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

Rosario Dawson is joining the world of virtual reality. The Ahsoka actress will narrate a VR project called Soul Paint. Executive produced by Biennale Cinema’s Venice Immersive exhibition curator Liz Rosenthal and produced by Monobanda and Hatsumi studios, the project will premiere during SWSX in Austin.

Soul Paint will be available for the Meta Quest 2 and 3 VR headsets, “blending science and art to illustrate the infinite and complex networks of emotions and experiences that live within each of us” according to the project’s developers.

More from The Hollywood Reporter

The projects allows users to embark on an immersive journey, led by Dawson, in which emotions and bodily sensations can be conveyed by making them visible in a virtual space. Interaction is achieved through body mapping to render movement as accurately as possible. Participants can also interact with the virtual world through three-dimensional drawings.

“We often rely on our intellect to make sense of the human experience, but Soul Paint asks us to explore the emotional and sensory experiences felt by our bodies and their impact on our reality,” Rosenthal tells THR Roma. “This project seamlessly blends technology, wellbeing and storytelling to create a new and beautiful form of self-expression, to better understand ourselves and to express complex emotions when words are not enough.”

“Soul Paint was inspired by my personal experience of grief,” adds director, artist and activist Sarah Ticho (Explore Deep), who created the experience with interactive artist Niki Smit (Remembering, The Shape of Us). “Rosario was the perfect person for this project. She deeply understood the goal of the experience, and it was amazing to see her connect with the character. She created the perfect warm and protective voice to guide people.”

The Soul Paint experience lasts about 20 minutes, and does not yet have distribution. It will be available during SXSW as part of the XR Experience Competition from March 10 to 12.

Best of The Hollywood Reporter