XR Radio
2023 Recap
We wanted to share a little recap of all the fun things we made together last year as we continue to grow and build the world of XR Radio.
As we slowly begin building this ecosystem from the ground up, we’ve made some solid progress across a few key streams.
PRODUCT
COMMUNITY
BRAND
STORYWORLD
CONTENT
ORG
MIKKOH
Sharon Oh (a.k.a Mikkoh)
Creative Director, multidisciplinary artist & DJ with a background in materials science and engineering. Co-founder of Polly Studio.
BRANDEN
Branden Collins
Multidisciplinary designer, CD, researcher & strategist. Founder of The Young Never Sleep Studio. Formerly 4 years at SnapLab (Snapchat) Spectacles.
XR Radio Creators
Brandon Stephens
Creative technologist, musician, fashion designer & AR developer. Founder of fashion tech brand, Experimentul.
BRANDON
ELLEX
Ellex Swavoni
Product designer, inventor, sculptor, multidisciplinary artist and futurist specialized in additive manufacturing.
MY
My Nguyen
Creative Director, writer, interdisciplinary designer, co-creator of A.V.A. & the
XR Radio Story-World.
OG member of Zoo as Zoo.
BRANDEN
Matrixunni
Multidisciplinary artist, creative director, creative producer, brand manager
MATRIX
LY
LyLy Hoang
Art Director, character designer, storyboard artist
EWANG
Emily Wang aka EWANG
Photographer, curator, and creative director
XR Radio Creators
CHERYN
Cheryn Moore
Creative director, costume designer, stylist
XR Radio
Story
We spend some time sharpening the core story together.
LOGLINE
A.V.A is a (Vietnamese-Caribbean) reality tech gearhead and skater delivering food to all the 6 zones of Magic City, a protopian world where ubiquitous technology, magic and surreal fantasy blend together in an immense technicolor landscape . A.V.A leads XR Radio, an underground radio station run by a coalition of renegade “reality hackers” on a mission to defend their world from the invading powers that threaten to destroy the reality they call home.
The Story
In the post-reality of XR Radio, A.V.A , a cross-cultural nomad with a thirst for freedom, embarks on a journey of self-discovery. As a skilled reality hacker and technician A.V.A is caretaker of their younger brother, Chorizo. A.V.A spends most of their time delivering rations to the citizens of Magic City, a world where borders and laws no longer exist, and distantly fragmented memories of an archaic society are all that remain. A.V.A’s most prized possession is a tape they found in an obscure corridor in the city, filled with a collection of recorded memories from a motherly figure to a child. The tape recordings, fragmented and nonlinear, contain various instructions of how to build the tools needed to survive Magic City, nostalgic recollections of a reality long forgotten, and heartfelt messages of a mother’s love sent from a strange distant world. This tape is what inspires A.V.A’s passion for reality hacking and it instills intuitive protectiveness in them, driving them to look over their brother.
As A.V.A explores the vibrant and lawless expanse of Magic City, surpassing the boundaries of physics and bureaucratic norms, they begin to question their own existence and the fundamental nature of this reality itself. What A.V.A doesn't know is that Magic City is actually a simulation program created in another world beyond their reach and comprehension. In this other world, A.V.A is the simulated consciousness of an unborn child, unaware of their true nature but led to explore the world of Magic City.
The tape is a “glitch” in this simulated reality and holds the key to A.V.A’s meta-quest: to uncover the truth behind their simulated existence and decide whether they want to be born into this parallel world or remain in the technicolor oasis that is Magic City. As they delve deeper into the secrets of the tape, A.V.A's journey becomes a transformative exploration of identity, purpose, and the profound impact of choice.
Branding Explorations
By Branden & Ian
A.V.A
Main
Characters
Original Design
By Branden, Lyly & My
A.V.A
Main
Characters
Original Design
By Branden, Lyly & My
The Jarawa
Main
Characters
Description
The Jarawa are a nomadic tribe inhabiting the Azu region of Magic City. They have a high level of complex, sophisticated communication technologies that use only their body textures, colors, and movement.
Original Design
By Branden & Lyly
The Jarawa
Main
Characters
Original Design
By Branden & Lyly
The Jarawa
Main
Characters
Original Design
By Branden & Lyly
HIM
Main
Characters
Original Design
By Branden & Lyly
DR. EXXX
Main
Characters
Description
Guru, genius, hero. A few of the words one could use to describe DR. EXXX, celebrated legend of Magic City. Even though no one is exactly sure who Dr. EXXX is or what he actually does, the legend continues to inspire hope in the city.
DR. EXXX is admired by a loyal group of fans & dedicated followers aspiring to follow in their footsteps.
Original Design
By Branden, Brandon & My
Rough Animatic
By Branden & Lyly
Genies Avatar
By Branden
Promo Shoot 1 (Fast & Furious Preview)
By Polly Studio & Branden
Promo Shoot 1
By Polly Studio & Ewang
Promo Shoot 1
By Polly Studio
Promo Shoot 1 (Test Edit)
By Polly Studio & Matt
“A.V.A UIt”
By Branden & Ian
A.V.A. and Runway AI
By Polly Studio & Branden
AR Filter Design
By Branden
AR Filter Design
By Katie & Branden
AR Poster Design
By Branden
AR Comic Prototype
By Branden & Brandon
AI Comic Book Covers
By Branden with Midjourney
AI Comic Book Tests
By Branden with Midjourney
New Character Illustrations
By @pink.piinkk
Digital Fashion Test Shoot
By Branden & My
3D Environment Scan + Build
By Branden with Polyform & Unity
XR “Chunky” Proto V1 Design & Render
By Branden & Ian
SWAVONI Prototype
By Ellex
“Spider” AR Concept
By Ellex & Branden
New Character
By Ellex
XR “Chunky” Proto V1 3D Print & Bluetooth Speaker
By Ellex
Some other things we did in 2023
Applied for seed funding from Arc
Applied for a Boiler Room grant
Submitted a proposal for a multi-day event for the city of Atlanta in partnership with AV Radio.
What’s next…
Officially an LLC as of 1/16/24!
Also, we set up our DAO!
Define core team
Finalize first promo edit (this will help with pitches + getting funding)
Define funding target + start reach outs
Work on full trailer
Recruit board members
Refine all assets
Official (re)launch on digital channels
Pitch for Adult Swim Smalls
Finalize cosmetic prototype of XR Chunky Proto 1 - Begin dev of functional XR prototype
Scope + plan invite-only pop up event (@El Malo? TBD)
Make it til you Make it
+ Show don’t Tell
Making a lot with a little to attract support and $$
Making more stuff with support and $$ to create an experience.
Use an immersive experience to attract larger funding from investors and community.
Use this to make everything else…
Case Study: Past Work @ Comic-Con 2011-2014 & PPG Pop Up NYC 2016
Why all the assets?
360 Immersive pop-up/event experiences like these meant showing the full experience of the property across every kind of touchpoint. So myself and my team were responsible for everything here. From the booth design & interior experience to premiums, merch, app design, games, content, products, soft goods, wayfinding, graphics, pre and post production, etc. etc. The idea for an XR pop-up would be to bring viewers into an experience that makes them feel like they’re stepping into a world that already exists.
FUN FACT:
This pop up concept and collaboration started with an idea I had to make Cn apparel cooler for our fans.