The Perks of Creative Play
Jeff Wirth, President of the Wirth Creative, is an expert on developing interactive story experiences for simulation, research, and entertainment. He has consulted for Cirque du Soleil, Blue Man Group, and Disney Imagineering. His latest project is Whispers in the Dark,in which a non-actor participant becomes the lead character in a story that plays out over 24 hours in various settings in New York City.
What was your inspiration behind Whispers in the Dark?
For the past 30 years I have been creating interactive story experiences in which non-actors become the central character in a story in which they have no idea what is going to happen. When I was invited by Matt Bolish at the Film Society of Lincoln Center to create an experience for the Convergence Weekend of the New York Film Festival, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to introduce this work to New York City.
What do participants usually get from being involved with interactive story experiences?
There is a great power in being given permission to play fictionally. Children play by nature, but as adults, we often become constrained by our perceptions of who we are and who we are supposed to be. When participants play in an interactive story, they discover the potential that lies within them, outside the realm of their everyday lives. They discover new power and realize new potential through the process of fictional play.
What’s your favorite story from loosecubing?
When we were scouting locations for Whispers in the Dark, we were looking for a cool office space. As a Loosecubes member, I contacted Kevin Swett, who connected me with Marissa Feinberg, the owner of Green Spaces which is a Loosecubes host location. When I met with her, I discovered that Marissa is not only a creative business owner, but also a talented actress, so we wound up casting her in a role in the project. You never know whom you’re going to connect with when you’re ‘cubing!
If you’re in NYC, you won’t want to miss Whispers in the Dark at the New York Film Festival on Sunday, Sept. 30 at 2 PM.
