Join us for an in-depth conversation with Jenny Guo, David Liu, Theresa Loong, Randall Okita, and Michaela Ternasky-Holland, each multi-hyphenated creatives with their own incredible range of expertise within and outside of the XR industry. Learn about what past and present interests and memories influence each of them when working in XR, what the word legacy means to them, and how the XR industry can create tangible structures to champion the range of APIA narratives and creators..

This is the second in a series of Talk and Play events leading up to the Games for Change Virtual Festival on July 12-14, 2021.

About the Artists

Michaela Ternasky-Holland

Michaela Ternasky-Holland is a multi-racial Emmy, Webby, and Sheffield Doc/Fest award-winning documentarian, who combines experimental content with traditional mediums. She works with clients as a consultant and creative strategist. She is a recognized public speaker who has presented at international conferences, public institutions, and podcasts. Her work has been featured by TIME, Forbes, The Guardian, Cannes Film Festival, New York Public Library, Tribeca Film Festival, and more.

Jenny Guo

Qin Ya Jenny Guo is an award-winning creative producer, XR arts collector, and tech entrepreneur. She has been named on Forbes 30 under 30 in 2018 and AACYF 30 under 30 in 2020. Backed by HTC ViveX and TechStars, her company LumiereVR is using computer vision and mixed reality to revolutionize the retail industry. Her projects have also won multiple awards in both Asia and the U.S. Her producing work Living Distance with artist Xin Liu is also the first Chinese immersive project that Sundance New Frontier Lab has taken on. Her latest VR artwork Devil's Ivy with artist Liu Wa was shown at Busan Biennale and has won the young creative award from international Emmy.

David Liu

David Liu is the Head of Studios at BetterUp, where he's driving the mission to deliver personal growth to every person through novel, transformative experiences. He has over 10 years of experience as a creative technology executive, leading teams across commercial filmmaking, game development and VR/AR. Formerly the Creative Director of Virtual Reality at Viacom NEXT, his team developed over 20 VR/AR projects. Their last project, Aeronaut VR featuring Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins, clinched the coveted Cannes Lions Grand Prix in the Digital Craft category.

Theresa Loong

Theresa Loong creates films and interactive AR/VR/MR experiences. She is making “Bought/Broken,” a virtual reality work using collaborative sculpture to share stories about intimate partner violence. She directed “Every Day Is a Holiday,” which premiered on public television. Theresa produced games for the New York Hall of Science and AMC’s “The Walking Dead” and “Breaking Bad.” She is an Oculus Launch Pad fellow and an IGDA Foundation Diverse Game Developer. A graduate of Harvard with an MFA from Hunter, Theresa works at Potion Design and is an adjunct professor at Bloomfield College’s Creative Art and Technology program.

Randall Okita

Randall Okita is an artist and filmmaker known for creating work that involves rich visual language and innovative approaches to story. His work has been shown in group and solo exhibitions, awarded internationally, and screened around the world. Recent work includes the feature film See for Me (premiering at Tribeca) and the virtual reality experience The Book of Distance (Sundance, Venice, CannesXR).

About XR for Change: Talk and Play

XR for Change: Talk and Play is a series of carefully curated gatherings that combine panel presentations and Q&A sessions with leading XR creators, opportunities to experience cutting-edge immersive media firsthand, and casual networking over refreshments. Talk and Play events offer exceptional opportunities to connect with the diverse innovators and changemakers who are at the frontier of using immersive experiences for positive social impact.

About Games for Change

Since 2004, Games For Change (G4C) has been empowering game creators and innovators to drive real-world change, using games and immersive media that help people learn, improve their communities, and contribute to making the world a better place. G4C partners with technology and gaming companies and nonprofits, foundations, and government agencies, to run world-class events, public arcades, design challenges, and youth programs. G4C supports a global community of game developers working to use games to tackle real-world challenges, from humanitarian conflicts to climate change and education.