The Groove Jones GrooveTalk Podcast

The Groove Jones GrooveTalk Podcast | Episode 8: The Future of Immersive Filmmaking

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2520999/fan_mail/new] Step into the frontier of immersive storytelling in Episode 8 of Groove Talk, where Doug Hogan and Dale Carman sit down with David Hoffman from Blackmagic to explore what happens when reality itself becomes the medium. This conversation goes beyond the camera, unpacking how the Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive is reshaping not just production workflows, but the very language of filmmaking. David shares how Blackmagic, in collaboration with Apple, helped eliminate the technical bottlenecks that once held immersive storytelling back. What used to require complex rigs, stitching, and heavy post pipelines can now move from capture to headset with unprecedented speed. Dale and Doug reflect on their own hands-on experiences, highlighting the shift from composing shots to designing environments where the viewer is fully present. The result is a medium where even the simplest moments can feel extraordinary, and where storytelling becomes less about directing attention and more about inviting exploration. Who’s On the Mic: • Doug Hogan – Creative Technologist at Groove Jones • Dale Carman – CEO and Co-Founder of Groove Jones • David Hoffman – Business Development Manager of the Americas at Blackmagic What They Cover: A New Language for Immersive Filmmaking • Why immersive content requires rethinking traditional cinematography. • How framing, editing, and directing attention fundamentally change. From Complex Rigs to Streamlined Workflows • How Blackmagic and Apple collaborated to simplify immersive production. • Why eliminating stitching and syncing pain points is a game changer. Seeing Is Believing • The importance of reviewing content inside a headset, not on a flat screen. • Why immersive footage can look “wrong” in 2D but incredible in context. Capturing Reality, Not Just Images • How immersive cameras function more like “teleporters” into a moment. • Why presence creates stronger emotional and physical reactions from viewers. New Storytelling Possibilities • Multi-threaded narratives where viewers choose what to follow. • The potential for layered experiences and interactive storytelling paths. Beyond Entertainment • Why enterprise use cases like training and simulation are accelerating adoption. • How immersive tools are empowering creators across industries. Key Highlights: • The realization that immersive filmmaking is an entirely new medium, not an extension of 2D. • The power of rapid iteration by capturing and viewing footage almost instantly. • Why 90fps and high resolution are essential to achieving true presence. • The shift from directing shots to designing lived-in environments. • How simple, everyday scenes become compelling when experienced immersively. • Blackmagic’s philosophy of making advanced tools accessible for experimentation. Why It’s Worth Watching: If you’re curious about - • How immersive storytelling is evolving beyond traditional filmmaking • What it takes to create true presence in a headset • Where the future of narrative, training, and experiential media is headed Episode 8 captures a pivotal moment in the evolution of immersive media, offering both a technical deep dive and a creative roadmap for anyone looking to explore what comes next.

The Groove Jones GrooveTalk Podcast | Episode 7: Strapping a Blackmagic URSA Cine to a Race Car

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2520999/fan_mail/new] Step into the next phase of immersive production at Groove Jones in Episode 7 of Groove Talk, where Doug Hogan sits down with Henry Casillas and Dale Carman to explore what happens when immersive video finally gets a professional grade camera. The conversation follows the full production journey, from capture to editorial, centered on Groove Jones’ early experiments with the Blackmagic URSA Immersive and why it represents a true turning point for presence driven storytelling. Henry shares how working with the URSA Immersive feels like a night and day leap from earlier 360 systems, especially with stitching and cleanup no longer dominating the workflow. Dale explains why immersive experiences used to live in a constant state of compromise, particularly around stereo registration, and how perfectly synchronized sensors, lens metadata, and high frame rates finally allow the brain to relax and accept the image. A simple tripod shoot of a band in Deep Ellum becomes a powerful case study, proving that presence can turn even the most straightforward setup into something unforgettable. Who’s On the Mic: • Doug Hogan – Creative Technologist at Groove Jones • Henry Casillas – Associate Creative Director at Groove Jones  • Dale Carman – Co-Founder of Groove Jones What They Cover: From 360 to Immersive Video • Why the URSA Immersive feels like a massive leap from earlier rigs. • How eliminating stitching speeds up production and frees creative focus. Why Stereo Registration Matters • Why “good enough” stereo was never truly good enough. • How perfect synchronization dramatically improves comfort and presence. Simple Shoots, Strong Reactions • The Deep Ellum band shoot that made first time Vision Pro users physically react. • Why presence matters more than spectacle. Experimenting With a Medium Still Being Defined • Race cars, pickleball, drones, and ballet as learning tools. • Why immersive storytelling still has no fixed rules. Key Highlights: • Removing stitching changes the entire immersive workflow. • Perfect stereo registration finally makes immersive video comfortable. • Presence can transform even a static tripod shot. • The team is learning the medium by actively pushing it. Why It’s Worth Watching: If you’re curious about -  • How immersive video is actually made today • What separates presence from gimmicks • Why professional tools matter for immersive storytelling Episode 7 offers a focused look at immersive media in transition, told by the people actively figuring it out.

The Groove Jones GrooveTalk Podcast | Episode 6 Animation, AI, and a Demonic Sewer Rat

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2520999/fan_mail/new] In Episode 6 of GrooveTalk, Doug Hogan sits down with two of Groove Jones’ standout animators, Luis Pineda and Tiffany Sweet, for a fast-paced, behind-the-scenes conversation about what it really takes to bring digital characters and immersive experiences to life. From Tiffany’s spark moment watching Avatar to Luis’s unexpected pivot from architecture into animation through a single tweet, the episode is packed with career stories, practical advice, and real production reality checks. The trio digs into how AI is changing their day-to-day workflows, why “there is no magic button,” and how Groove Jones culture thrives on curiosity, collaboration, and solving problems when everything is melting (sometimes literally). Who’s On the Mic: • Doug Hogan – Host, Creative Technologist at Groove Jones • Luis Pineda – Senior Animator and Technical Consultant  • Tiffany Sweet – 3D Animator and CG Artist What They Cover: Origins stories and career pivots • Tiffany’s inspiration from Avatar and the emotional power of digital performance • Luis’s path from architecture to animation, projection mapping, games, and eventually Groove Jones via a tweet The real role of AI in production • AI as a productivity booster for repetitive tasks, scripting, and learning new tools faster • Why strong fundamentals still matter (and why AI still needs human taste, direction, and cleanup) Motion capture experiments for real-world scenes • Tiffany breaks down the planning, measurements, calibration, and multi-camera workflow needed to make AI mocap usable • The honest takeaway: it is fun, it is powerful, and it is absolutely not automatic Favorite Groove Jones projects and studio war stories • Spirit Halloween character animations, office jump scares, and “demonic sewer rat” energy • Perot Museum bird experience and the Princess Cruises eagle adaptation that became way more than a reskin • Tech breakdown moments solved with quick thinking (overheated routers, camera fans, and fast pivots) Career advice for future Groove Jones talent • Be good at what you do, be easy to work with, and build real connections • Lose the ego, take critique, and focus on solving the problem as a team Key Highlights: • Luis explaining how AI plus real scripting knowledge turns “gibberish” into reliable tools you can reuse • Tiffany’s mocap directing tactics (including mapping a scene physically so the capture matches the 3D layout) • The inside look at how Groove Jones “Groove Tech” grows through reusable tool-bag workflows • Practical truth from both guests: you have to be “battle ready,” because the work moves fast • The recurring theme that makes the studio work: curiosity, resilience, and teamwork under pressure Why It’s Worth Watching: If you want a real view of modern animation and immersive production, this episode delivers. It is equal parts career journey, studio culture, and nuts-and-bolts technique, with honest commentary about AI, creativity, and what it takes to thrive when the tools keep changing. You will walk away with inspiration, laughs, and concrete advice you can actually use.

The Groove Jones GrooveTalk Podcast | Episode 5: Vibe Checks, VR Magic, and Women in Tech

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2520999/fan_mail/new] Step inside Episode 5 of GrooveTalk as host and Senior Creative Technologist Doug Hogan sits down with two "Groovy" women shaping the creative engine at Groove Jones: Ashton Kennedy, Head of Production and Partner, and Emily Austin, Head of Recruiting. In this lively and candid conversation, they reflect on nearly a decade of growth, innovation, and the all-important Groove Jones vibe check. From wrangling VR demo gear through airports to producing holograms for Spirit Halloween and billboards in Times Square, Ashton and Emily share their journeys through an ever changing landscape of immersive tech. They talk about the pure joy of first-time in VR moments, the magic of watching people experience their creations, and how Groove Jones continues to evolve. The team has gone from early American Horror Story VR scares to today’s web-based and AI-driven experiences. Along the way, they open up about being women in tech, the lessons learned from the road and sea, and why curiosity and collaboration remain the studio’s secret sauce. Who’s On the Mic: • Doug Hogan – Host and Senior Creative Technologist • Ashton Kennedy –Head of Production with roots in film, VR, and immersive storytelling • Emily Austin – Head of Recruiting, culture curator, and keeper of the Groove Jones vibe check What They Cover: 1. Origin stories at Groove Jones and how the studio scaled 2. The VR wow factor and why it never gets old 3. Behind the scenes on American Horror Story VR, Spirit Halloween holograms, and Times Square billboards 4. Women in tech and creative leadership at an innovation-focused studio 5. What is next for AI, wearables, and XR storytelling 6. Life outside the headset and how hobbies recharge creative teams Key Highlights: • The Groove Jones vibe check and hiring for passion, curiosity, and that creative spark • Why American Horror Story VR still holds a special place for the team • Ashton’s hologram work for Spirit Halloween and the thrill of seeing it live in Times Square • Emily’s quarantine at sea to help deliver a Royal Caribbean VR build during COVID • How non-traditional backgrounds can thrive in tech-focused roles • The power of Project Share, an internal showcase inspired by Pixar’s Braintrust • Real talk on wearables, mixed reality, and practical uses for generative AI Why It’s Worth Watching If you want an inside look at how a small, fearless team keeps pushing the boundaries of immersive storytelling, Episode 5 delivers inspiration, practical insight, and a lot of heart. Whether you are in tech, production, or simply curious about the future of experiences, this conversation captures the culture, creativity, and camaraderie that make Groove Jones tick.

The Groove Jones GrooveTalk Podcast | Episode 4: Jedi Names and Kraken Battles

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2520999/fan_mail/new] Step aboard this laugh-filled episode of Groove Talk as host Doug Hogan sits down with Groove Jones co-founder Dan Ferguson and longtime senior interactive producer Ethan Compton. What begins with friendly banter about webcams, gray hair, and questionable hairstyles quickly evolves into a fascinating journey through Ethan’s decade-plus career in immersive production and the wild stories behind Groove Jones’ most ambitious projects. Ethan shares his path from teaching game design to joining Groove Jones’ founding crew, where he’s spent years crafting jaw-dropping interactive experiences. The team revisits the making of Swashbuckler, a full-room VR adventure built for Royal Caribbean that had Ethan taking six cruises during the height of COVID while fighting seasickness, dodging battery fires, and pulling off an award-worthy install. Along the way, they dive into tales of old-school Flash games, Jedi alter egos, and the secret to Groove Jones’ success: fearless creativity, radical candor, and a studio culture built on trust and curiosity. This episode perfectly captures the spirit of Groove Jones, equal parts chaos, innovation, and camaraderie, and reminds you why great teams make even the wildest projects possible. Who’s On the Mic * Doug Hogan – Host and Creative Technologist guiding the conversation with humor and insight * Dan Ferguson – Co-founder of Groove Jones and master of client experience and usability * Ethan Compton – Senior Interactive Producer and storyteller behind some of the studio’s biggest VR hits What They Cover 1. Ethan’s Journey – From game development and teaching to joining Groove Jones’ early team 2. The Swashbuckler Saga – Building a massive VR experience on cruise ships during COVID with skeleton monkeys and a Kraken 3. The Jedi Connection – How Dan snuck his name into a Star Wars game as Dando Ergason 4. Culture at Groove Jones – Radical candor, zero micromanagement, and a team-first philosophy 5. Legacy and Learning – Why so many teammates have worked together across multiple studios 6. Innovation Mindset – Tackling never-been-done projects with confidence and curiosity Key Highlights * Behind-the-scenes of installing Swashbuckler on Royal Caribbean during a pandemic * Ethan’s tales of seasickness, de-stinkifiers, and nine-day installs * Dan’s Star Wars Easter egg moment with his Jedi alter ego * How Groove Jones keeps a long-tenured, high-performing team through open communication and shared problem solving * A peek at the studio’s mix of R and D, rapid innovation, and fearless client collaboration Why It’s Worth Watching If you love hearing how high-stakes creativity meets pure chaos, and how teams turn impossible challenges into groundbreaking experiences, this episode is a must. You will laugh, you will learn, and you might even want to join the next cruise-bound VR install.