Exclusive: Delusion Writer and Director Jon Braver Talks Partnership with Skybound Entertainment for Virtual Reality Horror Series
With Variety’s announcement that Dave Alpert’s and Robert Kirkman’s Skybound Entertainment has teamed up with writer and director Jon Braver’s Los Angeles-based interactive horror theater company Delusion to produce a virtual reality (VR) horror series based on the same, we caught up with the latter exclusively to discuss. Read on!
Having launched his interactive horror theater concept in 2011 with the live event Delusion (and having returning in 2012, 2013 and 2014 with follow-ups Delusion: The Blood Right, Delusion: Masque of Mortality, Delusion: Lies Within and this year with Delusion: His Crimson Queen), stuntman-turned-writer/director Braver, along with co-writer Peter Cameron, and An Interactive Theatre & Film Company, have long sought to expand the franchise past its LA environs.
Their partnership with Skybound Entertainment, a company whose success stories include the television series “The Walking Dead” and “Outcast,” as well as the serialized virtual reality series “Gone,” should do just that.
“The 2014 play “Lies Within” seemed to be the perfect first collaboration,” Braver told us of the partnership, and his plans for the expansion of the Delusion universe, “since Skybound had success with their first VR narrative series “Gone,” and (they) wanted to stay at the forefront of this VR world. Yet, I’ll be honest though. I was not always on board with the idea of Delusion in VR. I am madly passionate about keeping things tangible in every way when it comes to us humans and our interaction! And on that note, I will still be creating the interactive plays. Yet, it took a few others close to me to really help realize that Delusion can exist in VR and as a live play, as well as many other formats while keeping true to its heart. Plus, so many people wanted to see “Lies Within” (and other shows) again or for the first time, and since it’s extremely hard to bring these shows back in residential properties, I thought this will be one way to swallow them whole again, albeit digitally! The news this morning only touched upon one aspect of the future of Delusion with Skybound. There is an overarching story that ties everything together and with that I plan to expand the Delusion universe into film, TV, graphic novel, comics and VR. And after a long search, Skybound became the right partner.”
With plans to adapt Delusion’s 2014 play Lies Within for the VR medium (you can read our full review of the play here), Braver and Skybound are currently working on a new story based on the concept, which originally found attendees drawn into the home of fictitious and missing author Elena Fitzgerald. Once inside, audiences found the abode occupied by the fantastically dangerous creations of Fitzgerald’s literary works, and a dark secret which begged to be unraveled. The VR series is expected to follow this narrative, while introducing two new characters into it. Principal photography is slated to begin in 2017.
In addition to the VR medium, Braver has also long sought to bring Delusion as a play to Los Angeles year round, and we asked him of the current status.
“That is still in the works,” he replied enthusiastically. “In fact, I think it would be cool to have, let’s say, the Delusion comic book series out while a corresponding live play runs as well. How cool would that be?! It’s like reading the book then seeing the movie, but even better. We shall see. Lots to do in the years to come.”
For those in the LA area, an extension of this year’s Delusion play His Crimson Queen was also announced today (it will now run until December 11th, 2016, with tickets going on sale this Friday, November 18th at 9am), and Braver effused of the production (which has been consistently sold out during its run), “I am a hopeless perfectionist so I’m never truly happy with my work. Who is really? That said, His Crimson Queen has evolved into something truly grand. It started off rocky for many boring reasons, but where it is now is someplace spectacular. The story behind this show is so cool. I wish I could have realized everything I wanted to with this play, but I’m happy with the overall reaction.”
“The coolest thing is seeing our fan-base become die-hards,” he continued. “They remember each year, each moment, recounting with their friends at the lounge. Some people love aspects of this one or that. Some people feel this year is their favorite, while others love 2012 or 2014, and so on. There is something for everyone here I guess! If people can really let themselves go, they really get everything I’m trying to do here. We’re building something unique with Delusion.”
As for the 2017 show, “I really have no clue except the story I want to tell,” Braver teased. “But we shall see.”
For more information visit the official Delusion website here, “like” them on Facebook here, and follow them on Twitter
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