Bruce Vaughn, a 4th-generation Sag Harborite, will speak about the future of the cinematic experience and immersive nature during a lecture presented by the Sag Harbor Cinema Art Center.
Vaughn is the CEO of Dreamscape Immersive, a recently established location-based VR company whose investors include major film studios as well as the legendary Steven Spielberg. Prior to that, he served as Chief Creative Executive for Walt Disney Imagineering for The Walt Disney Company.
“What do Disney, virtual reality and Sag Harbor have in common?” Vaughn asked. “More than one might expect. Our hometowns imprint an esthetic inside of us.”
During his time at Disney, he spearheaded the integrated creative teams of Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI), Disney’s Creative Entertainment (DCE), and WDI Research and Development, encouraging cutting-edge product development and innovation.
“I have no doubt that growing up in Sag Harbor uniquely equipped me for an unexpected career as a creator of immersive experiences,” Vaughn reflected. “When I look back at my youth, Sag Harbor exists as an idealized town, more like a train set than a real place. It’s proximity to the sea, the classic proportions of the buildings and streets, the weather and changing seasons, the deep history refusing to yield to the present… all of these elements fueled my imagination and imbued me with the courage of the whalers who defined this place, and the spirit of the artists who to this day find inspiration in its beauty.”
As Chief Creative Executive, Vaughn’s role covered everything from theme park attractions and special effects to creative theater adventures to new business opportunities that highlighted established and new technologies.
“Throughout my nearly 25 years as a Disney Imagineer, I drew on those important childhood years in the Harbor to inform the experiences, places and characters we created,” Vaughn noted. “Now, at Dreamscape Immersive, all of those lessons are converging as we pioneer a new story medium using virtual reality.”
The discussion will take place on Monday, October 8 at 3 p.m. at Pierson High School, Vaughn’s alma mater, in Sag Harbor. Admission is free, but reservations are recommended.
Pierson High School is located at 200 Jermain Avenue in Sag Harbor. For more information, visit www.sagharborcinema.org.