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Inside The Art of Making
Curious and open conversations with me Kenny, and my guests about creative work, business and technology, all sprinkled with a bit of philosophy for good measure.
ABOUT ME:
Started my career as a session singer/musician, performed a lot on stage as a backing singer for Westlife and Leona Lewis, and grew up surrounded by family and friends also in the creative arts (my brother was Amy Winhouse’s music director, and another is a game industry vet of 20 years). I then left the ‘stage’, so to speak, to go backstage into the corporate world (consulting/talent development/people strategy).
Today I work with teams and business leaders in creative industries, primarily helping them solve ‘people problems’ (through development, business design, coaching and consulting etc).
I’m a former Netflixer and now I’m a VP of People Strategy SharkNinja, one of Fast Company’s World’s Most Innovative Companies of 2025
I’ve always been curious, having had a love for both philosophy and play. This podcast allows me to have fun with that curiosity, and hopefully inform/inspire others along the way.
Inside The Art of Making
Immersive Experiences: The Future of Live Entertainment with Secret Cinema's Dean Rogers
In this conversation, Dean Rodgers from Secret Cinema discusses the art of creating immersive experiences that bring movies to life. He shares insights on the evolution of live entertainment post-COVID, the importance of connection in experiences, and the journey of a creative director. Dean emphasizes the role of audience interaction, safety considerations, and the impact of AI on the creative industry. He also highlights the significance of collective awe in experiences and offers recommendations for immersive experiences.
takeaways
- Immersive experiences put audiences at the center of storytelling.
- The live entertainment sector has rebounded strongly post-COVID.
- Connection and community are vital in live experiences.
- Creativity thrives in collaborative environments.
- The entrance into an immersive world is crucial for audience engagement.
- Feedback is essential for refining experiences over time.
- Safety must be a priority in immersive experiences.
- AI is a powerful tool but poses challenges for creative industries.
- The future of entertainment lies in live experiences.
- Collective awe enhances the value of immersive experiences.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
00:50 The Impact of COVID-19 on Live Entertainment
03:24 Creating Memorable Experiences
06:08 The Journey of Dean Rodgers
08:52 The Heist Experience and Audience Interaction
11:19 Designing Immersive Experiences
13:09 The Creative Process Behind Immersive Shows
14:52 The Power of Idea Generation
17:45 The Role of Feedback in Creative Processes
20:16 Lessons from Experience Design
23:03 Safety in Immersive Experiences
26:00 The Evolution of Immersive Experiences
29:54 Design Principles for Immersive Experiences
32:08 The Experience Economy: Insights and Trends
34:48 The Power of Collective Awe in Live Experiences
37:31 The Future of Live Experiences vs. Digital Media
41:53 AI and Virtual Reality: Opportunities and Challenges
43:50 Secret Cinema: Innovations and Upcoming Projects
46:24 Building Successful Partnerships in Experience Design