În ziua de 6 decembrie 2023, Universitatea Națională de Artă Teatrală și Cinematografică „I.L.Caragiale” București a primit vizita unui grup de lucru din partea OCDE. Pe parcursul celor două ore, invitații au vizitat universitatea și au avut parte de workshopuri și demonstrații live care sa îi introducă în lumea teatrului și filmului.
Această vizită face parte din programul forumului Spre busola OCDE într-o lume VUCA (Volatilă, Incertă, Complexă și Ambiguă): navigarea prin incertitudine și complexitate cu IA generativă, recuperarea post-Covid și dezastre naturale sau provocate de om (“Towards the OECD Teaching Compass in a VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous) world: Navigating through uncertainty and complexity with generative AI, post-Covid recovery & natural or human-made disasters”) desfășurat în zilele de 6-7-8 decembrie la Palatul Parlamentului.
Titlu: Sensoriality Research Institute – Sensoriality Room: Showcase
Drd. Yolanda Crețescu
Sensoriality is a complex concept that refers to how our senses perceive our environment and influence our experiences. This can include sensations related to sight, hearing, taste, smell, touch and other senses that influence how we perceive the world around us.
Among the numerous studies and researches dedicated to sensoriality in various fields, we propose two research directions. One of the main areas of study is the neuropsychology of sensory, which explores how the brain processes and interprets sensory information. This research can provide a better understanding of how certain neurological conditions or injuries affect the ability to perceive and respond to sensory stimuli. With an intervention role in medical and therapeutic contexts, sensory research is often linked to the use of sensory therapy for people with different special needs or conditions, such as autism spectrum disorders or sensory regulation disorders. These studies explore how sensory stimulation or regulation can influence the well-being and behavior of these individuals. It is a continuation of previous research projects” Hospital School”, Unatc Junior, UNATC Caravan, STAD-Theatre for Health.
The second area, a research project on sensoriality in the performing arts and the training of actors and directors, Sensorial Theatre. Training actors and directors on each sensory system with specific objectives:
1. Visual: The objective of this sensory system would be to develop the ability of actors and directors to observe and interpret the aesthetics and non-verbal language of performance, to understand choreography, light, color and scenic composition in a deeper way.
2. Tactile: Here, the aim would be to enable participants to explore tactile sensations and physical contact in performance, to understand how touch can communicate powerful emotions and messages.
3. Motor: For the motor system, the goal would be to develop awareness and control of movement, expressiveness of dance or stage combat techniques, and to allow actors and directors to improve their physical abilities and understand how movement can tell a story in performance.
4. Vestibular: The objective of this sensory system would be to help participants understand balance, gravity and body movements in space, and to develop their awareness of their own body in relation to stage movements and scenography.
5. Olfactory: Although rarely used in the performing arts, the aim of the olfactory sense could be to explore the sensory impact of smells in a performance, how they can influence the emotions and perceptions of the audience.
6. Sensory-Perceptual: This objective could be to develop a general understanding and awareness of the interaction of all sensory systems within a performance, understanding how they influence both actors and directors and the audience.
Titlu: Restoration of Digitized Sound from Archival Film using AI (Neural Network) Technology
Dan-Ștefan Rucăreanu, Ph.D.
University Lecturer, Study Programme Coordinator at UNATC I.L. Caragiale, Bucharest, ROMANIA
Sound designer / Re-recording mixer at Smart Sound Studios
Ioan Bain
Auxiliary teaching staff, sound technician at UNATC I.L. Caragiale, Bucharest, ROMANIA
Sound designer / Re-recording mixer at MDV Film
The workshop aims to briefly present the new research in the field of sound restoration using AI-based audio plugins. During the presentation, we will learn how emerging AI (neural network) can modify and improve the process of restoring an archived film and how this infant technology can open new horizons in the cultural, educational and commercial fields.
Dan-Ștefan Rucăreanu is a university lecturer at the National University of Theatre and Film, Multimedia Department, teaching Sound Design for Cinematography and Media, and is also working in the film industry as a sound designer / re-recording mixer with more than 16 years of experience in sound for film. He was involved in the process of restoring the filmography of the well-known Romanian director Geo Saizescu and also participated in an Institutional Development Fund at UNATC, financed by the Romanian Ministry of Education, where he researched and developed a new workflow method for restoration and remastering of a student short film from the UNATC archive. He is currently involved in the process of restoring and remastering the UNATC archive and is coordonating the program of the sound department, researching and teaching new workflow methods involving the use of emerging AI technologies in restoring archived films, and also in designing sound for current students projects.
Ioan Bain is an auxiliary teaching staff – sound technician at the National University of Theatre and Film, and is also working in the film industry as a sound designer / re-recording mixer with more than 29 years of experience and over 100 feature films in records. He has collaborated with many famous Romanian directors including Sergiu Nicolaescu, Mircea Daneliuc, Serban Marinescu, and Dan Pita. He colaborated with university professor Mihai Orasanu on the remastering of several hundred films from The National Film Archive and also participated in an Institutional Development Fund at UNATC, financed by the Romanian Ministry of Education, where he researched and developed new method of sound digitalisation and processing for restoration and remastering of a student short film from the UNATC archive. He has been actively involved in the restoration and remastering of the UNATC archive since its inception, and is currently researching new working methods involving the use of emerging AI technologies, both for a better way of restoring and remastering of films from the UNATC archive and for improving sound design for current student films.
Titlu: Transmedia Futurism: The Future(s) of Knowledge topic
Ioana MISCHIE PhD.
Government of Children II – Movie (projecting a 6 min. fragment)
Ioana Mischie is a Romanian-born pioneering transmedia artist (screenwriter/director), and transmedia futurist, multi-awarded for film, VR and innovative concepts. Fulbright Grantee Alumna of USC School of Cinematic Arts (Civic Imagination Lab /Mixed Reality Lab / JoVRnalism /Worldbuilding Lab) and Alumna of UNATC, advanced the transmedia storytelling field as part of her doctoral study thesis completed with Summa Cum Laude. Her cinematic projects as writer/director have traveled to more than 250 festivals worldwide (Palm Springs ISFF, Hamptons IFF, Thessaloniki IFF) and were developed in advanced international programs (Berlinale Talents – Script Station, Sundance Workshop – Capalbio, Cannes International Screenwriters Pavilion, Locarno Academy Meetings, MIDPOINT). Her interactive works were awarded by international playgrounds such as The Webby Awards, Golden Drum, South by Southwest Hackathon, The Steamer Salon, Stereopsia, GoEast.
Among her recent original transmedia franchises, Government of Children (3D film, web, XR) is empowering children to see themselves as leaders and to redesign their society, Tangible Utopias is a VR franchise developed in Cannes XR and Venice GFM, being the first Eastern European VR piece receiving the Meta Award via Women in Immersive Technologies. Her cinematic paths combine long-term concepts, groundbreaking technologies, and forms of expanded artistic impact. Prior to embracing immersive media, she has successfully collaborated as a writer/director with Channel 4 in the UK (for two doc webseries with a record of views in the UK) and with the Oscars-awarded Legende Films (for the short fiction 237 Years). Her short film, Cumulonimbus, was nominated at the Gopo Awards 2018 for Best Short Film and was selected by Gus Van Sant as a finalist of the Coppola Shorts out of 5000 global entries. Her most recent VR experience, Human Violins, premiered in Biennale Venice 2023.
Co-founder and Head of Storyscapes, an NGO focusing on transmedia storytelling and expanded narratives initiated in 2012. Starting with 2020, the protagonist of this bio took a leap of faith to design a fresh transmedia initiative conceived as a transdisciplinary, trans-generational and trans-real hub entitled NOE-FI STUDIOS, aiming to design immersive futures fueled by the advancement of human consciousness. Both Storyscapes and NOE-FI STUDIOS are nominated for the best debut in the European Metaverse Awards, being a premiere for Romania.
While in endless love with sharing good practices and collaborative learning, Ioana is a lecturer at UNATC and also teaching digital media arts, virtual reality, digital storytelling classes at UBB and around the world. Led more than 30 national and international workshops and was invited as a speaker at TEDxBucharest Women Bold and Brilliant. Envisioning the world as a neo-creative playground, she deeply believes that storytellers are “the architects of the future” (Buckminster Fuller).
Titlu: Integrating EEG Systems in Performative Arts
Associate Professor Alex BERCEANU
Therapy Through Theatre
Social Transmission of Cognitive and Emotional States in the Care of Alzheimer’s Disease
Alexandru I. Berceanu is a mix media director and Associate Professor at the Animation and Interaction Department of UNATC. His practice has as core the potential of art and game as an emotional and social development environment. Games and theatrical games provide a special frame for development and natural learning. He is interested in understanding how games contribute in shaping human society through artistic practice and by developing knowledge on their biological substrate through neuroscience, neuroaesthetics, and experimental psychology tools.
Alexandru Berceanu was the scientific coordinator for MET and STAD Project, and he was the manager of CINETic centre at UNATC, established through an investment grant of 7 million euros co-financed by ERDF and the Romanian Government for which he was deputy manager.
The MET Developing a Methodology of Therapy Through Theatre with an Effect at the Neurochemical and Neurocognitive Levels research project aimed to develop a methodology for therapy through theatrical tools, with an effect at the neurochemical and neurocognitive levels. In collaboration with our partners, we used behavioural, electrophysiological, biochemical, and imaging techniques, to determine how minimalist theatrical practices impact stress levels and social closeness.
Through a series of more than ten experiments involving 1500 subjects we have tested the scientific hypothesis of the project that theatre practices modulate neuronal activity and plasticity by controlling the secretion of the neuro-hormones oxytocin, and by adjusting the activity of the immune system. Our published peer review data at EEG, functional, behavioural and biochemical levels indicates that via these physiological changes, theater therapies could induce pro-social behaviors, reduce stress, and increase the overall well-being of individuals.
STAD, Social Transmission of Cognitive and Emotional States in the Care of Alzheimer’s Disease Patients is implemented by UNATC in partnership with The Doller Lab from the Kavli Neuroscience Institute at NTNU Trondheim and financed by European Economic Area through a Collaborative Research Project grant. This research project aims to develop an intervention based on theatrical therapy and drama to alleviate memory loss, anxiety, aggression, and other psychiatric symptoms that manifest in Alzheimer’s disease with results presented in international conferences and publications.
Titlu: Theatre and Art Research
Romina BOLDAȘU PhD, Vice-dean of the Theatre Faculty
Romina BOLDAȘU is Assistant Professor at the Master’s Degree in Theatre Pedagogy and Vicedean of the Theatre Faculty within UNATC. She is involved in interdisciplinary research projects (STAD and MET), in activities to promote the importance of theatre in education, in the training and coaching of theatre instructors, and she is the author and co-author of several books in the field of arts education
Titlu: Projects from Interactive Technologies for Media and Performative Arts (MA programme)
curated by Grig BURLOIU
Grigore Burloiu is a lecturer in the Animation & Interactivity department at UNATC, where he coordinates the Interactive Technologies for Performing and Media Arts M.A. (ITPMA). He teaches creative coding and interactive music systems. He develops expressive accompaniment systems for interactive music and AI tools for sound and text generation.
Titlu: Analog Film Editing: analogue technologies, foundation of the digital craft;
Vlad IOACHIMESCU PhD. – Dean of the Film Faculty
Motion Capture System: 3D Modelling, Vicon System Motion Capture;
Film Set MODULA: Robotic system
These sessions are focused on the transition from analogue to digital, from our identity as filmmakers to the future of cinematography. During this presentation we will learn the thinking behind linear editing and how digital technologies, including robotics, impact our craft and the future of the film industry.
Titlu: Academic Management, from process mining to intercultural collaboration
Andrei Lacraru
Andrei Lacraru is Head of Academic Management and Student Affairs. His focus is on improving the administrative workflow of the university using process mining. He is also working on different intercultural projects with other universities. One example is Tele Semiology, which implies digitalizing the teaching processes for medicine students with a collaboration between medical teaching staff and acting and film students. He also coordinated the participation of acting students in workshops that are meant to showcase patient-archetypes to medicine students and allow them to interact with these archetypes as part of their training process.