Project Detail

The Canaries Experience

The Canaries Experience

Synopsis

The Canaries’ Experience Genre: Mixed Reality / Magical Realism / Emotional Drama Format: Immersive VR Film Synopsis: In a world where silence can be fatal, The Canaries’ Experience invites viewers into a deeply emotional and symbolic journey through the mind of Will, a young man silently battling despair. Guided by a mystical canary—an ancient symbol of safety in coal mines—viewers traverse a surreal landscape that blends memory, emotion, and myth. As Will’s inner world unravels, the canary’s song becomes a lifeline—its presence a sign of hope, its silence a chilling warning. Through immersive soundscapes, binaural audio, and haptic feedback, the audience experiences Will’s emotional highs and lows: from the suffocating silence of isolation to the transcendent transformation of the God Canary, a divine guide born from pain and resilience. Blending magical realism with therapeutic design, this VR experience is not just a story—it’s a meditation on vulnerability, connection, and the power of being heard. In the end, the canaries rise—not just as symbols of survival, but as beacons of collective healing.

Details

Year
2025
Type of film
XR / Immersive
Running time
20 min
Format
Immersive VR mixed reality film / Game
Director
Salma Shalaby 1st Feature
Producer
Salma Shalaby
Executive Producer
Salma Shalaby
Editor
Owen Monaghan
Screenwriter
Salma Shalaby
Director of Photography
Salma Shalaby
Production Designer
Boby Ichev
Sound
Roxy Tripney
Composer
Christophe Péreuil
Principal cast
Sio Wynne, Steven Stroud, Dr Emma Roberts, Sunny Blainey, Sarah Mellor
Other Lead Creative(s)
Liverpool John Moores university Suicide and self harm research group and James place
Lead Supervisor
Professor Pooja Saini
Co-Supervisors
Dr Oladayo Bifarian, Dr Ryan Ward
Acknowledgments
Kira Ann Lonergan, Developer; James Traynor, Technician; Niall Mcann, Advisor

Production Status

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