Grandma’s Round Belly

Grandma's Round Belly is an immersive VR installation inviting the audience to watch a five-minute VR short film while physically embracing a tactile, round object representing my grandma's belly. Through this project, I explore themes of family, love, and my connection to long-distance home.

This is a 5 min 360 Short Film

About

The story begins with a dream I had on the New York subway, where I found myself returning to my grandparents’ old house. Blurring the boundaries between dream and reality, the narrative unfolds through five scenes and three cherished memories inspired from my grandma's round belly and the traditional Chinese home. As the VR film progresses, the audience gradually senses the warmth of my grandmother and traces of her life. The story concludes with a simultaneous embrace of my grandmother’s belly in both virtual and physical world. I hope this project evokes a sense of warmth in the audience, awakening hidden love and treasured memories within their hearts.

Process

Virtual Part

  • Used 360 Panoramic Camera in UE5 to shoot different scenes for the VR short film.

  • Applied the Niagara VFX to the main character and Post Processing to the background scenes.

  • Edited the 360 clips I recorded and did sound design in Premiere.

Physical Part

  • Used SmoothOn Dragon Skin Silicone to make the basic texture of skin

  • Added Silicone pigment and Red Flocking Fiber to make the skin color

  • Dried the materials on the plastic wrap and sticked the skin materials on the Yoga Ball

Tools

  • Unreal Engine

  • Blender

  • Premiere

  • VR Headset

  • 360 Camera

Documentation

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Some-Ones In Another Room