Today we’d like to introduce you to Keeley Turner.
Hi Keeley, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I grew up in Asheville, NC and went to college at UNC Asheville to study New Media. After college, I expanded my knowledge in a traditional production by going to a small film school where I learned how to shoot with ARRIE ALEXA, RED, and Blackmagic camera systems.
Early in my career, I was exposed to the world of VR (virtual reality) production. My first intro to VR was in 2017, as I traveled to a music festival to capture it with the Nokia OZO. After that gig, I was hired by a VR production company to travel around the country to help them with their VR productions as a director. I took part in one of the first VR filming of a concert at Red Rocks Amphitheater outside of Denver, CO.
Since then, I have moved to Los Angeles, CA in 2020 to pursue a career as a VR filmmaker. My biggest mentor has been Hugh Hou, a world-renowned VR filmmaker and YouTuber. Since 2020, I have become his preferred Director and Producer for all his VR projects. I’ve directed and produced several VR narratives including Salem: A Witch Hunt Tale, The Opportunist, and In Tandem. I’ve also worked in virtual production space creating plates used in a trailer for the Colin Kaepernick Netflix documentary Collin in Black and White in 2021. In 2021, I also had the opportunity to work with Cosm on the NBC VR Tokyo 2021 Olympics by assisting as a production coordinator. I’ve become an award-winning XR Filmmaker and was even a Webby Nominee.
Believing so deeply in my vision, I created a studio Corporation, The Metaverse Stage, INC and became a CEO overnight. Since the creation of my California Corporation, I have directed and created immersive VR content for Meta, WSJ, Dior, Netflix, Top Gear, Verizon and Ford. Now, I am now traveling the world to places like France, Italy, and Spain capturing the essence of a place so I can transport the minds of my viewers to these beautiful places while also learning a little piece of history with my VR Travel Series. I continue to write VR scripts and submit to film festivals around the world. My goal is to entertain while inspiring my audience through the use of cutting-edge technology and I work towards this goal every day.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road hasn’t always been smooth, especially as a young woman filmmaker. I really had to stick to my plan as a filmmaker. Not always making ends meet when first starting out and scraping by with the bare minimum after college. I could have decided to take the easy path and stay in my hometown, settle down, and find a stable career in a typical nine to five. I realized at an early age that life was not for me and I moved across the country in the pursuit of my dream of becoming a successful XR filmmaker.
Moving absolutely changed my life path and career in ways that I am still processing! When I moved to Los Angeles in 2020 at the beginning of a global pandemic, I had no plan, I had no job lined up but only an internal glimmer of hope knowing that I wanted to find work in the XR space. With that knowing and true grit, I carved out my own path to success that I created with my own hands! When I first started working in VR in 2017, I came across countless technological obstacles such as not having a tried and true roadmap to even making a finished product. Often I found myself creating the roadmap as I went, but also exposing myself to industry leaders pushing the boundaries forward like Hugh Hou. Learning under the wing of Hugh Hou since 2020 has been the biggest gift in my career journey as a XR filmmaker. In this field, I am constantly pushing myself to learn new techniques to stay ahead of the technological curve. I view this struggle as a gift that helps me to grow and to think in a new ways as I move forward in this ever-evolving industry.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My specialty is VR Filmmaking and that is what I am known for. I am most proud of my persistence in following my goals and not compromising to fit into a mold. What sets me apart from others is knowing that I am creating my reality and my own path. There is no right way on this path and I am so happy to try new things on this journey.
I am always working on something creative whether I am writing a script or editing in post-production. I am telling stories through the lens of my perspective while putting myself and my viewers in the shoes of my characters. With my art, I am literally teleporting the minds of my audience and understanding the great responsibility I have in this medium. When someone views a film in VR, their brain cannot differentiate between their own memories and the ones that they experience in VR. Their brain stores the VR film as a memory as if it was a real tangible experience. I understand this is a huge responsibility that I have when creating a VR project.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Don’t compromise who you are but be open to new possibilities that you never even thought of. Keeping an open mind along the journey. Remembering this journey in life does not have to be rigid with a structure and that you can accomplish your goals in so many different ways. Get creative with it!
Contact Info:
- Website: http://themetaversestage.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keeley.ann.turner/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/keeley.turner
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keeley-turner-120b7b90/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@hughhou
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKEypWuAkXM&t=710s, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UG9_GlViksI&t=812s
Image Credits
Photographer of photo is Alex Tafreshi
