CoSTAR Live Presents: Adaptive VR Horror Experiences | Wed 18 Mar 2026
CoSTAR Live Lab Presents: Adaptive VR Horror Experiences | Wed 18 Mar 2026
CoSTAR Live Lab Presents: Physiological Adaptive VR Horror Experiences
Wednesday 18 March 2026 | 13:00 - 14:00 | CoSTAR Live Lab, Production Park WF9 3NR | Hybrid
Ever wondered what happens when a VR horror film can sense your fear, and change how the story is told in real time? Join us for a live talk and demo exploring physiological, adaptive VR horror, volumetric performance capture, and AI-powered creative workflows.
We are excited to welcome Callum Berger (University of Lincoln) and Richard Ramchurn (AlbinoMosquito Productions) for an inspiring public talk as part of our CoSTAR Live Lab Presents series, on their exciting cross industry and academic collaboration creating “Physiological Adaptive VR Horror Experiences”.
CoSTAR Live Lab is an innovative R&D facility based at Production Park near Wakefield. Live Lab is part of the £75m government-funded CoSTAR Network, and supports innovation in immersive, multisensory and interactive technologies to transform audience experience, shaping next-generation live experiences for screen, stage and into the metaverse.
Callum Berger is a PostDoc Research Associate at the University of Lincoln in the Centre for Defence and Security AI. His PhD research bridged computer science and film/media studies, establishing a novel approach to developing adaptive virtual reality (VR) horror experiences. Through his work, he provided actionable guidelines for immersive media creators while offering a comprehensive case study for evaluation. He explored fear responses in the brain using fNIRS, interviewed horror film directors to highlight their creative workflows, and co-created an adaptive VR horror experience titled "A Place for Everyone" in collaboration with the artist AlbinoMosquito which was showcased at film festivals and is now undergoing controlled lab studies. He is now researching the use of AI for decision-making within a defence and security context.
Richard Ramchurn, is creative director at AlbinoMosquito Productions, a filmmaker, artist–researcher, and Senior Research Fellow working at the intersection of cinematic storytelling, immersive media, and creative AI. His practice explores how technologies such as volumetric capture, virtual production, and generative AI can expand narrative form, embodiment, and audience agency. He is the creator of A Place for Everyone, a volumetric VR environmental horror narrative developed with real actors and AI-assisted workflows. The project investigates hybrid production pipelines that combine performance capture, virtual environments, and emerging practice as both a creative and research methodology. Alongside this, he develops experimental tools such as AI LENS, a live generative-AI camera that transforms real-time video into evolving diffusion imagery for performance and research. His work has been presented internationally at venues including Ars Electronica, Sheffield Doc/Fest, BAFTA, TATE Modern, and BRIC Brooklyn, and he collaborates across academia and industry on immersive, AI-driven, and robotic media projects.
Callum and Richard’s talk will take place on the 18th of March, 13:00-14:00. The talk is open to in-person attendees at Live Lab’s Production Park home, and will also be available as a live online video stream (via Zoom). After the talk, we invite in-person attendees to join us for networking and a live demonstration of "A Place for Everyone" in Live Lab. We hope this will be an excellent opportunity to engage with our speakers, fellow attendees and to meet the CoSTAR Live Lab team (who will be on hand to discuss ideas around how Live Lab can support and benefit you).
If you would like to attend this talk, please sign up for a free ticket here.
If you are attending in-person, we will require you to agree to the terms of Production Park's Confidentiality and Business Protection Agreement before we are able to welcome you on site. You can read this at the link below:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fiX3pMW0QHUUeSXZEViYDnQkfWrzuuKj
Your access needs:
When signing up for the event, we will give you the choice to complete a brief access rider form, which will help us to ensure that our event is planned to accommodate your needs. If you would like to attend, but are unable due to the proposed time, or for any other reason, we would really like to hear from you (costarlivelab-admin@york.ac.uk). Your feedback will enable us to learn about how we can make future events and activities as accessible as possible to everyone who is interested.
How to get to the event:
If you are attending in person, you can find detailed travel instructions in your confirmation email. You can also find information on how to travel to Production Park by car and public transport at the following link:
https://a.storyblok.com/f/226794/x/de32f604e6/production_park_site_map.pdf
When you arrive at Production Park, please report to the main reception.
If you are attending online, the webinar link will be provided in your confirmation email.
