This week focused on continuing the development of the thesis proposal. Although there was no major new content introduced in class, I spent a significant amount of time refining my research question and chapter structure. One challenge I encountered was deciding how much of the thesis should focus on immersive media theory compared to film directing and animation. Initially, I found myself collecting sources that were interesting but not always directly relevant to the question I was trying to answer.
As my reading progressed, I began to notice a recurring theme throughout the literature. Many researchers discussing virtual reality and 360° storytelling focused on viewer agency and presence, while film theorists were more concerned with directing attention through framing, editing and composition. This contrast helped me realise that my research was really about the tension between these two ideas: the filmmaker’s desire to guide attention and the viewer’s freedom to choose where to look. This became an important concept within my proposal and helped strengthen the connection between the different chapters.
I also spent time watching conference talks and interviews relating to immersive storytelling and virtual reality filmmaking. While many of these were not academic sources, they provided useful practical insights into the challenges faced by creators working in 360° media. These additional perspectives helped me think about how the theoretical research could eventually be applied within my Final Major Project.