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Step into the next phase of immersive production at Groove Jones in Episode 7 of Groove Talk, where Doug Hogan sits down with Henry Casillas and Dale Carman to explore what happens when immersive video finally gets a professional grade camera. The conversation follows the full production journey, from capture to editorial, centered on Groove Jones’ early experiments with the Blackmagic URSA Immersive and why it represents a true turning point for presence driven storytelling.

Henry shares how working with the URSA Immersive feels like a night and day leap from earlier 360 systems, especially with stitching and cleanup no longer dominating the workflow. Dale explains why immersive experiences used to live in a constant state of compromise, particularly around stereo registration, and how perfectly synchronized sensors, lens metadata, and high frame rates finally allow the brain to relax and accept the image. A simple tripod shoot of a band in Deep Ellum becomes a powerful case study, proving that presence can turn even the most straightforward setup into something unforgettable.

Who’s On the Mic:

• Doug Hogan – Creative Technologist at Groove Jones
• Henry Casillas – Associate Creative Director at Groove Jones
• Dale Carman – Co-Founder of Groove Jones

What They Cover:

From 360 to Immersive Video
• Why the URSA Immersive feels like a massive leap from earlier rigs.
• How eliminating stitching speeds up production and frees creative focus.

Why Stereo Registration Matters
• Why “good enough” stereo was never truly good enough.
• How perfect synchronization dramatically improves comfort and presence.

Simple Shoots, Strong Reactions
• The Deep Ellum band shoot that made first time Vision Pro users physically react.
• Why presence matters more than spectacle.

Experimenting With a Medium Still Being Defined
• Race cars, pickleball, drones, and ballet as learning tools.
• Why immersive storytelling still has no fixed rules.

Key Highlights:

• Removing stitching changes the entire immersive workflow.
• Perfect stereo registration finally makes immersive video comfortable.
• Presence can transform even a static tripod shot.
• The team is learning the medium by actively pushing it.

Why It’s Worth Watching:

If you’re curious about -

• How immersive video is actually made today
• What separates presence from gimmicks
• Why professional tools matter for immersive storytelling

Episode 7 offers a focused look at immersive media in transition, told by the people actively figuring it out.

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In Episode 6 of GrooveTalk, Doug Hogan sits down with two of Groove Jones’ standout animators, Luis Pineda and Tiffany Sweet, for a fast-paced, behind-the-scenes conversation about what it really takes to bring digital characters and immersive experiences to life. From Tiffany’s spark moment watching Avatar to Luis’s unexpected pivot from architecture into animation through a single tweet, the episode is packed with career stories, practical advice, and real production reality checks. The trio digs into how AI is changing their day-to-day workflows, why “there is no magic button,” and how Groove Jones culture thrives on curiosity, collaboration, and solving problems when everything is melting (sometimes literally).

Who’s On the Mic:

• Doug Hogan – Host, Creative Technologist at Groove Jones
• Luis Pineda – Senior Animator and Technical Consultant
• Tiffany Sweet – 3D Animator and CG Artist

What They Cover:

Origins stories and career pivots
• Tiffany’s inspiration from Avatar and the emotional power of digital performance
• Luis’s path from architecture to animation, projection mapping, games, and eventually Groove Jones via a tweet

The real role of AI in production
• AI as a productivity booster for repetitive tasks, scripting, and learning new tools faster
• Why strong fundamentals still matter (and why AI still needs human taste, direction, and cleanup)

Motion capture experiments for real-world scenes
• Tiffany breaks down the planning, measurements, calibration, and multi-camera workflow needed to make AI mocap usable
• The honest takeaway: it is fun, it is powerful, and it is absolutely not automatic

Favorite Groove Jones projects and studio war stories
• Spirit Halloween character animations, office jump scares, and “demonic sewer rat” energy
• Perot Museum bird experience and the Princess Cruises eagle adaptation that became way more than a reskin
• Tech breakdown moments solved with quick thinking (overheated routers, camera fans, and fast pivots)

Career advice for future Groove Jones talent
• Be good at what you do, be easy to work with, and build real connections
• Lose the ego, take critique, and focus on solving the problem as a team

Key Highlights:

• Luis explaining how AI plus real scripting knowledge turns “gibberish” into reliable tools you can reuse
• Tiffany’s mocap directing tactics (including mapping a scene physically so the capture matches the 3D layout)
• The inside look at how Groove Jones “Groove Tech” grows through reusable tool-bag workflows
• Practical truth from both guests: you have to be “battle ready,” because the work moves fast
• The recurring theme that makes the studio work: curiosity, resilience, and teamwork under pressure

Why It’s Worth Watching:

If you want a real view of modern animation and immersive production, this episode delivers. It is equal parts career journey, studio culture, and nuts-and-bolts technique, with honest commentary about AI, creativity, and what it takes to thrive when the tools keep changing. You will walk away with inspiration, laughs, and concrete advice you can actually use.

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Step inside Episode 5 of GrooveTalk as host and Senior Creative Technologist Doug Hogan sits down with two "Groovy" women shaping the creative engine at Groove Jones: Ashton Kennedy, Head of Production and Partner, and Emily Austin, Head of Recruiting.

In this lively and candid conversation, they reflect on nearly a decade of growth, innovation, and the all-important Groove Jones vibe check. From wrangling VR demo gear through airports to producing holograms for Spirit Halloween and billboards in Times Square, Ashton and Emily share their journeys through an ever changing landscape of immersive tech.

They talk about the pure joy of first-time in VR moments, the magic of watching people experience their creations, and how Groove Jones continues to evolve. The team has gone from early American Horror Story VR scares to today’s web-based and AI-driven experiences. Along the way, they open up about being women in tech, the lessons learned from the road and sea, and why curiosity and collaboration remain the studio’s secret sauce.

Who’s On the Mic:

• Doug Hogan – Host and Senior Creative Technologist
• Ashton Kennedy –Head of Production with roots in film, VR, and immersive storytelling
• Emily Austin – Head of Recruiting, culture curator, and keeper of the Groove Jones vibe check

What They Cover:

1. Origin stories at Groove Jones and how the studio scaled
2. The VR wow factor and why it never gets old
3. Behind the scenes on American Horror Story VR, Spirit Halloween holograms, and Times Square billboards
4. Women in tech and creative leadership at an innovation-focused studio
5. What is next for AI, wearables, and XR storytelling
6. Life outside the headset and how hobbies recharge creative teams

Key Highlights:

• The Groove Jones vibe check and hiring for passion, curiosity, and that creative spark
• Why American Horror Story VR still holds a special place for the team
• Ashton’s hologram work for Spirit Halloween and the thrill of seeing it live in Times Square
• Emily’s quarantine at sea to help deliver a Royal Caribbean VR build during COVID
• How non-traditional backgrounds can thrive in tech-focused roles
• The power of Project Share, an internal showcase inspired by Pixar’s Braintrust
• Real talk on wearables, mixed reality, and practical uses for generative AI

Why It’s Worth Watching

If you want an inside look at how a small, fearless team keeps pushing the boundaries of immersive storytelling, Episode 5 delivers inspiration, practical insight, and a lot of heart. Whether you are in tech, production, or simply curious about the future of experiences, this conversation captures the culture, creativity, and camaraderie that make Groove Jones tick.