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Occupied VR

Immersive & Virtual Production
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Founded
2015
Employees
1-10
Offices
1

About Occupied VR

Occupied VR is an independent immersive media studio based in Toronto, Canada. Founded in 2015, it brings together cinematic filmmaking, visual effects and interactive game design to create virtual, augmented and mixed reality experiences. Its work spans narrative entertainment, documentary storytelling, scientific simulation, health and wellness, commercial activations and cultural exhibitions.

The studio develops experiences for Meta Quest, SteamVR, PC VR and location-based installations. Its production capabilities extend from concept development and direction through software development, real-time 3D modelling, technical animation and spatial sound. Alongside headset experiences, it produces projection mapping, room-scale installations and live holographic broadcasts, adapting its approach to both individual users and shared public environments.

Interactive storytelling and simulation

Occupied VR collaborated with Cream Productions on Survivorman VR: The Descent, a survival game starring Les Stroud. Its partnership with Omniverse Media produced Spacewalk VR, a space simulation featuring NASA astronaut Terry Virts and mission controller Matthew Gast. In wellness, the studio developed Hoame, a virtual reality meditation application released for Meta Quest.

Documentary and cultural projects form another substantial part of its work. Cut-Off VR, created with VICE and the Canadian Film Centre, documented a visit to Shoal Lake 40 First Nation. The studio also worked on Body.Mind.Change with the Canadian Film Centre Media Lab and TIFF, featuring David Cronenberg. Other productions include the cultural heritage experience The Holy City VR and the immersive co-production Spots of Light, directed by Adam Weingrod.

Experiences beyond the headset

Occupied VR's live and installation work includes an interactive holographic comedy performance with Eric Andre and VICE, connecting Los Angeles and Toronto in real time. With the Screen Industries Research and Training Centre, it developed a motion-captured interactive soccer experience for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. These projects reflect a practice that connects film production, interactive software and spatial presentation across entertainment, public events and specialist applications.

More about Occupied VR

Founders and leadership

  • J. Lee Williams is co-founder, CEO and Creative Director.
  • Co-founder Timur Musabay serves as Creative Director, while co-founder Blair Renaud, also known as Anticleric, serves as Creative/Technical Director.
  • Fezz Stenton is Technical Director, and Sean Thomas Evans is Executive Producer / VR Supervisor.

Production methods and operating model

The studio uses its proprietary VR Tr.A.I.ning framework alongside photogrammetry and real-time spatial scanning. Technical coverage of its collaboration with Cream Productions describes a Unity-based game build incorporating SIRT Centre virtual production.

The report describes a boutique core team that expands with project-specific contractors and technical crew.

Recognition

  • Survivorman VR: The Descent won the 2024 Canadian Screen Award for Best Immersive Experience – Fiction.
  • Spots of Light was selected for Venice Immersive at the 80th Venice International Film Festival in 2023.
  • Cut-Off VR received a Canadian Screen Award nomination.

These recognitions concern the named productions.

Notable credits

15 credits
  • Survivorman VR: The Descent
  • Spacewalk VR
  • Hoame VR
  • 2022 FIFA World Cup Experience
  • Spots of Light
  • The Holy City VR
  • Cut-Off VR
  • Eric Andre Hologram
  • Body.Mind.Change / BMC Redux
  • Lightcatcher
  • Kuso VR
  • Golden Glove VR (Der Goldene Handschuh)
  • Weed VR
  • Sharkwater VR
  • Living with Jaguars

Offices

Where Occupied VR is based

1 location

  • Toronto offices

    Headquarters
    Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    About this office

    **Toronto Headquarters** Status: active Headquarters Address: 510 Queen St. West, Toronto, ON M5V 2B3, Canada Email: j.lee@occupiedvr.com Phone: +1 (416) 918-1592 Current primary operating studio and overall company headquarters. --- **Office** Status: inactive / historical Address: 1188 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON M6J 1J6, Canada Historical Occupied VR premises shared with 1188 Films. The report identifies 510 Queen St. West as the current primary operating premises; no departure year is supplied.

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