The 5G Sith Jet Trooper Experience was a groundbreaking live, augmented reality (AR) experience created by ILMxLAB, Verizon's RYOT Studios, and Walt Disney Studios StudioLAB for the premiere of Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker. This innovative AR venture harnessed RYOT's cutting-edge motion capture technology and 5G internet connectivity to deliver real-time rendering of two actors engaging directly with guests, interrogating them on a large LED screen. The Sith Jetpack Troopers were able to provide bespoke responses to each guest with minimal latency. The motion capture studio was 15 miles from the movie premiere, yet the troopers' interactions were as if they were in the same room. Following the interaction, users received an AR video of their brief conversation which showed the Sith Troopers stepping through the airlock and approaching the guest.[2]
The experience went beyond improvised 30-second interactions remarking over the premiere attendees' attire, scathing questions about the presence of Resistance combatants, and other lines fed to the performers by the on-site directors. The experience also featured several pre-set animations for the performers to react to. These animations included lightning in the stormy skies of Exegol, a cadre of Sith troopers running through the hangar, and use of the Jetpack Troopers' Jetpacks to hover or fly in from out of frame. As users finished their interaction, they could access a terminal in which they entered their contact information to receive the re-rendered augmented reality video of their interaction. The augmented reality effect, incorporating hundreds of photos, heightened immersion by placing troopers within the physical set of the experience. As guests entered their information, they could watch a smaller screen showing a behind-the-scenes live feed of the actors performing in the motion capture studio.[4]
The experience was rendered live in Epic Games' Unreal Engine.[5] The two Sith jet troopers were performed by Hunter Smith, Verona Blue, and Alan Maxson, who brought their characters to life with their motion capture and vocal talent. Despite being paired with the premiere of Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker and working with Matt Martin,[2] the canonicity of this event has not been established.
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Appearances[]
| Characters | Organisms | Droid models | Events | Locations |
| Organizations and titles | Sentient species | Vehicles and vessels | Weapons and technology | Miscellanea |
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Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 1.24 1.25 1.26 1.27 1.28 1.29 1.30 1.31 1.32 1.33 1.34 1.35 1.36 1.37 1.38 1.39 1.40 1.41 Star Wars: 5G Sith Jet Trooper Experience on tellyawards.com (archived from the original on October 3, 2023)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Star Wars: 5G Sith Jet Trooper by Eric Day on ericday.me (archived from the original on October 3, 2023)
- ↑ Star Wars: 5G Sith Jet Trooper on ex-awards-winners.eventmarketer.com (archived from the original on May 29, 2023)
- ↑ The Making of Verizon's 5G Jet Trooper Experiencea on Google Docs (archived from the original on February 16, 2024) via Portfolio by Eric Day on ericday.me (archived from the original on October 3, 2023)
- ↑ 'Star Wars' Premiere Features Live Virtual Sith Jet Troopers Through Verizon 5G And Motion Capture by Jesse Damiani on www.forbes.com (December 19, 2019) (archived from the original)