Men in Black – Marie Jourdren

Men in Black: The Rookie

XR THEATRE / LOCATION-BASED EXPERIENCE — 2019

ROLE. CONCEPT, NARRATIVE DESIGN, ART DIRECTION

CONTEXT.

Sony Pictures Entertainment wanted a premium location-based experience built on the Men In Black franchise — not a ride, not an escape room, but something new: a large-scale immersive theatre where hundreds of visitors per hour could live the MIB story from the inside.

APPROACH.

I led the concept, narrative design, and art direction of the entire experience. This meant designing the full visitor journey — from the mysterious email received before the visit, through the black suit dress code, to a physical and virtual mission spanning three giant interconnected domes (200 feet each), over 50 different environments, and 60 possible sub-stories. I conceived the spatial layout and circulation — how groups of 15 move through physical sets, VR sequences, and 4D effects — and designed the narrative arcs that branch depending on each group’s choices. I created the moodboards for every environment (MIB headquarters, alien cabaret, post-apocalyptic district, hall of mirrors…) and the main characters (training agents Y, K, J, V and the antagonist Alpha). The experience blends physical theatre, live actors, VR, and interactive set design into a single 90-minute mission.

WORK.

A 90-minute location-based XR experience across three 200-foot domes. 50+ environments. 60 sub-stories. 60 visitors every 10 minutes divided into groups of 15. Physical sets, live characters, VR sequences, 4D effects, personalised storylines via ID bracelets. Post-experience retail and dining zone in full MIB universe.

SYNOPSIS + USER JOURNEY.

SPATIAL LAYOUT & CIRCULATION.

SYNOPSIS.

A secret government organisation contacts you to inform you that you’ve being selected to accomplish a very special mission. The message remains very evasive, giving information on the date, time and place of the appointment. You also receive instructions about a particular dresscode.

On D-Day, you arrive dressed in a black suit and sunglasses.

At the headquarters, managed by one of MIB’s four hyper-senior training agents, Y, K, J and V, you will be informed of the mission. Alpha, ex-MIB agent A, is trying to build an organization to seek revenge against the MIB. She wants to destroy weak alien species – including humanity, and is gathering aliens all around the galaxy to fulfil her dark objective.

Once equipped and after receiving instructions from your superiors, you will follow in the footsteps of dangerous Aliens: Aeon: capable of controlling time, I.C.E 3564: half-Alien, half A.I., Asudem: ex-Lunar Max prisoner, and Pr. Grūubin: an accomplished and acclaimed scientist from the dying planet XX31.

The mission is carried out at top speed, while you face totally hallucinating situations and settings. Tracking down an Alien creature in an apartment where time flips upside down. Drink cocktails at the alien cabaret, which bring you strange visions of the future. Face / deal with a post-apocalyptic district situation. Neutralize Aliens with the most amazing MIB weapons.

Meet incredible creatures (but are they human or alien?), who may give you instructions and clues, or put you on the wrong track.

Rookie, you will have to make the right choices, and remember to always honor the MIB code.

ENVIRONMENT MOODBOARDS.

CONCEPT, NARRATIVE DESIGN & ART DIRECTION. MARIE JOURDREN
INNOVATION DIRECTOR AND PRODUCER. ANTOINE CARDON
PRODUCTION. SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINEMENT/MEN IN BLACK

MUSIC

PHILIP GLASS

CIRCUS DIRECTION

TILDE BJÖSFORS (CIRKÜS CIRKÖK)

VISUAL DESIGN

MAT COLLISHAW

LIBRETTO

DAVID HENRY HWANG, AFTER ROBERT LAX

SET DESIGN

CHRISTIAN FRIEDLÄNDER

SET CREATIVE AND TECH CONSULTING

MARIE JOURDREN

PRODUCTION

PONT-NEUF