Interactive Film and Video (Award Winning Director Martin Percy - Interview)

In this post, Kimberly Goh talks with Emmy winning director, Martin Percy about his interactive films. His films cover a wide range of topics, including CPR training, suicide prevention, and finding solutions to the global climate crisis. He collaborated on most these with digital production house, UNIT9.

Martin’s interactive films have won numerous awards, including an Emmy, a BAFTA British Academy Award, six Webby Awards, and a Grand Clio.

Watch the video here:

Lifesaver (How to Perform CPR)

Martin directed Lifesaver, an interactive film which teaches people how to perform CPR and other basic life support skills. Lifesaver contains four short interactive films, that cover emergency response situations such as cardiac arrest, choking, and how to use a defibrillator (AED). 

Do you recognize the young woman in this film? That’s Daisy Ridley, in her first onscreen appearance. About a year after Lifesaver was filmed, she was cast as Rey in Star Wars.

This interactive video-based CPR training is free for both teens and adults. Lifesaver works on a desktop computer as well as a mobile device, like a tablet or smartphone. Lifesaver VR trains students to handle emergency response situations in a virtual reality environment. The Resuscitation Council UK helped make these projects possible.

Heart Class (CPR Training for Teens)

Heart Class teaches high school students how to do CPR, and research shows it is 47% more effective than traditional CPR training. This unique simulation training helps students answer the question: what is CPR? It gives them practical experience through a combination of cinematography, interactive choices, group discussion, and hands-on experience.

Martin Percy collaborated with Dr. Lorrell Brown Toft on this project, which was filmed on location in Louisville, Kentucky.

Heart Class won an Emmy in 2020.

Real Talk About Suicide (Suicide Prevention Video)

Real Talk About Suicide is a free interactive video about suicide prevention. It uses interactive filmmaking techniques to show people how to help a suicidal person, and raises awareness about the importance of mental health. This project was created in conjunction with Grassroots Suicide Prevention, UK.

Global Climate Emergency (Climate Crisis Interactive Film)

Global Climate Emergency is a series of interactive short films focused on the climate crisis. The interactive videos cover a wide range of topics, including ocean acidification, reducing your carbon footprint, global warming, climate change activism, and what we can do to help the environment. The interactive watch party screenings took place in early 2021, but people can watch the recorded watch party for free. This was a collaborative project with Unit9 and the staff and students of University of Arts London (UAL).

Interactive Video and Interactive Film: A Powerful New Medium

Martin explains that when he is directing an interactive film, he focuses on the real life situation first. This keeps the filmmaking rooted in reality, and helps “viewers” to become “do-ers”. Interactive video and film is a powerful new medium that has great potential for training employees, emergency response teams, medical personnel, and students.

Martin collaborated on most these films with digital production house, UNIT9. Connect with Martin Percy on LinkedIn.

Could Interactive Video Work for You?

Interactive video is a powerful emerging trend in learning, training, and development. To find out if interactive video is the right solution for your organization, schedule a free 30-minute discovery call with Kimberly.