David Karlak's unique science-fiction vision

Science fiction and virtual reality are natural bedfellows - the fantastical ideas and attention-grabbing imagery of the former providing plenty of material for the latter. However, finding directors who are well-versed in both is a fairly tricky endeavour. That is, unless you're looking in the direction of David Karlak...

Karlak first captured our attention in 2010 with unsettling psychological thriller 'The Candidate', and recently again with action/sci-fi proof-of-concept short 'Rise'.

Graduating from art, design and visual storytelling hub SCAD, David's ability as a smart storyteller has enabled him to go and direct a custom VR experience for BMW in Munich, and a VR experience for his short 'Rise' (A feature film version is now in development) and he is currently at the helm for 20th Century Fox’s upcoming 'Alien: Covenant' VR experience.

We caught up with David after his recent signing to RSA Films and chatted VR, sci-fi and working between mediums.

What originally piqued your interest in cinema and being a film maker?

Watching 'Alien' for the first time as a kid. That was a big one for me. I remember being absolutely pulverized by it. Visually, it was a movie unlike anything I had seen before, but it was the story and how it hinted at a much larger universe that made my imagination run wild. It was almost a gateway drug for me.

You operate as a Creative Director at Nurulize a VR software developer in Los Angeles, Where does your fascination with technology stem from?

My fascination with technology really stems from my fascination with history. Every generation has a technological advancement that in some ways defines is. Like the printing press, radio, television and the personal computer, virtual and augmented reality feels like one of those technological tidal shifts. I decided to get involved, because I wanted to be on the right side of history.

We recently watched your 2010 short film 'The Candidate' and really enjoyed the concept and execution. What were your major influences in crafting this story?

'The Twilight Zone' and 'Night Gallery' were big influences. I wanted to tell a story that was set in our world… In the everyday, but that had an otherworldly aspect that sort of existed right beneath the surface of reality. The impossible seeping into the possible, so to speak. There’s something exciting and refreshing about a story that has an unexpected logic that’s born from its own rules. The film was based on an obscure short story written by Henry Slesar decades ago. The short story had this fantastic preternatural quality and served as the springboard for the short film adaptation.

What is your creative process? Where do your ideas come from?

My creative process involves just absorbing as much as I can from life and then asking myself ‘why’ I want to do something. From the most part, I want to create films because they fill a void. Finding value in something that no one else has found value in is where it all starts for me.

After viewing your incredible proof of concept for 'Rise', we wondered what influenced the aesthetics of the film? Where did the major references come from?

'Blade Runner', 'The Animatrix' and 'Children of Men' were big influences. These films have all managed to tell stories that relate to us on very fundamental levels and they almost seem to have extended lives as the real world around us changes and catches up with the science fiction contained within these films. Current events and historical films like 'The Killing Fields' were also major influences. My love for science fiction is matched by my love of history and following current events. So, it all comes out in the laundry.

Will the feature-length version of 'Rise' follow the same story & characters?

The feature version of 'Rise' will certainly feel like a blood-relative to the short film. The idea of telling the story of a robot extermination event, but from the robots’ perspective will be the same. Location, aesthetics, characters will indubitably change to meet the needs of the feature story.

You have been working with VR for some time now, how has the technology grown in that period? And how do you see the technology being used in the future?

I’ve been working in VR since 2013, and it’s remarkable just how much the technology has changed and improved. Starting with the Oculus DK1, we’ve evolved from SD, non-tracking headsets, to high definition headsets that allow for full positional tracking. The stories have also evolved to really embrace the medium. At first the language of VR was sort of a Frankenstein hybrid between the language of video games and movies, but now, we’re seeing content that is wholly and naturally VR.

Talk about your collaboration with Ridley Scott, what is it like working with a director with such a great Sci-Fi pedigree?

Ridley Scott has always been a humongous influence on my work and so I was so honored and jubilant when I was asked to direct the VR experience for 'Alien:Covenant'. When I met with Ridley, at first, I was in a fugue state, but then we just started talking about the films that we love, VR in general, and about potential future projects. With RSA and Scott Free, Ridley has done a tremendous job in creating an environment where imagination still runs the place.

When can we expect to see your second studio feature acquired by 20th Century Fox 'Outliers' and how did that project come around?

'Outliers' is still in development, so it’s hard to say when that will take off. Sometimes feature development feels like a tree race.

Congratulations on being signed to RSA impressive roster of directors. Who else would you love to collaborate with and why?

Thank you! I really would love to collaborate with Alex Garland and Casey Affleck. They're incredible artists with compelling perspectives.

What’s up next?

I’m currently prepping several new pitches and feature scripts that I’m very excited about. Some I’ve been working on for several years.