#1766: Formula 1 LBE Experience “Black Cats & Chequered Flags” is an Immersive Biopic of Alberto Anscari

I interviewed Elisabetta Rotolo & Siobhan McDonnell about Black Cats & Chequered Flags on Tuesday, September 2, 2025 at Venice Immersive in Venice, Italy.

Here is the story synopsis for Black Cats & Chequered Flags:

"Black Cats & Chequered Flags begins with a haunting Spatial Memory Fragment that immerses viewers in the emotional world of Alberto Ascari. Echoes of his father, legendary driver Antonio Ascari, blend with childhood flashes and the superstitions that shaped his fate. The experience then shifts into high gear with a multiplayer MR pit stop — a collaborative challenge that brings users into the adrenaline and precision of a 1950s Formula 1 team. The journey continues in a stylised VR narrative that weaves archival footage, interactive storytelling, motion capture actors, and immersive sound to explore Ascari’s victories, rituals and tragic destiny. 360° films shot on location in Turin, the Ferrari Museum in Maranello, and the Monza racetrack add historical depth. Ascari — the only Italian double Formula 1 World Champion with Ferrari — was fearless, superstitious, and chivalrous: a man both heroic and haunted."

Here are the contextual domains that are explored:

The personal biography of Alberto Anscari [1] including his career [10] within the context of the entertainment of racing [5], but also the inspiration from his father [4] and showing him as a kid [5], but also his various beliefs and superstitions that shaped his fate [9], and ultimately his death [8].

Here is the Elemental Center of Gravity:

1st Center of Gravity of Emotional Presence: Anscari's racing career, childhood, and various supersittions. Some cinematic immersive documentary footage. Mostly a diembodied ghostly character for the story, but you do have some presence, but nothing narratively beyond the pit stop crew at the start2nd Center of Gravity of Earth Element / Environmental and Embodied Presence: Blending of CGI, VR, 360 video, theatrical elements - Most a disembodied character through most of the story, but there are some embodied interactions that places you in the garage, car, museum3rd Center of Gravity of Fire Element / Active Presence: gamified pit stop at the beginning done as a multiplayer experiene - timed context - Taking photos, handle various objects connected to Anscari4th Center of Gravity of Air Element / Mental and Social Presence: Social experience to be done with friends / family

Archetypal Themes and Character Explored:

Courage, competition. Fates, ultimately his death, sense of time, sense of history, sense of identity expression of living on the edge

Artist Statement:

"Black Cats & Chequered Flags is a tribute to the thrill of speed and the fragility of destiny. Through immersive storytelling and multiplayer MR, it brings viewers into 1950s racing — into the pit stop, the roar of engines and the shadow of myth. At its core is Alberto Ascari — fearless, superstitious, and shaped by fate. This art piece lets users race circuits, live defining moments, and step into Ascari’s pit crew. A story in motion: mythical, intimate, unforgettable."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJHGVNuf9tg

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Music: Fatality