Digital agency powered by Sheridan grads wins Emmy Award

Three alumni are part of the team that has won a 2015 Creative Arts Emmy Award for Outstanding Creative Achievement in the Interactive Media Category for User Experience and Visual Design. They were recognized for the Sleepy Hollow VR Experience, the first virtual reality project to win an Emmy. The project was produced by the Toronto-based digital agency Secret Location. 

Secret Location is powered by the work of Ryan Andal, Technical Director and Partner; and Pietro Gagliano, Creative Director and Partner. Andal is a 2005 graduate of the Interactive Multimedia program and Gagliano earned a Bachelor of Design (Honours) in 2006. Also part of the team is Senior Interactive Developer Matthew Fabb who is a 2002 Interactive Multimedia grad. Pietro is pictured crouching right with Secret Location’s Founder, James Milward, far right.

This is the second Emmy for Secret Location which has been honoured with over 100 awards and nominations for its work. “But winning the first Emmy Award ever for a virtual reality project is hugely gratifying,” said Andal. “It’s definitely a testament to the passion of everyone at our company to constantly push the boundaries of our own capabilities to yield new and exciting results.”

The Sleepy Hollow project was recognized not just because it centres on the hot technology of virtual reality, said Fabb. “VR is such an immersive medium. It gives you a sense of presence that pulls you into a story the way that regular flat screens or even 3D screens can’t manage. It was also just such a fun project to work on, it’s great to see it win such a prestigious award.”

Fabb, who also earned a systems analyst co-op diploma in 2000, appreciated the on-the job training he gained from Sheridan, especially since he graduated in the midst of the dot-com bust. “Having systems analyst co-op work terms and real clients for my main Interactive Multimedia project meant I had work experience to show employers.”

Secret Location partnered with FOX Television which produced the hit television show on which the Sleepy Hollow VR Experience is based. The Creative Arts Emmy Awards were presented on September 12 in Los Angeles.

The Sleepy Hollow VR Experience can been seen here: https://vimeo.com/113121166

Sheridan’s one-year post-graduate interactive media management program (formerly interactive multimedia) teaches the design and programming skills to make these award-winning projects possible.