Independent Creative Exploration// DARK MATTER GRID / CASE STUDY P20

CREATIVE DIRECTION / EXPERIENTIAL / CAMPAIGN / DIGITAL

A REALM DIVIDED

Choose a faction and help decide the ending. A proposed first council scene tests the story before its larger Central Park edition.READ THE STORY ↓

Concept visualization of a controlled fantasy faction hub at Bethesda Terrace

DISCIPLINECREATIVE DIRECTION / EXPERIENTIAL / CAMPAIGN / DIGITAL

ROLECONCEPT + NARRATIVE + EXPERIENCE DESIGN

PROJECT TYPESELF-INITIATED / SPECULATIVE / NOT AFFILIATED

PATHPROPAGANDA → ALLEGIANCE → LIVE EPISODE → AFTERMATH

WHERE I STARTED

The city can wait for a scene that works.

I wanted the fantasy to spill into New York. The first thing to test is a guest’s decision. I would rehearse one council scene in a controlled room, using the same faction props as the larger 45-minute park study. That lets the story earn its scale without asking visitors to improvise.

THE CHOICE

“Give each guest a faction token and a decision that changes the ending. Actors can read the token and respond without asking visitors to invent dialogue.”

WORKING THROUGH IT

Make the choices easy to follow.

SET THE EVENT ZONES

The first council uses one staffed room and a clear entry route. The four park zones remain a later venue study, with capacity estimates still to test.

PUT THE STORY IN THEIR HAND

A wax-sealed summons and metal faction pin tell actors how to respond, removing the pressure to improvise dialogue.

TIME THE DRAMA

A short rehearsal takes guests from the summons to their vote and a changed ending. The longer three-act park episode uses those same decisions after the scene is repeatable.

CONNECT EVERY CHANNEL

The faction choice appears on the invitation and follows guests into the council. The result card records their ending. The park and city campaign extend that sequence later.

PROPOSED FIRST EDITION

Let one council decide the ending.

The park gives the story its largest form. I would first stage a short council scene in one indoor room. Rival faction props and a shared vote carry the drama at that scale, before it needs a city route.

THE FIRST OFFER: A proposed invitation-only rehearsal with timed groups. Two performers introduce conflicting evidence. Guests choose Green or Black, carry the sealed message and vote. A changed closing speech gives the decision a visible consequence.
HOW YOU TAKE PART: The faction poster opens the reservation. A host gives each guest a pin and letter. The council reads their choice, reveals the evidence and delivers the selected ending. A result card records the session they attended.
WHAT I WOULD DELIVER: The existing faction invitation and prop set, with a booking screen and a complete scene script. A simple light cue can support the ending. The actors’ token responses need a rehearsal before adding more locations.
BEFORE IT GROWS: Can guests follow the choice without being asked to improvise? Check both endings and the reset between groups. Only a rehearsed, repeatable scene should enter the longer episode. The park capacity figures below are untested planning assumptions.

Where it could go next

The 45-minute Central Park episode and all four zone designs remain as the expanded production study. Transit takeovers and dragon-shadow media belong to that later edition, following a venue agreement and a proven guest route.

THE IDENTITY

Choose your allegiance. Carry the consequence.

Rival colors make allegiance visible. Seals identify access, while directional marks keep the route readable. Wax and metal give the props some weight. Each detail needs a job on the ground.

PRIMARY IDENTITYA REALM DIVIDED

BRAND THESIS

Choose your allegiance. Carry the consequence.

TYPE 01CHOOSE YOUR ALLEGIANCE

SOVEREIGN SERIFOATHS / TITLES / SPECTACLE

TYPE 02ZONE 03 / DRAGONSTONE

TACTICAL SANSWAYFINDING / OPERATIONS

DRAGON BLACK#090909ENVIRONMENT

BLOOD CRIMSON#861F2DBLACK FACTION

HIGHTOWER GREEN#183B2BGREEN FACTION

ANTIQUE GOLD#C6A45BAUTHORITY

PARCHMENT#E8DDC7INFORMATION

THE VISUAL LANGUAGE

MAKE ALLEGIANCE VISIBLE AT A GLANCE.

Large banners mark territory before guests reach an actor. The seals show who belongs there and what they can enter. Lighting carries the mood after dark.

Concept visualization of a fantasy war council staged at Belvedere Castle — EXPERIENTIAL / WAR COUNCILA DECISION MADE IN SHADOW

APPLICATION

LET THE CITY CHOOSE SIDES BEFORE OPENING NIGHT.

Transit ads ask New Yorkers to pick a side. A scan records their choice and opens a timed reservation, so the campaign can lead to a visit people have actually planned.

Concept visualization of rival faction campaign environments across New York subway trains — AWARENESS / TRANSITTWO TRAINS. TWO CLAIMS. ONE CITY.

EXPERIENCE

GIVE THE EPISODE A CLEAR ENDING.

Guests are never required to perform. Their token and route guide the interaction, with a vote deciding the outcome. Trained actors deliver short, repeatable scenes at controlled quest nodes.

THE SECRET SUMMONS

Timed groups enter at Bethesda Terrace and choose Green or Black. Each receives a sealed objective and an accessible route.

THE SHADOW COUNCIL

Faction routes lead to a ten-minute actor scene where evidence is revealed and the group votes on a strategic choice.

THE DRAGON’S CLIMAX

Paths reconverge for projection, spatial audio, lighting, and stunt choreography whose ending reflects the night’s vote.

THE RAVEN AFTERMATH

After the event, guests receive their faction score and a recap of the choice they helped make. A collectible and premiere invitation continue the story.

THE WIDER DESIGN STUDY

The following designs explore later editions. Their rollout depends on the first encounter working and each partner agreeing its part.

SELF-INITIATED SPECULATIVE CAMPAIGNNOT AFFILIATED WITH HBO, MAX, OR NYC PARKS

SPATIAL STRATEGY

The later park edition.
Four story zones.

This is the expanded venue study after the indoor council rehearsal. The four staffed environments keep the larger story on a defined route. The capacities shown are proposed estimates, requiring a separate venue and production assessment.

CENTRAL PARK / EVENT OPERATIONSN ↑

ENTRY / CHECK-IN→FACTION ROUTES→SHARED FINALE

GREEN ROUTEBLACK ROUTESHARED ZONE

BETHESDA TERRACE

THE GREAT HALL

Faction assignment, timed entry, guest services, merchandise, and the shared finale.

1,200 / WAVE

THE RAMBLE

THE WHISPERING WOOD

Low-light encounters with planted evidence, offered along two accessible routes.

240 / ROUTE

BELVEDERE CASTLE

DRAGONSTONE CITADEL

War council, oath ritual, creator night, and high-tier character interaction.

180 / SESSION

RUMSEY PLAYFIELD

THE DRAGON’S CLIMAX

Projection, spatial audio, lighting, stunt choreography, and a controlled audience release.

2,400 / FINALE

GUEST JOURNEY

One week.
A timed episode in the park.

The expanded study proposes seven days of 45-minute episodes, with an eight-minute wave interval. Those are scheduling assumptions. Rehearsals and venue planning would have to establish whether that flow works before any public booking.

00–08 MIN01

ACT I

THE SECRET SUMMONS

Choose a faction. Receive a pin, sealed objective, route color, and accessibility option.

08–28 MIN02

ACT II

THE SHADOW COUNCIL

Move through one controlled quest node. A scene supplies evidence for the group's vote.

28–42 MIN03

ACT III

THE DRAGON’S CLIMAX

Rejoin both factions. The accumulated decision changes light, sound, dialogue, and the final reveal.

42–45 MIN04

EXIT

THE RAVEN AFTERMATH

Receive a result card, digital recap, partner reward, and staggered departure instructions.

Costumed actors presenting wax-sealed faction choices to guests — ACTOR NODE / PROP-LED INTERACTIONTHE ACTOR DELIVERS THE SCENE. THE GUEST DELIVERS THE CHOICE.

INTERACTION DESIGN

No forced improv.
Clear story triggers.

Guests communicate through objects. Actors read pin color and seal condition, checking access level before a short scripted response. That keeps scenes consistent and moving.

VISIBLE TOKENLETTER STATEACTOR READSCRIPTED RESPONSE

GREEN PINGREEN SEALALLYReveal the council order. Admit to the Green route.

BLACK PINBLACK SEALALLYReveal the counter-order. Admit to the Black route.

EITHER PINBROKEN SEALSUSPECTChallenge the guest, then direct them to the evidence station.

GOLD PINANY SEALINNER CIRCLEReach the upper scene and reserved viewing area, with entry to the after-hours council.

LIVE SYSTEM

Your route,
in your hand.

The phone guide holds the entry time and chosen route. It also shows quest progress and access information, then the result after the finale. Visitors should be able to find their next stop quickly.

20:14FACTION / LIVE•••

ALLEGIANCE CONFIRMED

TEAM
GREEN

ZONE CONTROL47%

ACTIVE OBJECTIVEDELIVER THE SEALED ORDERTHE WHISPERING WOOD / 09 MIN

20:22LIVE TERRITORY⌁

YOU

ZONE 02 / ACTIVE

THE WHISPERING WOOD

Your council is assembling. Follow the green markers and keep your seal intact.

QUEST 02 / 048 MIN LEFT

20:27PROXIMITY SIGNAL⌁

TARGET WITHIN15 FT

A SPY IS NEAR.

Look for a silver raven clasp. Do not break the seal until instructed.

01DECLARE

Faction + timed wave

02ORIENT

Live territory + accessible route

03DETECT

Proximity signal + haptic alert

04DECIDE

Vote + quest confirmation

05REMEMBER

Result + collectible archive

ENVIRONMENTAL GRAPHICS

Fantasy language.
Public-space clarity.

Signs keep modern event information readable. Materials and silhouettes establish the fictional setting, with names extending it. English carries the practical instructions. Custom glyphs add atmosphere without claiming to be a translation.

ZONE 02 / EAST PATHTHE HAND’S
COMMAND POSTSTEP-FREE ROUTE →

Team Green golden three-headed dragon sigil

SPATIAL AUDIO / OVERHEADDRAGON FLIGHT
ZONELOOK UP / REMAIN WITHIN MARKERS

THE SKY
BELONGS
TO FIRE.

ZONE 03 / CONTROLLED ENTRYDRAGONSTONE
CITADELPRESENT BLACK SEAL

Team Black red three-headed dragon sigil

THE MUSTERING GATEDECLARE GREEN / BLACK

MODULAR POP-UP ARCHITECTURE

Built for Westeros.
Engineered for six hours.

Standardized iron-look frames, weighted timber-look panels, tensioned faction fabric, hidden cable runs, and reusable ballast create an atmospheric kit without permanent attachment to park architecture.

06 HR INSTALL04 MODULE SIZESZERO GROUND PENETRATIONADA COUNTERREUSABLE BALLAST01 TRUCK KIT

OPERATIONAL LOGIC

Spectacle,
with guardrails.

The production needs plans for bad weather and a delayed group. Access routes and performer breaks belong in the schedule. A controlled exit matters as much as the first scene.

TIMED WAVES

150 guests enter every eight minutes. Route releases prevent cross-flow.

ACCESSIBLE PARITY

A step-free route offers equivalent scenes and evidence, including finale sightlines.

WEATHER MODE

Covered scenes and shorter paths lead to an indoor partner finale, preserving the story.

CONTENT BOUNDARIES

Guests choose spoiler levels. Actor zones are visible, with no unscripted combat.

SAFETY + STEWARDSHIP

Permit-led capacities, low-impact installs, trained security, medics, and restoration windows.

MEASUREMENT

Reservation conversion, route completion, vote rate, dwell time, scans, earned reach, and post-event viewing.

PROPAGANDA CAMPAIGN

Two claims.
One visual war.

Team Green uses controlled geometry with institutional gold. Team Black tears the scale apart, using aggressive crops and crimson interruptions. Placements show the contest between them.

HOUSE OF THE DRAGON

BY ORDER OF THE KINGBEND
THE
KNEE.

HOUSE OF THE DRAGON

THE RIGHTFUL HEIR RETURNSFIRE
CANNOT
BE DENIED.

HOUSE OF THE DRAGON

A RAVEN HAS ARRIVEDCHOOSE
YOUR
ALLEGIANCE.

BREAK THE SEAL / DISCOVER YOUR SUMMONS

WILDPOSTING / LOWER MANHATTAN / SEQUENTIAL CIPHER DROP

LANDMARK MEDIA

Make the city
feel claimed.

The launch uses civic-scale interventions across New York. Each pairs a symbol and declaration with a landmark installation that makes the fictional territory visible.

Concept visualization of monumental rival faction banners covering a New York civic landmark — 01 / THE CITY DECLARESONE BUILDING-SCALE SIGIL. ONE UNAVOIDABLE CHOICE.

02 / THE DRAGON’S SHADOWFOUR DISTINCT SILHOUETTES CROSS THREE FACADES. THE DRAGONS ARE NEVER LITERALLY SHOWN.

ALL MUST CHOOSE

A monumental black-and-crimson banner turns a civic facade into the campaign’s opening declaration.

THE DRAGON’S SHADOW

Vhagar, Caraxes, Syrax, and Meleys rotate through a timed projection route. Each has a distinct scale and flight rhythm, identifiable by silhouette.

BRIDGES OF THE CROWN

Paired black and green fabric drops make the East River crossings read as contested territory.

THE FIRELINE PREMIERE

A charred-stone carpet leads past a flame-edge media wall. Cast arrivals complete the premiere setting.

CLOSING-WEEKEND SPECIAL / SPECULATIVE TALENT COLLABORATIONTHE ROYAL AUDIENCE

CAST EXPERIENCE

Enter the court.
Meet the cast.

On the activation’s final weekend, a separate ticketed pavilion hosts timed autograph audiences, faction portraits, moderated conversations, and a closing ensemble appearance while the park experience continues in scheduled waves. All talent participation shown here is conceptual and subject to availability.