Instructor: Kathy Wilson


The creation and use of a virtual landscape in which viewers can themselves dictate the narrative structure of my film, which is entitled Looking For The Sun.

Thesis Statement:
My thesis centers on the use of a virtual physical landscape/ world to further engage viewers in creating the narrative within a documentary film I am currently in the process of editing which deals with the topic of Women right issues in Eritrea.

I have close to 40 hours of footage but can't show all of this footage to my viewers so even when it is edited down to a 20 minute short, I feel like it doesn't not truly allow the viewers to connect with the women in my fill and their stories so I would like to explore this concept by attempting to build a alternative environment in which my film can be shared create this alternative platform. I would like to create a virtual landscape where the (film) which is actually media data is superimposed over the landscape in which the viewers can travel through using avatars at their own pace and at their own interest.

I believe this would allow for a more engaging environment in which the viewers have a deeper connection with the film as well as any media data that they come across. The most important part is that the viewers themselves decide what point of the documentary s of interest to them and can then dig deeper into that part, while the narrative is still continuous.

Proposed Methodology:
I would like to create the virtual landscape using a 3d Software package such a Virtoools and then superimpose my film over it. The documentary film is still in the process of being edited.

Im currently the process of editing the film into at least a 20-minute film with English subtitles. Once the film is edited, I can then break it into smaller parts and strategically placed them at key points in the virtual landscape. Once the landscape has been designed, then I believe the viewer can navigate the environment and create their own version of the documentary.

My film is being edited on Final Cut Pro and I believe the 3d environment can be created in Virtools.

Inspiration Projects:
The projects that have inspired me are to many to list but will add them in later tdoay.