Explore the Los Angeles River
The stories captured in this interactive documentary are first hand accounts from famous graffiti artists, politicians, city councilman and residents who have incredible tales to share about the river.
A viewer explores the second chapter below, which contains stories with prominent Graffiti Artists. Saber, an artist from Glendale, talks about the largest graffiti piece of all time.
By utilizing HTML, CSS and Javascript, along with five projectors and multiple XBOX Kinect sensors, a person in the space below can trigger up to 40 different videos, in three different chapters. Unlike a traditional documentary, Fawad has created a documentary where the audience is taken through the Los Angeles River by navigating the stories themselves.
Explore The Los Angeles River has three distinct chapters that are filled with interviews and stories about a section of the LA River. Graffiti artists might have a stronger connection to the concrete sections of the river by Vernon or First Street. Whereas activists have a relationship to the more natural parts of the river by Frogtown or Long Beach. Each chapter begins with a tracking shot, so the viewer feels immersed at that specific section of the river.
City Councilman Ed Reyes shares his story about growing up near the river in the 1960’s. As chair of the Los Angeles River Ad Hoc Committee, he has brought a renewed focus to the once-ignored Los Angeles River.
This interactive documentary allows someone to get their feet wet, without really getting them wet. By creating Explore the Los Angeles River, Fawad hopes to inspire Angeleno’s to visit for themselves and learn more about the river that fueled the growth of Los Angeles.
This interactive documentary will be housed at the newly built Los Angeles State Historic Park, in downtown Los Angeles. For more details about Explore the LA River please watch a short video about REMAP and the Welcome Center below.
For more information please contact fawadassadullah@g.ucla.edu