By: Ahmed Fathi
New York: Filmmaker and creative technologist Victoria Bousis is redefining narrative by means of her creative VR work. Combining gameplay approaches with the cinematic experience, her immersive documentary *Stay Alive My Son* lets viewers not only see but also live the story of Pin Yathay, a Cambodian refugee and human rights activist who survived the crimes of the Khmer Rouge genocide.
Bousis's strong emotional response to Yathay's gripping memoir, which describes his terrible split from his family during the Cambodian genocide, inspired this original project. When considering the worldwide refugee crisis—especially the uprooting of families and children—Bousis saw a more deep approach of narrating this story that would not only appeal to the audience emotionally but also intellectual. Using state-of-the-art technology, she created an experience that transports the audience to Yathay's world so they may walk through his memories, feel his emotions, and finally grasp the enormous psychological effects of forced separation and loss.
Bousis discussed how *Stay Alive My Son* has attracted worldwide attention at the United Nations headquarters in New York, visiting 27 countries and showing at major festivals and technology conferences. More importantly, groups like the UNHCR have shaped world policy using the project, especially in relation to refugee dignity and family reunion. By means of her collaboration with the UNHCR, Bousis has been able to bring heads of state, legislators, and NGOs into the immersive experience, so leveraging VR to place them in the shoes of refugees and inspire action. "The partnership with the UNHCR was game-changing," Bousis said, noting how these tests shaped policy decisions.
Work by Bousis also closely corresponds with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. Her initiative covers important concerns including justice, human rights, mental health, and the lowering of inequality. By allowing people to personally experience these problems, VR helps to dispel stereotypes about immigrants and refugees and promotes sympathy and support of their rights. "The future of storytelling is immersive," Bousis said, "and it's an amazing chance to drive social change."
Victoria Bousis is a trailblazer in using technology to promote empathy, increase awareness, and inspire action on some of the most pressing concerns on the planet—not only a filmmaker. By means of her innovative VR use, she is revolutionizing our narrative telling process and, hence, our interaction with the worldwide issues influencing our planet.