In June 2017, we were thrilled to announce that Pride Foundation would be partnering with filmmaker Jesse Ayala Jr. of Fovrth Studio on creating a Virtual Reality (VR) film as part of Oculus’s VR for Good Creators Lab. This recently established project pairs filmmakers and nonprofits to make great VR in the name of social good.
For several weeks this past fall, TRANSform Washington Project Director, Jeremiah Allen traveled with the Fovrth Studio film crew throughout the Northwest to create 3 short films as part of this project. Their focus was to tell the stories of transgender people in our region using 360˚ filmmaking and Virtual Reality.
The intention of this project is to use interactive technological tools to offer a broad audience of people the experience of connecting with a transgender person—because we know that this connection helps build empathy, and ultimately changes hearts and minds.
We’re Still Here tells the story of Aiden Crawford, a Two-Spirit artist and historian in Boise, Idaho, as he struggles to preserve and revive his heritage. Two-Spirit is a cultural term describing the fluidity of gender identity and sexuality with respect to traditional tribal roles across the First Nations. Aiden’s story represents the intergenerational struggle to learn, educate, and pass down the wisdom of his elders. This moving film is helping to raise awareness of non-binary understandings of gender like Two-Spirit that will help advance the full equality of LGBTQ people everywhere.
Please join us in congratulating Aiden, Jeremiah, Jesse, the team at Fovrth Studio and Oculus, and the entire crew that made this film possible!
For more information on SXSW and the other VR films that were selected, check out the official Oculus announcement.
Katelen Kellogg is Pride Foundation’s Communications and Outreach Manager. Email Katelen.