East of the Rockies

East of the Rockies is an experimental augmented-reality story written by 83-year-old Joy Kogawa, one of Canada’s most acclaimed and celebrated literary figures. The story is told from the perspective of Yuki, a 17-year-old girl forced from her home and made to live in the Slocan internment camp during the Second World War. As Yuki and her family adjust to their new reality inside the camp, they struggle to make life as normal as possible.

Users follow the story by tapping, swiping, inspecting and zooming in on key elements within each scene. Every interaction activates a piece of scripted narrative voiced by Joy’s own granddaughter. Spoken in the first person, each line illuminates a different aspect of life in the camp, as documented in Yuki’s journal.

East of the Rockies can be played in non-AR mode and in cutting-edge AR technology to bring impactful storytelling into the palm of users’ hands. Users become directors as they physically move through the 3D environment at their own speed with proximity-based interactions, tapping, and swiping mechanics.

Story-driven interactions emphasize narrative elements by showing everyday life in the Slocan, BC internment camp.  Paint alongside Yuki’s younger brother, Tomio or find solace in the camp’s bathhouse. Whether or not users enable AR, East of the Rockies tells an important story with innovative and artful technology.

Features:
- Experience Augmented Reality Storytelling 
- Play with our without Augmented Reality controls. 
- Discover historical photos and documents from Vancouver’s former Japantown
- Proximity based interactions
- 3D audio design
- Beautiful, original soundtrack 
- Teacher’s guide available at https://eastoftherockies.com/press-kit

Go more in-depth with the East of the Rockies High School Learning Kit available at https://eastoftherockies.com/press-kit. NFB Education uses an inquiry-based learning approach which poses questions and scenarios to help students understand and go deeper into the experience of life in the Slocan Japanese internment camp during the Second World War. 

Download East of the Rockies today and discover this important Canadian story incorporating an innovative and artful new technology.

East of the Rockies is a co-production with Jam3 and the National Film Board of Canada.