Al Jazeera Media Network’s new immersive studio, Contrast VR, has now produced its second VR documentary in a series of films examining pressing global and social issues.

Oil in Our Creeks details what happened to a community in Bodo City, Nigeria, after an oil pipeline burst in 2008, told through the eyes of Lessi Phillips, who was 16 years old when oil poured into the swamps for 77 days.

In this week's podcast, we hear from Zahra Rasool, Contrast VR editorial lead, who explains how the project fused 180-degree present-day landscape shots with 180 degrees of animation to create an immersive 360-degree experience.

Animated art helped to show viewers what the community looked like through the lead character's eyes before the oil spill, and to also help portray the story in a more positive light.


The film follows Contrast VR's I am Rohingya, an immersive film which calls attention to the ethnic cleansing taking place in Myanmar.

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