Virtual reality film to show life through visually-impaired man's eyes

There was some cutting-edge technology being used at the University of Regina on Tuesday.

A production crew is shooting a virtual reality film about a man who recently arrived in Saskatchewan from Syria.

Hani al Moulia is a visually-impaired photographer who has come to national prominence for his work capturing photos of his experience as a refugee.

The 22-year-old said the virtual reality project will capture the new world of Canada through his eyes.

"You will see the world in a different way," al Moulia said.

Regardless of what objects he can physically see with his own eyes, al Moulia said he sees a country people are lucky to live in.

"Canadians should appreciate that more and be proud of that every day and every morning because, for us, it's new and it's different."

Joel McConvey is directing the project and said al Moulia's story spoke to the filmmakers.

"Creativity is a really important of what people are and what Canada is," McConvey said. "Here's Hani coming from Syria through Lebanon and then in Regina, and finding this passion for photography along the way. And learning to understand the world through the image."

What exactly will people see when the project is complete? McConvey said that wouldn't be completely known until they get into post-production. He added virtual reality technology is still in its infancy.

"It's very much something that's just starting to be understood as the next kind of wave of media content," McConvey said. "People are still figuring it out. We're very much here just experimenting."

The virtual reality video is part of the 150th anniversary of Canadian Confederation in 2017. It will be available online next year.