Al Jazeera rolls out Phase II of interactive web documentary Life On Hold

Al Jazeera has launched Phase II of Life On Hold, an interactive online web documentary detailing the lives of Syrian refugees.

The innovative web project allows for an intimate look into the lives of people whose reality was drastically altered by war and displacement.

Comprised of two layers, Life On Hold ties the audio and visual elements of documentary film with user generated content to form a unique online experience. The documentary layer features a collection of various linear contents that can be watched, viewed and listened to in any order and fashion the user choses, whilst the UCG component enables visitors to become an intrinsic part of the project.

Explaining the combined layers, Senior Producer Reem Shaddad said:

“Documentary vignettes feature the main content of the project and are essentially first person stories recalled by the characters themselves. The UCG aspect features an evolving visual piece by Syrian artist Tammam Azzam. The artwork is based on the memories of 10 different characters. The 10 pieces of art evolve or decay according to the number of days since the refugee left Syria. The more time passes, the more their memories, represented in Tammam’s collage, deteriorate and erode. Many little glowing stars float atop the portrait’s memories. Hovering over a star lets you discover a short message left by one of the visitors of the site. New visitors are invited to add their own star to the composition by contributing a short phrase to the Wall of Memories.”

Reem added:

“We are creating an immersive experience, one that we are hoping can transform a viewer, so it’s less about being informed and more about feeling something and being moved by it. And that experience is created in the margins all around the content. It’s the navigation and interactivity that deliver a user experience that is richer and more meaningful. You achieve more intimacy with the participants. That intimacy makes you care.

We hope that viewers will see beyond the refugee label and get to know these incredible people that we interviewed for who they are.”