An Augmented Reality Experience in the Presidio
Description
Step into Petlenuc Interrupted, a family-friendly story of one child’s discovery of San Francisco’s natural and Indigenous history. This highly immersive, stunningly beautiful tale plays out in The Presidio Tunnel Tops Park, overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge. Step into 5th-grader Alfi’s shoes and see how his sensitive nature connects him to the Ohlone animal god Coyote. Using the latest AR technology, you’ll walk inside three-dimensional Ohlone huts, witness Bay-sized Ohlone mythology, and be drawn into the deep natural and cultural history below your feet.
Perfect for families and curious explorers ages 6 and up, this experience transforms familiar outdoor spaces into an interactive adventure with both education and entertainment in mind. Writer and Creator of the story, Michael Epstein says, "The project came from watching my own son experience what so many San Franciscans do, learning about Native Californian culture in school and then trying to figure out how these teachings can guide our modern lives.”
Petlenuc Interrupted is the first chapter of the Claims Trilogy, project funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Want to Learn more about the project?
Petlenuc Interrupted includes a range of educational and public-facing activities that you can bring to your campus, cultural organization or festival. This includes a director’s walk and talk, classroom curricula, and guest lectures by the creative team.
Drop us an email and let us know how you may want to use this project in your organization. We'd love to hear more about how this project might be presented in your community.
Background
Site-Specific AR Storytelling
This project explores how land-based history can be conveyed through audio, site exploration, and large-scale augmented reality. Working with Native American advisors and creatives, “Petenluc Interrupted” looks at how one small tract of land holds deep history and potential clues to the future of San Francisco’s troubled housing policies. This story was preceded by our award-winning walk “Museum of the Hidden City,” which looked at how current housing policy was influenced by Urban Renewal in the 1960’s. Looking back further in time, “Petlenuc Interrupted” uncovers Indigenous housing history of the village of Petlenuc, one of the three Ohlone village sites in San Francisco. While geared towards young children, the story also hints at ways Native American history can inform future housing policy and ways our Indigenous history is taught.
Technology
The techniques being used to create the project’s app include photogrammetry (for scanning recreations of Ohlone huts,) GPS triggered audio, and Unity-based augmented reality. This project includes our most ambitious AR work to date, including Bay-sized versions of the creation story, our first AR character (Coyote,) and fully three-dimensional structures you can walk inside of and interact with. As always, we use the landscape itself as a guide for how to create the AR, making sure it fits visually with the built and natural environments. The story is delivered via a Unity-based app for iPhone and Android and we are working on an AR glasses version available on rental devices.
3-D/Photogrammetry
Augmented Reality
GPS-Triggered Audio
Impact
Prototype presented at SXSW 2025 “Immersive Experience Alliance” Meeting.
Winner of a $400,000 NEH Digital Projects for the Public Production Grant.
Photo Gallery
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Tunnel Tops Park
The experience takes place in the stunning, new Tunnel Tops Park in the Presidio, near the Golden Gate Bridge.
PHOTO CREDIT: WALKING CINEMA
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User Testing: AR Map
Audience tests an AR overlay to a bronze map of the Presidio.
PHOTO CREDIT: WALKING CINEMA
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![Animating Coyote]()
Animating Coyote
Tour used full 3D to bring the character of Coyote to life in the world around you.
PHOTO CREDIT: WALKING CINEMA
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Deep Time
The experience touches upon centuries of cultural and natural relationships developed on this site. And it all happens in public space, available any time you want.
PHOTO CREDIT WALKING CINEMA
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Fire Pit
It can get cold out on the Tunnel Tops Park. The tour ends here to warm folks up a bit and go out in a blaze of glory.
PHOTO CREDIT: WALKING CINEMA
Awards
National Endowment for the Humanities “Digital Projects for the Public”
Production Grant
Production Team
Michael Epstein, Principal Investigator, Writer and Producer
Michael is a journalist, media scholar, and founder of Walking Cinema. He co-wrote and produced the project.
Carlee Malemute, Writer
Carlee Malemute (Athabascan) graduated from USC’s Screenwriting MFA Program and has written for "Good Witch," "Spirit Rangers," and "The Great North."
Maxim Antinori, Developer
Max is a web and mobile app developer specializing in interactive educational media. He programmed the AR app.
Sasha Mandel, Sound Designer
Sasha is a sound designer with a passion for interactivity and deep listening. He was the sound designer and editor for Petlenuc Interrupted.
Priyadharshni Krishnan, Developer
Priya is an AR/VR app developer specialising in Training and Simulation Applications. She is part of the programming team in this project.
Zhaoyan “Yuki” Li, Graphic Designer
Yuki is a graphic designer based out of Las Vegas who made a lot of the stuff you see in Day of Days – including this webpage!
Natalia Arévalo, Producer
Natalia is an audiovisual producer who led casting, timelines, and logistics, keeping creative teams aligned and production moving for this audio and AR experience.
Camilo Vanegas, 2D/3D Artist
Camilo is an Award-winning Animation Director (14+ yrs). Creates compelling characters/worlds for games/AR (Hades, Peridot). Passionate about innovative art & engagement.
Jan Gilbert, Voiceover Director
Jan is a Drama Therapist and TBA award winning director. She has been working with SF's premiere sketch comedy group Killing My Lobster for over a decade.
Clarke Helland, Actor
Clarke Helland, is a trained singer, actor, and voiceover artist playing "Alfi." When he’s not performing, you’ll catch him skiing, speed cubing, running with his track team, or mountain biking.
Jordan Deang, Actor
Jordan, playing Hendrick, is a professional NBA hiphop dancer, competitive hooper, and voice actor, excelling with passion, skill, and energy on stage, on the court, and behind the mic.
Joey Clift, Actor
Joey (Cowlitz Tribe Member) plays Coyote and is an Emmy-nominated writer/comedian. He wrote for "Spirit Rangers" (Netflix) and is the creator of the Webby-winning show "Gone Native" (Comedy Central).
Margaux Poupard, Actor
Margaux, playing Helen, is a screenwriter, copywriter, sketch writer, editor, podcaster, and now she can add voice over actor to her impressive resume as well.
Yuhan Chiueh, Marketing Consultant
Yuhan Chiueh is a brand strategy and marketing consultant based in San Francisco with experience building brands across both corporate and mission driven and creative ventures.
Credits
STARRING:
Clarke Helland
Jordan Deang
Joey Clift
Margaux Poupard
WRITTEN BY:
Carlee Malemute
Michael Epstein
ADVISORS:
Rick Barry, 4 Elements Earth Education
Tamlyn Andrews, 4 Elements Earth Education
Malcolm Margolin, author The Ohlone Way
DEVELOPER:
Maxim Antinori
MARKETING CONSULTANT:
Yuhan Chiueh
ASSOCIATE DEVELOPER:
Priya Krishnan
GRAPHIC DESIGNER:
Zhaoyan “Yuki” Li
PRODUCER:
Natalia Arevalo
VISUAL DIRECTOR, 2D/3D ARTIST:
Camilo Vanegas
VOICEOVER DIRECTOR:
Jan Gilbert
SOUND DESIGNER:
Sasha Mandel
BACKGROUND KIDS VOICES:
Francesco Epstein
Lila Hays
SCRIPT EDITOR:
Chandrika Madhavan
AUDIO EDITOR:
Kyle Randall
ANIMATOR/RIGGER:
Jimena Vargas
INTERN:
Emma Hui
SPECIAL THANKS:
Jennifer Crandall
Jonathon Keats
Different Fur Studios
Rob Thomson
Il Parco Cafe
The Wonderful Bathroom Staff at the Presidio, cleanest public restrooms in SF