The First Citizens of Trojena
Creative Direction, Story Development, Visual Strategy
The Idea
Before Trojena was the future of NEOM, it was home to something ancient.
"The First Citizens of Trojena" is a creative campaign that reimagines the earliest Stone Age inhabitants of the Trojena mountains. Using archaeological traces as a starting point, I built an emotionally immersive, photorealistic world that blends cultural heritage with cinematic storytelling.
We didn't fabricate myths — we listened to the mountain walls.
Whispers from the Past
Cinematic World Building
Cave Rituals & Spiritual Beliefs
Immersive scenes showcasing the spiritual practices and cave rituals of the First Citizens, bringing ancient traditions to life through cinematic storytelling.
Community Gatherings
Photoreal environments depicting the social structures and community gatherings of the mountain dwellers, showing how they lived, shared, and survived together.
Family & Kinship
Intimate portrayals of family structures and kinship bonds among the First Citizens, showing how relationships and care shaped their survival in the harsh mountain environment.
Tools & Craftsmanship
Detailed cinematography of stone tool creation, hunting implements, and the ingenious craftsmanship that enabled the First Citizens to thrive in their mountain home.
Friendship & Community
Intimate scenes showcasing the bonds of friendship and community among the First Citizens, demonstrating how social connections were essential for survival in the mountain environment.
Hunting & Survival
Cinematic portrayals of hunting practices and survival techniques used by the First Citizens, showing their mastery of the harsh mountain terrain and their innovative approaches to securing food and resources.
Execution: A Civilization Reborn
This was more than a book. It was a multi-layered narrative ecosystem:
- • A printed artifact: Whispers from the Past — blending design, story, and history
- • Photoreal environments showing what life may have looked like
- • Carefully researched character rituals, survival tactics, and spiritual moments
- • A visual language inspired by ancient petroglyphs
- • Storyboards and spreads that feel editorial, yet visceral
Narrative Structure (as a Book & Series)
- 1. Discovering Trojena
- 2. People of the mountain
- 3. Survival through the hunt
- 4. Cave rituals & spiritual beliefs
- 5. Adapting to seasons
- 6. Art, identity, and expression
- 7. The legacy that echoes forward
360° Activation Strategy
I didn't stop at the story — I built the launch platform.
YouTube Mini-Series
- • Cinematic short docs: "A Day in the Life of a Trojena Hunter", "Decoding the Petroglyphs"
- • Uses AI-enhanced visuals, photoreal worldbuilding, and documentary pacing
- • Released in episodic chapters online
Educational Layers
- • Social-first explainers
- • Long-form visual threads on anthropology and Trojena's significance
- • Made for curious minds and cultural explorers
Social Media Rollout
- • Instagram reels + teaser edits for each chapter
- • Twitter/X threads: polls, trivia, myth-busting
- • "Did You Know?" drops in the tone of modern archaeology with cinematic flair
Ancient Markings, Modern Interpretation
Based on petroglyphs I personally discovered and photographed in the Trojena mountains, then carefully traced to preserve their authenticity. These ancient symbols create a genuine visual language that connects the First Citizens to their actual mountain home.
Hand-traced from petroglyphs I discovered and photographed in the actual Trojena mountains — authentic ancient markings that once decorated the caves and rock faces
A Tangible Connection to Heritage
To keep the legacy alive, I created unique giveaway rocks sourced from the actual Trojena mountains, each printed with the traced petroglyphs — a tangible reminder for new citizens of the ancient history beneath their feet.
Mountain stones from Trojena, printed with the authentic petroglyphs tracings — bridging 10,000 years of human presence in one meaningful keepsake
Why It Matters
This wasn't nostalgia. It was cultural positioning — giving NEOM's Trojena emotional gravity through storytelling rooted in truthful imagination.
- • Planted cultural roots for Trojena's brand
- • Created an expandable IP for future immersive experiences
- • Bridged the ancient and the futuristic — without feeling forced
The Outcome
A timeless narrative, authored from scratch.
Concept to execution — creative direction, story logic, visual language, production.