The power of film extends far beyond entertainment; it serves as a crucial tool in conservation efforts around the globe. By capturing the beauty and fragility of nature, filmmakers can evoke emotions, educate audiences, and inspire action. At Wild Track Films we work closely with conservation projects and change makers to explore and create films that can create impact, document and help raise funds, all vital to change makers who want their missions to thrive. This is our experience and understanding of how filming can be used to help those fighting for our planet.
The Emotional Impact of Conservation Films
Conservation films often leverage the power of visuals to connect audiences with the natural world in a deeply personal way. At every stage of each conservation project we work on, the passion behind the team or individuals is incredibly strong, and our task is often to harness that into a story, that conveys emotion that impacts the viewer, or shares a problem and shows a solution to empower viewers to take action.
The Oscar-winning documentary "My Octopus Teacher" is a prime example. By chronicling the bond between a filmmaker and an octopus, the film not only educated viewers about the complexities of marine life but also inspired a surge in interest in marine conservation. Such films make the challenges facing wildlife tangible and urgent, turning passive viewers into active supporters.
That connection between people and nature can be a real driving force for individuals to come together and make a change. Seeing the world through the eyes of those working to save the world, can be inspiring. On an individual level, it can be life changing. As part of a documentary, we spent some time with army veteran Simon who used his passion for nature to help him through some emotional times, he now spends his time monitoring gulls as a caretaker on a small island in Wales. We spent some time with him and his team during some Gull ringing. Working for a local independent production company for transmission on BBC.
Educational Outreach and Community Engagement
Filmmakers also play a critical role in educating the public about conservation issues. The documentary "Chasing Ice" showcases the melting of polar ice caps through stunning time-lapse photography, making the abstract concept of climate change starkly real. This film has been used in educational settings to teach students about the effects of global warming, illustrating how films can be powerful tools for environmental education and activism.
Here at Wild Track, Natalie has followed multiple journeys of endangered species being returned to Africa, some of these are groundbreaking moments with moves that may have never happened before. It's the only organisation that has achieved so many successful animal moves globally, The Aspinall Foundation With the goal to re-wild as many species as possible, it is vital that their projects are captured, to share with the world that it is possible to undertake these moves and see, once captive individuals, successfully raise wild families, contribute to the genetics of a population and increase their numbers.
Here is one journey we filmed, with Joshi the Gorilla, from Kent to Congo. Who, since moving there, is now living wild in the Congo under the watchful eyes of local caretakers, who ensure his, and other gorilla's safety.
Targeting Fundraising and Philanthropy
Beyond public education, conservation films are instrumental in fundraising and engaging philanthropists. Films that showcase specific conservation projects or the dire need for funding can mobilise resources by directly appealing to donors. This can be crucial for projects to be able to succeed in their mission. Showing your donors a problem and how you can tackle it with evidence captured on camera can be an effective and easily shareable approach to raising vital funds.
Equally, proving to your existing donors that your work should be continued is just as important. Evidencing and sharing undergoing projects, successes and change can help drive continued support and offer confidence that the work you are doing is making a positive difference.
Awareness Through Strategic Screenings
Filmmakers not only create compelling narratives but also strategise their screenings to reach influential audiences. Premieres at major film festivals often attract celebrities, influential business people, and policymakers who can provide the necessary funding and support for conservation initiatives. However, community screenings in affected regions can galvanise local support and empower communities to take action. Tackling issues at a local level can sometimes be hard, with communities having lived a certain way of life with their own perspectives for decades, encouraging changes in behaviours and attitudes to help manage human/nature conflicts or support communities going through environmental issues is just as important as the conservation work in itself. Creating content and showcasing and sharing it in native languages to help those communities drive change can make a significant impact to your work at a grass roots level.
Expanding Your Reach
While blockbuster documentaries and feature films often capture the public's attention, the power of film extends far beyond Netflix and the cinema. Smaller organisations have the opportunity to leverage video and film to showcase their work online, engage stakeholders, and raise vital funds. What specifically can you and your organisation do with video and film? We have some suggestions!
The digital landscape offers a powerful platform to share stories. Platforms like YouTube, Vimeo, and even social media channels allow organisations to publish content at a minimal cost, reaching a global audience instantaneously. You may or may not already be using YouTube, reels and stories on a regular basis sharing instant content. A well crafted video that is placed online is easily accessible to general audiences but also easily shareable to the people you want to target. Sending links direct to the stories that matter to your ambassadors, shareholders, donors, embedding in blogs, hosting on the front page of your website and more, allows you to open a direct conversation about your film without the need for them to search through your socials.
An otter cub, rescued from the road after its mother passed away finds sanctuary and the opportunity to be re wilded once it's ready.
Showcase Your Work
Commission your own documentary film for your own platforms, capture your work in action, show the problem and how you are solving it, with all of the good and bad along the way and a call to action. You can use this whenever you are talking about your story to new or existing audiences, online, through websites, blogs and in person talks. Use it to help encourage action, raise vital funds, recruit volunteers and keep as archive to help raise funds for any future projects.
Workshops and Training Videos
Filmmaking need not be limited to external communications. Conservation groups can also produce educational content for internal use, such as training videos for volunteers and staff. These resources ensure consistent training delivery and can be accessed by new recruits at any time, making them a cost-effective and scalable tool. During the pandemic we created training content for South Wales Otter Trust so that they could continue to train their volunteers to monitor waterways without the need for in person learning. You may well have volunteers across the globe or staff spread across the country, sending training teams to locations may exceed your budgets where video content that can be used for years to come may well be far more worth your while.
Video Testimonials
If you are looking to recruit, then testimonials may be very useful. When people can see others like them doing something they've been thinking about, that visual connection can be the very thing that tips them into taking action. Creating testimonials across a diverse selection of volunteers can help you impact and inspire people you may not have captured the attention of through written testimonials. Use these on your social networks, on your website and in person presentations.
Behind The Scenes
Showing the world all of you and your organisation can build trust with audiences whilst showing that your team's values align with your audiences. Filming behind the scenes action of day to day life at your location, be it in the middle of a jungle, an inner city sanctuary or a small office space at the back of your home. Creating BTS can be as simple as TikTok videos on your phone. But sometimes a big project needs someone to film it so you can focus on your conservation work. We've recently been filming ringing and tagging of an endangered bird species, having us there to capture all of the action taking place, allowed the core team to focus on the job, this ensured the project had great footage to showcase to its online audiences and to send to their trustees so they could see how exactly money is used on the ground.
A very heavy endangered species is transported through the jungle by the hands of 20 local men.
Conclusion
The narrative power of film is an essential resource for conservation efforts at all levels. Smaller organisations, in particular, can harness this video and film to tell their stories, demonstrate their progress, and engage a diverse audience from grassroots supporters to major donors and policymakers. With strategic use of video content, these groups can enhance their visibility, promote transparency, and drive meaningful engagement in conservation missions.
We encourage conservation groups of all sizes to explore the potential of filmmaking. Start with what you have; even simple video tools can help you begin your journey in visual storytelling. Remember, every film released does not just share a story—it invites the viewer to become a part of your mission and a contributor to your cause. And if you're looking to hire a professional team to cover this for you, please do get in touch!