Is there a particular video, film, campaign or filmmaker that had a major influence on your career?
I am mostly inspired by people. I have been working at the Two Oceans Aquarium and Foundation in Cape Town for 18 years and have always admired staff who work with animals. The selfless manner in which they do this work which often comes without reward and with hardship. For most of them this is not just work but a lifestyle because they care so deeply and passionately about all animals. Producing a film about the amazing work they do so selflessly has been a dream come true.
What motivated you to make your impact video?
I felt that the amazing work Claire Taylor and others do should be highlighted along with the plight of our oceans. Most people know that the ocean and its animals are in trouble, but I don’t think they really grasp the severity and impact of it. It’s important for me to not only show people but make them feel it too.
Please tell us what camera(s) you shot with primarily – and any other special equipment that you used and why you used it.
For By die Soutwater we used a GH5 and 6 for interviews mostly but when we’re in the field and because of the nature of the work, and what’s involved during rescues we also rely heavily on cellphones and GoPros. Saltwater is very unforgiving on equipment!
Please tell us about any special styles or techniques that you used during the production of your impact video to help tell your story.
Keeping it real, and connecting the viewer to the experience, characters and animals is always my aim. Up close and personal, I want the viewer to feel as if they are part of what’s happening, part of the team, also in the boat or in the water. Through connectedness I always hope to produce a film that’s memorable, and have the ability to touch and inspire people in some way.
How did your story evolve from day one, to the very last day in post? Is your story what you thought it would be?
It changed quite a lot from the original plan. The two most significant changes were that we originally wanted to focus equal amounts on the different wildlife found within the marina and harbour, and how they’ve adapted to living within an urban space. However, we quickly realised that the plight of the seals are so much greater, and because they cross effortlessly between land and sea they’re an indicator species of what’s really going on in the ocean.
Also, adding Jerome Stationway in was definitely not part of the original plan. Jerome is my cameraman, but having grown up on a farm and being fairly new to the ocean, harbour, wildlife space, his responses were real and worth noting. And so he ended up behind and in front of the camera for this one.
Please describe the most rewarding experience you had while making this impact video.
I think what might surprise people is that the footage used in this film was filmed over almost two years, and because of this I had a real full circle moment when we randomly found the same seal, no 91 recognised from his tag, a year later. Within the film this is the seal Claire disentangled in the beginning of the film, found again in the end of the film as she refers to his big scar.
What advice can you give to other impact filmmakers?
Keep it real and plan as best you can, but know change is inevitable, so embrace it. It is what will make your film greater than what you could’ve ever imagined.
What’s your favorite part about the filmmaking process and why?
We’re a very small team and therefore I produce, direct, film and edit. So I have this amazing privilege to feel connected to every single part of the production process. as well as the whole, and also the people and animals we work with. That’s what I love.
What’s the one item you always take with you when working out in the field and why?
A GoPro, I always have one or sometimes two in my pocket! Firstly they’re waterproof, we drowned two very expensive microphones during filming, so waterproof equipment is helpful. Secondly, GoPros are great at helping us capture footage in fast paced scenarios such as animal rescues. A lot of the close up shots won’t be possible without GoPros. When working with animals everyone’s main priority is helping the animal. As a film crew we cannot get in the way, GoPros are small, compact and robust.
Please provide a brief description of the work or organization featured in your video:
The Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation is a non-profit (NPO) who’s mission is to inform and inspire all to connect with and protect our ocean and the natural world through conservation, awareness, research, and education.
What have you learned about the value and impact of the project?
The awareness that was created, not only about the seals but also for the ocean. Also awareness around urban wildlife. For where we are situated within the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, which is predominantly a tourist attraction, many people are unaware of the wildlife that call this space home, and the team who looks after the wellbeing of the animals.
Please share a personal story about your experience making this impact video.
What stands out are the unexpected moments that you didn’t plan for, but end up being most significant. Our Wildlife management team is responsible for all the wildlife within the harbour and since we work for the same company, we, the film crew, often go out with them. So on a day that we were out on the boat with Claire hoping to film birds in the harbour, we discovered the badly entangled seal on the tyre that’s in the beginning of the film. A quick bird filming trip turned into a 3 hours later trip, where we’d picked up the veterinarian, Dr Luca Mendes, and have successfully disentangled and filmed a seal rescue. Then one year later we specifically go out to film Claire disentangling a seal, which turns out to be unsuccessful as the seal swims away, but on our way back we discover the same seal we filmed and disentangled the previous year, healthy and healed. It’s in these moments that you think, wow what just happened wasn’t planned and we didn’t film what we were supposed to, but it was just wonderful and possibly more significant than what we were searching for in the first place.
What do you want audiences to take away from this video?
I am hoping the audience will be inspired. The smallest change makes you part of the solution and not the problem. We can’t all be fearless animal rescuers but most of us have the ability to cut a loop before we throw it in a bin.
Please list key points that should be covered in a post-screening discussion:
- Human-Wildlife Conflict: Explore the complexities of coexisting with wildlife in an urban environment, tackling issues such as habitat loss and species protection.
- The Impact of Ocean Litter on Seals: Types of Ocean Litter, physical effects on seals, long-term consequences and the wider problem of ocean pollution.
- Urban Wildlife Rescue Teams: Role and importance of wildlife teams responding to distressed animals, rescue operations, training and expertise.
- The Broader Environmental Impact: Ecosystem Impact- How the degradation of seal populations can affect the broader marine ecosystem, including the balance of predator-prey relationships and the health of marine habitats. The Need for Global Action- Discussion on the importance of international collaboration to tackle ocean litter, as marine debris often crosses borders and impacts ecosystems worldwide.
Please provide information on any recent developments regarding the issue or subjects of the video. How have things changed or not changed?
Our Marine Wildlife team have grown, with more wildlife monitors trained we are able to successfully disentangle more seals. We hope to continue to create awareness around this issue, seals cannot remove entanglements themselves and often die a slow and painful death as a result. Our hope is to continue to expand the Marine Wildlife program not only within our harbour but also possibly to other spaces. Seals with entanglements are found everywhere, however due to the skills and resources needed to remove entanglements, they can’t always be helped in other harbours or urban spaces.
What opportunities are available for those interested in getting further involved?
For more information on how to get involved visit: https://www.aquarium.co.za/foundation/homepage
The best way to make a difference is by directly supporting the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation’s Wildlife Management Programme, helping to expand the vital work they do. Alternatively, you can contribute to raising awareness by supporting their education programs, which include initiatives like producing impactful films such as this one.https://www.aquarium.co.za/foundation/support
Please provide any additional resources (websites, links to additional videos, forms, articles, etc.) relevant to the context of the issue discussed in your video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxUNFh-l76A
https://www.aquarium.co.za/foundation/news/our-marine-wildlife-team-rescued-15-seals-from-robinson-dry-dock
https://www.aquarium.co.za/foundation/news/vibrant-visitors-meet-the-african-wood-owl
https://www.aquarium.co.za/foundation/news/enormous-ocean-sunfish-rescued-in-cape-town-harbour
https://www.aquarium.co.za/foundation/news/everything-our-marine-wildlife-management-team-needs-to-disentangle-cape-fur-seals
© SIMA Academy