Science Films: Lessons Learned From Communicating Through Video

Abstract:

Film is a powerful communication tool for connecting audiences to science and conveying socio-environmental context. Long- and short-format videos are proven methods for information, context, and inspiration because they build emotional bonds between diverse audiences and scientific content through narratives. Crucial to a film’s success is not only its completion, but also the reaching out to and impacting of the intended audience(s).

We are a film production team dedicated to the conveying of technical information, systems understanding, and inspiration to dive further into learning about how humans relate to the natural world. Whether through PBS broadcasts, film festivals, on-line education channels, or YouTube-based shows, mistakes, strategy, and windfalls have led to concrete lessons learned on reaching and influencing intended audiences with science-films. In our presentation, we will draw upon production experiences, including from our forthcoming feature-length documentary about global experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic, to share the value of end-to-end planning before filming starts, fund-raising, unique production challenges, and partnering for widespread distribution. Equally as important, we will discuss our experiences with co-producing projects with scientists, communities, and diverse talent.