MUSIC VIDEO
Background
There are an estimated one to two million collisions between cars and large animals every year in the United States, costing society over $9 billion annually in vehicle repairs, injuries, and road cleanup. Studies show that well-designed wildlife crossings can decrease wildlife-vehicle collisions by up to 97%. Each year, a talented team of experts embark on the Wildlife Crossings Across America Road Trip – an immersive expedition across the country and beyond to raise awareness about the need for wildlife crossings and connectivity in critical regions.
Depthink Productions, in partnership with Dogoodery, traveled with the California Wildlife Reconnected team 2000 miles across California over the course of 10 days to capture their visits with a collection of wildlife crossing teams. The goal was to learn more about their specific areas and projects to help protect the wildlife and the people traveling the busy highway system in California, and to bring awareness to the need for these programs and structures.
Video Production
This recap video consists of footage captured in the Summer of 2024 over 10 days traveling 2000 miles across California with the Wildlife Crossings team. Taylor Hellhake of Depthink traveled with the team to capture interviews at each site visit (proposed or completed) along with b-roll of each structure.
The Wildlife Crossing’s Road Trip team members include:
Steve Winter, a wildlife photojournalist for National Geographic Magazine for over two decades. His documentary films on jaguars, leopards, tigers, and tree-climbing lions have aired on Nat Geo WILD and Disney+. He is a National Geographic Explorer and his work has been recognized with numerous international awards. With Sharon, he coauthored Tigers Forever and The Ultimate Book of Big Cats.
Beth Pratt, a lifelong advocate for wildlife, working in environmental leadership roles for over 30 years, and in two of the country’s largest national parks: Yosemite and Yellowstone. As the California Regional Executive Director for the National Wildlife Federation, Pratt leads the#SaveLACougars campaign to build the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing outside of Los Angeles. The author of When Mountain Lions Are Neighbors, and I Heart Wildlife, her newest book, Yosemite Wildlife, will be released in 2024.Renee Callahan
Renee Callahan, with over 30 years of professional experience in federal, state, and administrative law, policy, and research. As Executive Director of ARC Solutions (Animal Road Crossing), Renee leads an interdisciplinary, not-for-profit partnership working to ensure wildlife crossings are built whenever they are needed. The focus: inspiring innovative, nature-based policies and climate-smart Wildlife Infrastructure Linear Design (WILD) solutions.
Sharon Guynup, an award-winning journalist, photographer, producer and presenter. She covers wildlife, ecosystems, conservation initiatives, climate change, zoonotic disease and other environmental issues. She’s a National Geographic Explorer, a global fellow at the Wilson Center, and with Steve, co-founder of Big Cat Voices.
Marta Brocki has coordinated multidisciplinary solutions for wildlife connectivity and the safe movement of people and wildlife for over a decade. Prior to joining ARC Solutions, she managed the Ecological DesignLab at Toronto Metropolitan University, where she studied Urban and Regional Planning. Her work in research and practice centers on the implementation of green and adaptive infrastructure in service of resilience and biodiversity.
CLIENT:
California Wildlife Reconnected
DATE:
August - 2024
WEBSITE:
