Synopsis
Jeff Mitchell, the main character in the film, undertakes a process of discovery. After he reviewed the UN MDG 7, Jeff contacts local community members to discuss their importance. Beginning with Eliam Chikange, an international IDS student, Jeff discovers the problems surrounding slums and basic sanitation issues in multiple countries within Africa. Eliam points to Greenmapping as a basic first step in understanding environmental issues locally and globally. Jeff wanted to know more. He contacts Dr. Cathy Conrad, a professor and sustainability stewardess. Through this interview, Jeff realizes two important things. The first, Greenmapping is an excellent way of creating environmental awareness and it can help to sustain biodiversity through this awareness. Secondly, being sustainable means more than joining a cause on facebook, one must be involved in the promotion of sustainable actions which is done through their participation in Democracy. In order to understand what the government is doing and how Jeff can participate, Jeff contacts the Provincial Environmental Minister Sterling Belliveau. This interview was important for Jeff as he learned that the government is trying to create sustainable policies and that we as individuals have a role in speaking with our governments.
Film Making Process
Our group decided to name ourselves A woodpecker production. This is because there is a spontaneous ticking noise, in the film, which came from our camera and which mimics the noise of a woodpecker. Right from the beginning, we began to storyboard and plan for our interviews. It took us two months but, we felt, we got the right people. We have spent a recorded 137 person hours to produce the final product. We felt that it was important to have both an international perspective and local perspective that specifically related to the four MDG 7 sections. Also, we wanted to show that people can make a difference and that members of our community are currently doing so. This is the reasoning behind the ending. We are Criminology students, besides trying to arrest non-sustainable individuals, we had no idea about what we should be doing or what is currently being done to promote sustainable lifestyles. So, Jeff as a fictional character represents our group trying to get educated in being sustainable. This film was a learning process for us all and, though sometimes painful (especially editing), we have enjoyed the experience and hope that you enjoy the film!
Visit Greenmap.org for more information on how you can be sustainable!
