IF YOU THINK YOU CAN HELP WITH THIS PROJECT, PLEASE LEAVE YOUR NAME AND CONTACT DETAILS ON THE 'CAN YOU HELP' PAGE.  PLEASE FEEL FREE TO EDIT ANY PAGE BUT 'TO DO LIST,' 'EXPENSES' AND 'FUNDING'.  THE PASSWORD IS 'SWEDEN'.

What is the project?

Footprints in the Snow will be a short documentary primarily, but not solely, aimed at encouraging the staff and students of Sussex University to think about how flying affects their carbon footprint.  The documentary has three main aims;

(1)     To provide resources – After people have watched the documentary, I would like them to feel confident that they have the resources they need to choose not to fly as often as possible.  For example, the documentary could provide the addresses of invaluable online resources such as The Man in Seat 61 (http://www.seat61.com/)

(2)     To inform – Footprints in the Snow should provide clear reasons for choosing not to fly, or choosing ‘slow-travel’.  To this end it will feature interviews with environmental organisations, slow-travel connoisseurs and staff and students who have chosen not to fly.  Real facts about how flying damages the environment should be given

(3)     To provide examples – I and another person will travel to Sweden (proposed destination) via train and boat as a demonstration of slow-travel.  While we are there, we will visit some areas of outstanding natural beauty as well as some green initiatives.

How I would like the project to work.

I would like Footprints in the Snow to provide genuine information and resources about how to travel in a more environmentally friendly manner.  After watching the documentary, I want people to walk away feeling positive about what they can do, rather than depressed and helpless.  While information about the impact of global warming is extremely important to be aware of, I think there is too little information in circulation about actual ways in which people can be more sustainable. 

It is my belief that sustainability cannot be achieved by just one person, or by one group of people, everybody must be encouraged to play their part.  While some people will go out of their way to find ways to live sustainably, in reality, the majority of the population won’t.  There are many resources (such as The Man in Seat 61) already available which could have a lasting impact on people if they were given access to them in the course of their day to day lives.

Though this documentary is primarily being produced for staff and students from Sussex University (mainly because this is where I am getting a great deal of the funding from), I would like it to be available to as many people as possible.  I would like to distribute the film in a number of ways. 

(1)     Through free screenings at the University and around Brighton

(2)     Through a website from which the film is downloadable in its entirety.

(3)     Through a videoblog (on the same website) where the constituent parts of the film are broken down into 2-3 minute chunks and people can watch whichever they are interested in.  This videoblog could feature extra footage which cannot be included in the film.

I would make the documentary Creative Commons so that it was available for download or use by anyone.  I would try to operate a link back system for people who used it on their websites.

What I have done so far and help that I need.

As an inexperienced film maker, I have a horror of creating something whose production values undermine the message I am trying to convey.  I am certainly in need of help and advice.  Below I have outlined the tasks that need to be completed (as I see them) and the help that I need to complete these tasks. 

Getting the money – I have estimated that I need around £1500 to make this documentary.  This money will mostly be spent on travel, but some will go towards distribution.  I have already got £350 of funding from a University source, and there are other funds at the University that I can apply to.  The Environment Society at Sussex University has also agreed to help with fundraising.  If, added together, this money falls short of my total, I will approach appropriate local businesses for sponsorship. 

Help that I need:  Having never made a film before, I need to know if my budget is wildly inaccurate, if certain things will cost more than I think and if there are hidden costs that I haven’t taken into consideration.  I also need help with fundraising in general

Doing interviews/non-Sweden filming – I am fairly certain that I will be able to use University resources (cameras, space) for the parts of the documentary that I can film on campus, i.e. interviews.  I am also banking on being able to find a technically minded person to help me use these resources.

Help that I need:  Interview techniques, hints and tips on making the footage interesting, practical help with film-making issues.

Filming in Sweden

Help that I need:  As this part of the filming will be done by me with little technical help, I need to have an idea before I travel of what footage I intend to capture.  By this I mean that I do not want to come back from Sweden having captured footage shot entirely in close-up, or entirely in medium shot, or not having filmed any B-roll footage at all.

Putting the film together/Editing – I have some basic editing skills but…

Help that I need:  I need technical help in crafting my footage into a slick film. 

Distributing the film – Aside from technical help, this is probably the area where I need the most assistance. 

Help that I need:  As I stated earlier, there are three ways in which I would like to distribute the film.  I have the skills to set up a videoblog but do not know if is possible to have a website from which the documentary could be downloaded in its entirety.  I am keen to focus on online distribution as the project does not possess the funds to be able to make many copies of a DVD.  Online distribution would also be more sustainable!  I would also need help with promotion as I would like people other than staff and student at Sussex to be able to see the film.