We recently had the privledge to make a video about Rainforest Action Network, the non-profit envrionmental change maker. We first met Julie Wolk, RAN Grassroots Organizer, at the Bioneers Conference. Julie explained that RAN works to hold corporations accountable for their environmental practices through an ‘inside-outside’ approach to activism. Having protesters outside a store or shareholders meeting helps to put the pressure on, having a contact meeting directly with CEOs on the inside helps get the demands met, both creating space for each action to make real change.
We were super impressed and moved by the passion and dedication that everyone we interviewed in the organization has. They’ve made incredible changes and continue to train and empower the next generation of environmental activists to get engaged and tell corporations that ‘business as usual is just not OK’.
We’ve been working on this for a few months, going through their extensive video archive, gathering interviews and trying to bring 20 years of RAN’s work into the spotlight. All media in the video (music, photos and original interview footage) is Creative Commons licensed. Thanks to everyone at RAN for letting us come in and document your work!
so well done. so impressed with this, especially singe I have been dipping my toes in video and becoming enraged at every turn!
thanks for your work, you inspire me to move forward!
BAM!!! Slamming video. Incredible. Damn, RIH is back with a vengence. You guys ROCK! This is totally badass. The footage, the sound bites, the cuts, the music, everything. I can’t say enough good things about this piece. WORTH the WAIT!
The guy who set up the BBC - John Reith - said that its purpose was to educate, inform, entertain. That’s what you do.
I just finished listening to a BBC radio doc about Clair Patterson, the chemist who singlehandedly stood up to the auto and lead industries in the face of terrifying opposition, and was pretty much singlehandedly responsible for getting rid of lead in gasoline, averting an enormous environmental and human catastrophe. Lead levels in the average American dropped by 80%. Oh, and he was also the first person to calculate the age of the Earth.
link:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/radio4_aod.shtml?radio4/clairpatterson_leadindustry
Two messages to me in one day that real change happens. Effecting that change seems beyond the reach of ordinary people. Your film - all your films, really, but particularly this one - shows that’s not true. That blows my mind.
Never give up. Analysis, action, inspiration and hope. Absolutely superb.
Very good job, I hope many people in America deserve to see more and more of these kind of work for them to change. After seeing this , I wonder, how in the world people want to explore oil in the coast knowing that it will not have an impact in the US and the world.
Great work! Inspiring. I sometimes despair that the machine is too big to listen to people, but just seeing the conviction these people have gives me hope.
Hey Ry,
Great seeing the master at work! I can see why this took awhile to make. Great stuff.
Awesome work! Super inspiring. You guys should do this for a living.
Intense project here, and it looks great. Lots of little bits to weave together a picture of RAN.
I can tell that you guys definitely sifted through a lot of footage. I love the clips of the CEO calling the activists “morons” and trying to discredit them since he sounds so pompous.
Anyway, there was a great range of music, photos and moving b-roll sprinkled throughout — and the kinetic typography sprinkled throughout was a nice touch as well.
Finally got a chance to see this, great, great, great job! It was cool looking at the work in progress during our visit and even better seeing it in action! Glad to see you back! Just a great job….but it’s not like you all ever do bad work!
scared me - ah america - ah…
INSPIRING!!!!
…I’m getting involved TODAY.
Raising the barre.
Again and again.
Have a great road trip with Markus, you two.
XOXOXO
Hey!
Just wanted to send a shoutout from Houghton to thank you for meeting up with Kerry and looking out for her as she gets ready to freeze to death.
Peace~