Film Info24 minutes
Roshan Patel, Nestbox Collective Available for Free AND Ticketed events Synopsis: Red Wolf Revival (2015) is a short film about the last remaining wild population of red wolves. Centered on the historic recovery effort in Eastern North Carolina, we document the multifaceted struggle to reintroduce one of the rarest animals on earth in the face of cultural, economic, and biological challenges in North Carolina. |
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Filmmaker Q & A
WHAT INSPIRED THIS STORY?
There are several reasons I wanted to make this film. The first is that red wolves are an often over-looked critically endangered species living in the east. It was the first time a predator had ever been re-introduced into the wild anywhere in the world and led to several other re-introduction efforts (including grey wolves and California condors), and felt this innovative conservation story would be worth telling. The more pressing reason is that the red wolves recently entered the spotlight as a hot-button political issue in North Carolina when the state announced they want to declare the animal extinct in the wild and no longer want to offer protection to the 45-60 remaining wild red wolves. I wanted to create a film that would get the audience up to date about the species, the issues, and some of the key players so they could become more involved with the outcome of the species, pushing for their continued protection on the landscape under the Endangered Species Act.
DESCRIBE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES FACED WHILE MAKING THIS FILM.
One of the major challenges in making this film was creating a final piece that would be up-to-date as the story is in a constant state of flux. Elements of the story would change during the edit, so we needed to stay flexible in our post-production to include new developments.
Another challenge was getting footage of red wolves. There are 45-60 wild red wolves left, and they live in dense swamp. While I was able to access red wolves in captive breeding centers, creating a sense of place that included red wolves would be a challenge, given that seeing wild wolves would be near impossible.
HOW DO YOU APPROACH SCIENCE STORYTELLING?
I wanted to make the film accessible to the communities most immediately affected by the presence of red wolves, so I spent most of my time with people in the region that had direct experiences with the re-introduction of the species, consequences with their livestock, and other experiences that offered the audience the reality of living with this species. Rather than presenting science as a defense in a polarized discussion, I wanted to present the science as a mutually agreed upon base to have further discussions. Incorporating individual experiences with the animal offered more depth to the scientific data, and allows the audience to understand local perspectives better.
WHAT IMPACT DO YOU HOPE THIS FILM WILL HAVE?
Over the course of the film, it became clear that many people simply do not know about the species or the specifics of the current tensions. After screenings in the area, we organized panels with landowners, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and various non-profits. This way, each event would provide a baseline of the history, science, and controversy outlined in the film, and end in a discussion with key stakeholders and decision-makers. We also organized private screenings and surveys throughout the more contentious regions of North Carolina in order to get a sense of how the film could shift perspectives, and found that the film is, in fact, contributing to people’s understanding of the species.
Ultimately, I hope this film will contribute to the state-level conversation about red wolves and lead to a more active involvement from citizens to understand if the species has a place on the landscape in North Carolina, rather than a few specific stakeholders driving the decision in either direction.
WERE THERE ANY SURPRISNG & MEANINGFUL MOMENTS / EXPERIENCES YOU WANT TO SHARE?
Most people we spoke with in North Carolina, including those in the region where red wolves are present, had little to no knowledge of the species existing, despite it being the only place in the world it exists in the wild. We also found that most people weren’t as polarized as we thought, with many people being tolerant of opposing ideas.
ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE PEOPLE TO KNOW?
The US Fish and Wildlife is making a decision regarding the future of the red wolf recovery program within weeks, and I hope people pay attention to that announcement as it will have implications on how the US will address controversial endangered species in the coming years.
WHAT NEXT?
I hope to organize more screenings in North Carolina, as those events have already contributed to the public understanding of the species and issues surrounding them.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO TELL THIS PARTICULAR STORY? WHAT DID YOU LEARN DURING THE MAKING OF THIS FILM? ANY SURPRISES?
This story is important to the east coast; many of its predators are absent from the landscape, yet this rare wolf species is still present in North Carolina. I wanted to highlight this fact and help introduce the unique conservation story to people.
As I wanted to develop an impact component to this film, I learned the value of creating a film for a particular audience. There were sometimes easier ways to present certain ideas, but keeping in mind that I wanted rural North Carolinians to see the film and connect to the environment and issues, I needed to present stories relevant to their experience above my own.
There are several reasons I wanted to make this film. The first is that red wolves are an often over-looked critically endangered species living in the east. It was the first time a predator had ever been re-introduced into the wild anywhere in the world and led to several other re-introduction efforts (including grey wolves and California condors), and felt this innovative conservation story would be worth telling. The more pressing reason is that the red wolves recently entered the spotlight as a hot-button political issue in North Carolina when the state announced they want to declare the animal extinct in the wild and no longer want to offer protection to the 45-60 remaining wild red wolves. I wanted to create a film that would get the audience up to date about the species, the issues, and some of the key players so they could become more involved with the outcome of the species, pushing for their continued protection on the landscape under the Endangered Species Act.
DESCRIBE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES FACED WHILE MAKING THIS FILM.
One of the major challenges in making this film was creating a final piece that would be up-to-date as the story is in a constant state of flux. Elements of the story would change during the edit, so we needed to stay flexible in our post-production to include new developments.
Another challenge was getting footage of red wolves. There are 45-60 wild red wolves left, and they live in dense swamp. While I was able to access red wolves in captive breeding centers, creating a sense of place that included red wolves would be a challenge, given that seeing wild wolves would be near impossible.
HOW DO YOU APPROACH SCIENCE STORYTELLING?
I wanted to make the film accessible to the communities most immediately affected by the presence of red wolves, so I spent most of my time with people in the region that had direct experiences with the re-introduction of the species, consequences with their livestock, and other experiences that offered the audience the reality of living with this species. Rather than presenting science as a defense in a polarized discussion, I wanted to present the science as a mutually agreed upon base to have further discussions. Incorporating individual experiences with the animal offered more depth to the scientific data, and allows the audience to understand local perspectives better.
WHAT IMPACT DO YOU HOPE THIS FILM WILL HAVE?
Over the course of the film, it became clear that many people simply do not know about the species or the specifics of the current tensions. After screenings in the area, we organized panels with landowners, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and various non-profits. This way, each event would provide a baseline of the history, science, and controversy outlined in the film, and end in a discussion with key stakeholders and decision-makers. We also organized private screenings and surveys throughout the more contentious regions of North Carolina in order to get a sense of how the film could shift perspectives, and found that the film is, in fact, contributing to people’s understanding of the species.
Ultimately, I hope this film will contribute to the state-level conversation about red wolves and lead to a more active involvement from citizens to understand if the species has a place on the landscape in North Carolina, rather than a few specific stakeholders driving the decision in either direction.
WERE THERE ANY SURPRISNG & MEANINGFUL MOMENTS / EXPERIENCES YOU WANT TO SHARE?
Most people we spoke with in North Carolina, including those in the region where red wolves are present, had little to no knowledge of the species existing, despite it being the only place in the world it exists in the wild. We also found that most people weren’t as polarized as we thought, with many people being tolerant of opposing ideas.
ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE PEOPLE TO KNOW?
The US Fish and Wildlife is making a decision regarding the future of the red wolf recovery program within weeks, and I hope people pay attention to that announcement as it will have implications on how the US will address controversial endangered species in the coming years.
WHAT NEXT?
I hope to organize more screenings in North Carolina, as those events have already contributed to the public understanding of the species and issues surrounding them.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO TELL THIS PARTICULAR STORY? WHAT DID YOU LEARN DURING THE MAKING OF THIS FILM? ANY SURPRISES?
This story is important to the east coast; many of its predators are absent from the landscape, yet this rare wolf species is still present in North Carolina. I wanted to highlight this fact and help introduce the unique conservation story to people.
As I wanted to develop an impact component to this film, I learned the value of creating a film for a particular audience. There were sometimes easier ways to present certain ideas, but keeping in mind that I wanted rural North Carolinians to see the film and connect to the environment and issues, I needed to present stories relevant to their experience above my own.
