Film & Media
Department
ZLI's Film and Media department serves as the catalyst for the Institute and its mission.
PhotoDiversity™ productions pursue scientific, cultural and environmental questions regarding light and life.
Utilizing the Arts For Animal Welfare and Wildlife Conservation
ZLI’s Film & Media Department utilizes media to create touchstones and fulfill ZLI's mission to 'support the sciences through the arts for animal welfare and wildlife conservation. We seek to create:
- Campaign Based Documentaries
- Narrative/Art Explorations of Light
- Public Service Announcements Related to the ZLI Mission
ZLI coined the term PhotoDiversity™, a concept originally related to the biologically-necessary diversity of natural light. Now, ZLI also emphasizes the term to recognize diversity as fundamental to successful application of the scientific method. Multiple perspectives grounded in science, but stemming from different quarters, allow for better and non-dogmatic questions to be raised. As a concept, PhotoDiversity™ is fundamental to all ZLI does; and it is a strict guideline for ZLI’s Film and Media Productions.
PhotoDiversity Films
Documentaries, Features & PSA's
Documentaries
PhotoDiversity Films create narrative documentaries based in ZLI's Campaigns, engaging communities around the globe. Currently, six are in pre-production. These build upon the success ZLI had in producing Brilliant Darkness: Hotaru in the Night:
Current productions include
Beached Campaign
Adjusting to Death
(Japan/New Zealand)
The documentary celebrates the complexity of human relationships with whales and dolphins, pursuing a much needed diversity, engagement and inclusion approach to consider animals that all too often garner visceral public reactions that divide people of differing cultural perspectives. It outlines the major threats to small cetaceans found near coasts around the globe, both purposeful and incidental, documenting various gains and losses derived from otherwise tragic phenomena of stranding, and what can be done to reduce the frequency events.
Bearanoia Campaign
Denial at the Crossroads
(Sitka, Alaska)
ZLI's Bearanoia™ Campaign presents a cutting scientific documentary to explore themes of anxiety in dealing with top predators. Long an icon of climate change awareness, polar bears have adjusted to living in closer proximity to human communities than ever before. The resiliency of the species brings not only change for scientists trying to understand these top predators, but also to communities needing to learn safe co-existence with these necessary and amazing animals.
Healthy Glow Campaign
Sharks in a Fertile Light
(USA/Singapore)
This documentary is a beautiful scientific documentary set to explore the photobiology of sharks, the role of natural light in reproductive health. Life on earth originated in the sea, and we land animals carry our ocean with us in our body fluids and chemistry. Yet even from its origins in the depths of the ocean, organic life is inseparable from the delicate cycles of natural light.
Insect Apocalypse Campaign
A Hungry Light
(Japan/Thailand)
The documentary recounts the familiar effects of pesticides and habitat loss on insect species, but recognizes new scientific research that points to artificial light pollution as a significant factor behind the Insect Apocalypse. Exploring the fascinating world of insect photobiology and incredibly bizarre insect eyes in macroscopic detail, Insect Apocalypse offers a new view into what it is to see and be seen at the end of all things. Embracing a diversity, inclusion and engagement ethic, the film considers different international perspectives on hunger, service and the cycles of life.
Otohime's Time Campaign
A Sea Turtle's Phenology
(Japan/USA)
The documentary sounds the alarm that action to protect sea turtles is urgent, and that there is a moment when it will be too late. A scientific documentary to explore the fascinating world of sea turtle photobiology, how the natural cycles of night and day both over and under the sea enliven these beautiful creatures, it takes viewers into an amazing realm of science and wonder that few beyond research labs ever get to see. Embracing a diversity, inclusion and engagement ethic, the film considers international perspectives on the world’s seven species of sea turtles, how they were brought back from extinction and what they mean for the health of the oceans.
Save a Billion Birds Campaign
Buildings & Borders
(Worldwide)
[Content goes here.]
and Golondrinas™?
and Mejiro™?
‘Golondrinas™’ & ‘Mejiro™‘ track migrating birds from the southern to northern hemispheres in the Americas and Asia, respectively, stressing that local acts can have effects on distant people. These films raise the alarm that actions to protect birds from glass windows is urgent, and that necessary personal actions that come late, might be too late. A scientific documentary to explore the fascinating world of avian photobiology, these films are suitable for educational markets as well as wildlife education and cultural heritage venues. Embracing a diversity, inclusion and engagement ethic, the film considers international perspectives on birds, and the many ways that people celebrate and identify with these iconic animals.
Feature Films
PhotoDiversity Films seeks to build empathy through animated folk-tales, giving narrative expression to the various Campaigns. The proposed suite of films include trilogies (horror, comedy and romance) based in international works, derived from Japanese, Chinese and Native American literatures.
Current productions include
Public Service Announcements (PSA's)
PhotoDiversity Films creates short "Research Snippets" to summarize ongoing ZLI Framework Research, to advance the ZLI PhotoSciences Department and create appreciation for its value. Current Productions Include: ZLI Framework Film (Title tbd.)
Current productions include
Art Films
This segment emphasizes attention to natural light phenomena in film research format, having reference in the ‘Lumia’ projects of Thomas Wilfred and Moholy Nage, as well as complex technical arts that raise awareness of light as an object of study; such as holography, virtual reality and cross-sensory modality exploration.
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Independent Media
These align with ZLI educational programs, and include youth, independent and professional subjects.
Shop and Support the Cause
Every Purchase Helps Fund ZLI
ZLI offers top-quality videography, photograhy and night vision equipment through our shop. As a Nonprofit, we offer products at comparable retail cost to our supporters.
ZLI is now an affiliate of BH Photo, meaning that if you buy your photo or video equipment from us, B&H Photo will help ZLI to support its scholarship programs and continue its charitable work to advance animal welfare and wildlife conservation!
Every purchase helps to fund grants within the ZLI mission, to improve the lives of animals and the health of our environments. All product acquisition through ZLI is accompanied by in-house support services, in accord with mission. All products are accompanied by in-house and manufacturer support services.
Remember, you can also donate a product to an individual, institution or organization of your choice. Such generosity supports our cause and wildlife conservation, by empowering people to help themselves through science.
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