The sign of a great documentary is a film’s ability to take a complex concept and to make it understandable while also being engaging. And let’s be honest, when the subject is environmental, the viewer is also expecting breathtaking shots. It’s no wonder then that Thirroul-based film and video production company Painting in Pictures has taken out the grand prize in the XPRIZE Carbon Removal Indie Film Showcase.
Their film, How Whale Poop can Help us Remove Carbon Dioxide from the Ocean, chronicles the WhaleX team as they explore the potential of artificial whale poo to stimulate phytoplankton growth and, in turn, capture and store carbon.
For local filmmakers Kirsty B Carter and Joe Harrison, this was right up their alley.
Painting in Pictures' focus is, “To tell inspiring stories that have global impact but don’t cost the earth.” While the eco-conscious company has worked around the globe, their award-winning documentary was made much closer to home, with filming at the Sydney Institute of Marine Science in Chowder Bay and out on the water along the east coast down to Cronulla.
The team faced several challenges in the process, including how to take a scientifically dense subject and make it engaging for everyday viewers.
Kirsty said, “It's one thing to understand the science myself, quite another to translate it into human-speak. You have to think like a scientist and then be part translator, part storyteller. The primary challenge is to fully grasp the life's work of experts who've devoted themselves to the ocean and climate science.”
And, of course, there was the unpredictability of the ocean itself. Kirsty found herself battling crippling sea sickness “and looking like the discombobulated 'drunk girl' at the party while attempting to conduct jelly-legged interviews…”
The team are currently in post production with their upcoming feature, Dayakland, however, they will continue to follow the WhaleX crew as they scale up.
As for the possibility of facing the ocean again? Kirsty said, "I am a sucker for curiosity and adventure [and] ready to jump on board and do it all over again.”
