Puget Sound is a living jewel that encompasses thousands of shoreline miles in Washington state and is home to more than 4 million people. However, this fjord-like estuary is experiencing continued ecological decline and loss of critical marine habitat. The Northwest Straits Initiative was authorized by Congress in 1998 to protect and restore marine waters, species and habitats through a citizen-based approach.
WATCH: “Engaging Conservation Leaders” on Facebook and Vimeo.
The Northwest Straits Initiative (NWSI) commissioned animator Andrea Love to create this beautiful short film to highlight the work of the NWSI and how the Initiative’s work contributes to the goal of protecting and restoring our marine waters. Each component of NWSI has unique skills and organizational characteristics that allow for strong collective actions across a variety of conservation projects. The short film illustrates how NWSI partners with scientists, locally-based advisory groups, and volunteers who all share the common goal of protecting local marine waters through programs such as the removal of derelict fishing gear, and restoration of many shoreline sites.
When making the film, Andrea Love interviewed several key players in the Northwest Straits Initiative. She then animated them in her unmistakable stop-motion style to create the story of “Engaging Conservation Leaders.” Characters in the film include Terry Williams (Northwest Straits Commissioner, Commissioner of Fisheries and Natural Resources, Tulalip Tribes), Rich Childers (Director, Northwest Straits Commission), Lisa Kaufman (Nearshore Program Manager, Northwest Straits Foundation), Jason Morgan (Marine Projects Manager, Northwest Straits Foundation) and Frances Wood (Island County MRC Volunteer).
The film is scored with original music by Eric Andrew Kuhn.
Andrea Love is a freelance animator and artist living in Port Townsend, Washington, where she is well known for her folky, handmade storytelling. Love graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Hampshire College in 2010, concentrating in film studies and sustainable agriculture . Her passion for both film and visual arts led her down the road of stop-motion animation. With a steadfast commitment to traditional hand crafts, Love fuses numerous techniques into her work, from needle felting to wood working. Her work has been screened in a diverse range of venues, including the Tribeca Film Festival and the North Carolina Museum of Art.
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For more information, please contact Sasha Horst at the Northwest Straits Commission- horst@nwstraits.org
