Deirdre Brennan's Kickstarter Video
Still photograph of salmon & salmon migration map courtesy of the Atlantic Salmon Federation
The film, Atlantic Salmon - Lost at Sea! takes the viewer on an epic journey through the mysterious world of the King of Fish. This is a quest to solve the mystery of the salmon’s life at sea and answer the question: why are salmon dying in greater numbers than ever before in their ocean environment and not returning to their native rivers?
Sizzler/ Salmon's Journey
Our film tells the great mystery story of an iconic and ancient ocean creature – The King of Fish. It takes the viewer on a true life-quest to solve the urgent scientific puzzle: what is causing populations of the legendary Atlantic salmon to plummet in numbers as never before in history? "Lost At Sea" is an ambitious documentary film working with unique access to an international scientific investigation, the Salmon at Sea (SALSEA) programme coordinated by NASCO (North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization) and with scientists worldwide. The film follows the incredible journey of salmon from the rivers of Europe and North America to the arctic feeding grounds around Greenland, all the while seeking answers to the mystery of they are dying at sea. The story unfolds before our eyes as we see the magic of new tracking methods to follow the salmon and learn about their mysterious life in the vast ocean.
With generous support from our sponsors, we have filmed for 80 days in 6 different countries . We began filming aboard a research vessel in 2009, the Celtic Explorer, documenting groundbreaking scientific work at sea as scientists followed young salmon to trace their migration paths in the ocean. Since then the team has traveled to rivers throughout the range of Atlantic salmon filming the important work being carried out to track, understand, save and restore Atlantic salmon.
Atlantic Salmon - Lost at Sea! Promo
Salmon population graph courtesy of the Atlantic Salmon Federation
What is Kickstarter?
Kickstarter is a dynamic way to help fund creative ideas and ambitious endeavors. Kickstarter is powered by a unique all-or-nothing funding method where projects must be fully funded or no money changes hands. In other words, if we don’t raise our goal of $50,000, (€44,000 / £30,000) we lose everything. And, incidentally, our goal of $50,000 is the bare minimum we need to complete the edit.
What is The Ocean Foundation and is my contribution tax deductible?
Atlantic Salmon: Lost at Sea! is a fiscally sponsored project of The Ocean Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization recognized by the IRS based in Washington, DC. Your donation is tax-deductible in the United States of America to the extent allowed by law.
Deirdre Brennan’s Journey
Over the last 6 years, natural history filmmaker Deirdre Brennan has undertaken a project to follow the story of the scientific investigation to find the cause of the declining populations of wild Atlantic salmon. She and her team documented on film work being carried out to track salmon with the latest tagging methods, to restore and monitor rivers (including the dramatic removal of a dam), and to show the struggle for survival salmon face on their life’s journey. The team includes award-winning underwater wildlife cameraman Rick Rosenthal, internationally renowned scientist Ken Whelan, and major salmon conservation, scientific and angling organizations. They traveled to rivers in Canada, Maine, Iceland, Greenland, Ireland and Scotland and to sea, in the North Atlantic from the northernmost coasts of Ireland to the Arctic. The journey is now complete and with the exceptional footage shot, we are ready to start the edit.
What We Want to Create
Deirdre and the team captured more than 100 hours of beautiful, high-quality footage documenting the vast geographic range of the Atlantic salmon from their rivers of birth to their epic migration in the North Atlantic. They followed scientists on their quest to solve the mystery of why salmon are dying at sea – both in rivers and in the ocean. The film will reveal the latest methods being used to track salmon and the exciting information that research has yielded. This knowledge will help to unravel the mystery. Along the way, they discovered the ancient bond between salmon and man that dates back thousands of years. This bond makes the case for why it is vital to our very existence that wild Atlantic salmon continue to return to rivers throughout their range.
Our Goal
To create a documentary film that brings awareness to one of the critical issues of our time and by provoking discussion, will ultimately help to lead to solutions to sustain and support an iconic species, which is under increasing pressure.
Why Do You Want to Make This Film?
To raise awareness of this extremely important issue and urgent conservation work being done. The issues facing Atlantic Salmon need to be part of an international conservation, management and action plan. The salmon’s plight is symptomatic of other species in the ocean. This film will help to highlight the major issues at both a local and international level. When the film is complete we will take it on the road with a series of targeted screenings and talks, entry in film festivals, and work with a range distributors to bring it to broadcasters and streaming media. This matters because action needs to be taken now to save salmon and to understand the broad scope of the problem!!
How Will Your Money Be Spent?
The money will be used to pay for the post-production/edit costs. Crew (editor, sound designer, writer, etc.) equipment, music and graphics.
What Happens if you Go Over Target
If we are fortunate enough to go over target, we will use the extra money to make this film even more stunning by creating extra graphics, effects, and additional music. If we go over significantly, we will use the money to create a series of short films about specific issues relating to salmon for educational purposes. We will give these films to the different salmon conservation organizations we have worked with to raise awareness within their communities and beyond.
What Stage Are You At
We have all the footage we need. We have the post-production team in place and are ready to start the edit as soon as the funding is in place!
What is Your Timeline
The campaign will run from August 12th, 2015 – September10th 2015 . If this campaign is successful, we plan to enter the post production phase shortly after and complete the film by early 2016.
Apart From Pledging, Is There Anything Else I Can Do To Help?
Yes! Get involved. See our website for organizations that support conservation work for Atlantic Salmon like the Atlantic Salmon Federation, North Atlantic Salmon Fund, Atlantic Salmon Trust, NASCO (new Salsea tracking programme) and others. Also support our campaign by spreading the word – friends, family, everyone! Tweet and Facebook a link to this page!
What Happens If You Don’t Reach Your Goal?
We don’t get a penny. Kickstarter is all-or-nothing platform. If we don’t reach our goal, we can’t begin our edit. So please do help in any way you can, from giving us a donation at any level to spreading the word – everything helps!
What Will I Get If I Help You?
We have a list of rewards on the right! I hope you enjoy them at whatever level you choose to support us.
What If I Don’t Want the Reward and Just Want To Help You?
Then you are just amazing! Thank you so much for believing in us.
Sounds Good, But I’d Like To Speak to You.
It would be a pleasure to speak. – please email the team via Deirdre Brennan – Deirdre.Salmonfilm@gmail.com
Highlights of Where We Have Filmed
Risks and Challenges?
There are no risks with this project. We have completed all the filming and have all the footage we need. All we need is the last piece of the edit budget in order to start the post- production. We have the post-production team in place and are ready to start!
Risks and challenges
There are no risks. We have all the footage and are ready to start the edit once the final funding is in place.
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Funding period
- (32 days)