2016 Annual Report

2 0 1 6 A N N UA L R E P O R T

USING VIDEO AS

A CATALYST

FOR ACTION Conservation Media Group builds capacity and connections through grant funding, workshops and consultation, so ocean and energy leaders can create compelling call-to-action campaigns with measurable impacts.

We support filmmakers, activists, and organizations who are creating impact in our three focus areas: providing sanctuary for marine life, reducing ocean plastic at its source, and transitioning to a low-carbon economy.

MAKE

SHARE

CHANGE

We help changemakers create videos with engaging storylines and innovative platforms.

We help changemakers use best practices for targeted video distribution and grassroots campaigning.

We help changemakers develop strategies to obtain significant and measurable results.

From Our Founder 2016 has been a year of sharpened priorities for CMG. You could call it “the year of calling out fossil fuel impact.”

The ocean is filling up with plastic, a cheap byproduct of oil. Marine life suffers from destructive fishing, habitat disturbance, and pollution, often connected to the use or transport of oil and its derivatives. And the sea and climate are increasingly hostile to human and marine life because we are burning oil and coal and overheating the planet.

We consider these fossil fuel impacts unacceptable.

The need for action is urgent. Consequently, 2016 was the first year in which ALL of our activity was organized within three CMG program focus areas: • Reducing Ocean Plastic at Source • Providing Sanctuary for Marine Life • Activist-led Transition to Low-Carbon Economy

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2016 was also a year of results for CMG, beginning in January, when we helped move the post-Paris Climate agreement from politicians to the people. We launched a Focus Fund for feature films, in collaboration with our strategic partner 350.org and filmmaker Kelly Nyks. The film Disobedience was directly integrated into the 11day worldwide campaign “Break Free from Fossil Fuels.”

30,000 people participated in 20 escalated climate justice actions on 6 continents. This is part of CMG’s program area Activist-led Transition to Low-Carbon Economy. Our model is working: pairing vetted media-makers with highperforming grassroots organizers through workshops, grants, and fellowships.

We helped launch new talent, like the young British mediamakers Danny Copeland and Sally Snow. Danny’s stories and innovations assisted the Pew Charitable Trusts as it

drove delegates to vote for sanctuary for new marine species at the Convention for International Trade In Endangered Species (CITES). Sally’s campaign media supported the organization LAMAVE as it establishes a regulatory framework with grassroots tour operators and the Philippine government to manage the exploding marine tourism that is disrupting sea life in the Coral Triangle. These efforts fit CMG’s program area Providing Sanctuary for Marine Life.

Other results included screenings of The Plastic Vagabond in 6,065 classrooms, and new work with the Ocean Recovery Alliance and with 5 Gyres (More Ocean, Less Plastic campaign). We expect results for these efforts will emerge in 2017, within our program area Reducing Ocean Plastic at Source.

Stories and media are the circulating lifeblood of successful social movements. Stories are powerful campaign tools because they capture hearts and minds. They entertain. They are highly shareable. They embody values that motivate and align movements. Stories inspire leadership because their characters and situations embody critical tasks. They model problem-solving. They hold elected officials accountable. According to a recent paper* distributed by our friends at the Climate Advocacy Lab, congressional attention and media outreach by advocacy groups are the primary predictors of media coverage, which in turn is the primary predictor of public concern.

CMG seeks to be the leader in what we do; the world’s best not-for-profit foundation optimizing film and video storytelling as a grassroots organizing tool for organizations and campaigns seeking a measurably healthier ocean and climate. With the right stories, told by the right storytellers in the right context, grassroots social movements will make the ocean and climate healthy. This is our theory of change.

As an intermediary organization, we connect passionate and committed funders to the very active media campaigners who are doing the legwork of positive change that this report details. I give a special thanks to our founding funders, the Lewis Family. Their inspiration, vision, and sustaining leadership has made real what was once only possible. CMG took some big steps in 2016, under the very able operational leadership of Liz Smith, and these steps are positioning us and our grantees extremely well for the necessary grassroots media campaign work we see ahead—in 2017 and beyond.

For a healthier ocean and climate,

David Conover Founder & President Conservation Media Group

*Jason T. Carmichael and Robert J. Brulle (2016): Elite cues, media coverage, and public concern: an integrated path analysis of public opinion on climate change, 2001–2013, Environmental Politics, DOI: 10.1080/09644016.2016.1263433

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STORIES OF IMPACT Conservation Media Group supports filmmakers, activists and organizations who are creating positive change. Our focus in our Catalyst Workshops and in our Grant Programs is on projects that look beyond view counts and distribution numbers. When it comes to healthy oceans and a transition to a low carbon economy, we believe the best stories are those that have a measurable impact on the ground. Here are highlights from our changemaking grantee projects.

“

The greatest thing I’ve taken from [the Love Mini Mantas campaign] is the knowledge that the work I did made a significant contribution to attaining an important conservation victory. The feeling of knowing you helped make a difference is truly priceless, and will serve as the primary driver for all my future ideas and conservation projects.

”

—Danny Copeland, 2016 CMG Action Grantee

DISOBEDIENCE AND BREAK FREE The Break Free from Fossil Fuels mobilization in May 2016 was led by a coalition of international organizations, most notably 350.org, and aimed to generate worldwide actions of civil disobedience to articulate the need for a future free from the tyranny of fossil fuels and based on 100% renewable energy. The Break Free companion film, Disobedience, was produced by CMG grantee Kelly Nyks with a CMG Focus Fund grant of $100,000. The film modeled best practices for civil disobedience, placed the Break Free actions in the historical context of social movements, and acted as a rally call leading up to the actions. Through online screenings and watch parties around the world, the film catalyzed people to participate in the planned Break Free actions.

Breaking Down Barriers to Engagement One aspect that set Disobedience apart was its direct integration with the Break Free campaign.

The social and psychological barriers for an individual to participate in a civilly disobedient action can be high, so the addition of a film that not only engages the viewer in the upcoming action, but also places that action in significant historical context can be a game-changer. And, by encouraging people to host “watch parties� offline in their communities, the film helped facilitate personal conversations and connections that are crucial catalysts to activating individuals to participate in an activist action, particularly in civil disobedience.

Worldwide Action Against Fossil Fuels

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The Break Free campaign ran for 11 days with over 30,000 people participating in 20 escalated actions on 6 continents. The campaign shut down the world’s largest coal port, one of the largest sources of CO2 in Europe, the largest unmitigated source of CO2 in the United States, one of the biggest coal plants in Brazil, and a waste site for power plants in one of the most polluted areas of Turkey. The mobilization also gave thousands of people their first opportunity to participate in civil disobedience or direct action, and provided a dramatic, engaging story of resistance for millions more. It also gave the big organizational players in the international climate movement a chance to work together on a different kind of project—one of unprecedented complexity and risk. 350.org’s staff believes they built new trust and goodwill with partnering organizations, in both the large NGO sphere and at the grassroots level.

“In Indonesia, a grassroots activist group that had been on-the-fencebut-leaning-no about participating, was inspired to be part of the action after watching the film. In the Philippines, our allies report that the mainstream faith community—which is a really big part of the climate movement there—became more amenable to more escalated, action-based tactics after viewing and being inspired by the film.”

—Allyse Heartwell, 350.org Digital Director

LOVE MINI MANTAS

X

The Love Mini Mantas campaign spearheaded by Danny Copeland with a CMG Action Grant of $10,000 set out to support the protection of mobula rays at the 2016 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Danny created a 5-minute 360VR film, produced in the Azores and screened for voting delegates at the CITES conference in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The mobula protection proposal received a majority vote (84%) on October 4th, 2016, and all mobula rays are now protected under Appendix II of CITES.

Protecting Vulnerable Species Mobula rays are defined by the specially modified gill plates they use to strain their planktonic prey from the water column. A demand for these same gill plates for use in Asian medicine has led to the rapid expansion of fisheries that target these rays on a global scale. As such, mobula rays have faced regional declines between 5099% and have quickly become some of the most threatened fish in our seas. As a global leader in shark and ray conservation, the Fijian government formally proposed that all mobula rays become listed on Appendix II of CITES. Protection under this legally-binding global treaty is crucial to saving mobula rays from an unsustainable international trade.

A member of the CITES delegation after viewing the Love Mini Mantas 360VR film

The Necessity of Collaboration

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Rarely does a film all by itself change the world. The best conservation efforts result from innovative collaborations, with a film often serving as a capstone that tops years of conservation work on the ground.

Building Long-Term Capacity The Love Mini Mantas campaign was the first solo effort for the Manta Trust at spearheading a media campaign around a specific action. Given its success, they are keen to initiate more in the future. Since the campaign, the charity has secured significant funding to support their main communications initiatives for the next few years, as well as finance new core staff, including the role of Media Manager, now occupied by our CMG grantee. Their future work will focus heavily on reducing mobula fisheries by training and liaising with governments to implement and enforce CITES listings—something that would be impossible without having first secured the listing of mobula rays onto Appendix II of CITES.

In grantee Danny Copeland’s words, “It would be unfair to claim that the 360VR film and Love Mini Mantas campaign were the primary driver behind the mobula ray success at CITES. For the last six years, Pew Charitable Trusts has spearheaded an NGO coalition (which includes Manta Trust) that has worked behind the scenes to rally the world’s governments behind all upcoming shark and ray proposals submitted to CITES. They have an extensive and global team, and are experts in navigating the minefield that is conservation policy. Without Pew, the Mobula proposal would never have made it to CITES, [however], the consensus from the experienced staff across Pew and partnering NGOs was that the 360VR film offered a completely different, innovative and more subtle method to bring undecided nations into the conversation… At least five nations had expressed that their vote had been swung in favor of protecting mobulas, thanks to viewing the 360VR film.”

“The work was innovative and well-presented. I believe it was the first time that VR footage has been showcased at a CITES meeting, and it was well-received by delegates and NGO’s alike... The VR experience complemented a range of activities that made ocean conservation a key issue at the COP, and helped ensure governments felt pressure to adopt listings.”

— Luke Warwick, Director, Global Shark Conservation at Pew Charitable Trusts

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CMG PROGRAM IMPACT PROVIDING SANCTUARY FOR MARINE WILDLIFE Mediterranean Conservation Society • 2 local films distributed • 400% increase in demand for invasive species • 20% increase in market value of invasive fish • 100+ fisherwomen’s lives improved • +1 working waterfront engaged in removing invasive species and protecting their bay

PROGRAM IMPACT

Danny Copeland: #loveminimantas campaign • 1 360VR film released • Mobulid rays granted CITES protection • International attention at CITES conference in South Africa • Multiple key delegates throughout the world influenced emotionally by immersive film experience Sally Snow: Their Future, Our Future campaign • 6 short films distributed • Campaign launch at ADEX (Asia’s Largest Diving Expo) where 2 presentations were given and 57,793 attended • Support from 5 Philippine NGOs to support passing marine wildlife interaction law: (Marine Wildlife Watch of the Philippines, Green Fins, Reef-World Foundation, Save the Philippine Seas, and Greenpeace) • Accreditation of Philippine marine wildlife interaction films by National Department of Tourism and Department of Environment and Natural Resources • Multiple community screenings in the Philippines to residents, policy makers, local officials, tour operators and dive shop owners Jessica Plumb: Safe Passage in the Salish Sea • 1 short film released • 1,600+ signatures supporting the Salish Sea as a

Particularly Sensitive Sea Area • Resolution passed by British Columbia Assembly of First Nations to unanimously support designation of Salish Sea as a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area

•

REDUCING OCEAN PLASTICS AT SOURCE Ayla Fox / Sailors for the Sea • 2 videos distributed • 74% increase in Sailors for the Sea website visits • Video shared over 100 media outlets and boating organizations, and displayed on social media and YouTube giving Sailors for the Sea a large digital presence • After only one week up there were over 100 new subscribers to the Sailors for the Sea email list Noé Sardet and Tierney Thys: Tale of Plastic • 1 short film released, in both English and French • 6,065 classrooms reached with ocean plastics film and TED Ed lesson plan with 781 students’ questions answered • 20 in-person international screenings with 800+ viewers • 10 creative submissions to beach cleanup art project • Strong partnerships created with Tara Expeditions, Ecomaris, and The Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup

TRANSITIONING TO A LOW CARBON ECONOMY Kelly Nyks and PF Pictures: Disobedience • 30,000 participants and 20 escalated actions over 6 continents • Newcastle Coal Port in Australia shut down for one day

•

•

•

•

Vattenfall Welzow-Sued coal mine + Schwarze Pumpe coal power station in Germany shut down for 3 days of successive acts of civil disobedience to demand an end to coal Action against the Pecém coal power plant, the largest thermal power plant in Brazil, and a symbol of the federal government’s contradiction of the agreement signed at COP21 Ffos-y-Fran coal mine—the largest open-cast coal mine in the United Kingdom—was shut down for over 12 hours, with no injuries and no arrests Community leaders led a mass action Aliağa coal ash disposal site near Izmir, Turkey calling for a stop to four fossil fuel plant projects in the surrounding area Thousands converged by land and water on March Point in Anacortes, WA—the largest unmitigated source of CO2 in the northwest United States and the site of two oil refineries Over three days, the action included multiple kayak flotillas, a march led by Indigenous leaders, and an overnight sit-in on the train tracks that led to over 50 arrests

SeaGrass Grow • 2 web videos distributed • $71,500+ raised in blue carbon offsets • 30,000+ square meters of seagrass planted in Elkhorn Slough, CA Shalini Kantayya • 9 short videos released • Feature film Catching the Sun had 16 NGOs (national and global partners) advising on the positioning of the film including: Vote Solar, Sierra Club, Solutions Project, SEIA, NAACP Climate Justice , League of Conservation Voters, GRID Alternatives, Green for All, Global Green,

Environment America, Energy Action Coalition, Blue Green Alliance, Asian Pacific Environmental Network, American Sustainable Business Council, 350.org, 100% Campaign • 22 NGO promotional allies spread word to their affiliates in the cities in which screenings were happening and online via social media • Partnership with 32 solar companies, who advised the goals and locations where screenings took place • 28 more solar companies promoted the screenings to their staff, customers, and social media audience Michelle Benham, Faith in Solar • 1 short video released • 3,672 hits to NCWARN.org's Emergency Climate

• • • • •

Response page 700 YouTube views 113 letters sent to Attorney General Cooper 2,428 likes, shares and outreach on Facebook 13 presentations for more that 700 people thru September 2016 Ongoing encouragement for people to contact Attorney General Cooper

COMMUNICATIONS CAPACITY & CONNECTIONS BUILT Hurricane Island Foundation • Garnered a previously absent social media presence • Increased connectedness and broadened audience reach

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• 3 videos emailed to 1,278 potential applicants with an open rate of 21% and a 13% click thru rate • Created the opportunity to host a CMG Fellow

CATALYST WORKSHOPS • • • •

2 workshops 26 filmmakers, strategists and activists 9 conservation organizations 8 Healthy Oceans and Islands and Climates projects catalyzed • 10+ resulting videos for action created • ∞ connections built between organizations and filmmakers

GRANTING OVERVIEW: Awards By Location

Awards By Focus Area

Awards By Program Area

US-Based Programs

Focus Fund

Transitioning to a Low Carbon Economy

Awarded: $140,000

Total amount given: $100,000

Awarded: $110,000

Number of Grants: 5

Award: 1

Number of Grants: 2

Action Grants

International Programs Awarded: $60,000 Number of Grants: 4

Awarded: $40,000

30%

Number of Grants: 4

10%

Providing Sanctuary for Marine Life

5%

Awarded: $70,000

10%

Number of Grants: 5

Blue Initiative Awarded: $30,000

70%

Number of Grants: 1

15%

Number of Grants: 2 CMG Fellow Awarded: $10,000 Number of Grants: 1

Reducing Ocean Plastics at Source Awarded: $20,000

Filmmaker-in-Residence Awarded: $20,000

50%

Number of Grants: 2

20%

35% 55%

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CATALYST WORKSHOPS Our Catalyst Workshops bring together filmmakers, social media managers, campaign strategists, and activists for an intensive 4-day collaborative retreat. Engaged mediamakers are paired with conservation and activist organizations to develop media strategies and videos for existing campaigns, with a focus on catalyzing real, measurable impact.

With just 13 participants, each workshop is a unique capacity building and networking experience that acts as an incubator for driving change.

The workshops take place at Alnoba in Kensington, New Hampshire, an hour’s drive north of Boston. Participants stay in on-site cabins and share meals while focusing on strategy, video and impact. CMG also considers workshop participants for future grants, residencies, and fellowships.

Our CMG Workshops are made possible with generous support from the Lewis Family

“

Foundation, providing us with direct program funding and in-kind use of the grounds and facilities at Alnoba.

Now when I start working on projects I immediately try to figure out what I want my impact to be and how best to make that happen.

My whole approach to filmmaking has changed (in the best of ways) because of the Catalyst Workshop. CMG has helped me realize what kind of filmmaker I want to be.

”

—Ashley Holmes, Emerging Filmmaker & Activist 2016 Catalyst Workshop Participant

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2016 Catalyst Workshops We welcomed two sets of incredibly talented, passionate, and experienced change-makers to our Catalyst Workshops in 2016. Over the course of the workshops, CMG helped incubate video projects for 8 organizations’ campaigns with 26 workshop participants and a wide range of speakers and staff.

Participants Included: • Executive Directors from the Ocean View Foundation, and SEVENSEAS Marine Conservation & Travel Magazine; • Founders from the Big Blue Network in Versailles, France; the Earth CoLab in India and the Large Marine Vertebrates Project (LAMAVE) in the Philippines; • Communications and marketing staff from The Ocean Foundation, the Coalition To Restore Coastal Louisiana, The Ocean Project, and the Better Future Project at 350 Mass; • Community and campaign organizers from 350.org in Fiji, the Global Island Partnership, and the Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance; • Graduate students in film and video from American University; and • Filmmakers from California, Florida, Louisiana, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, DC, India, and the Philippines An experienced group of guest speakers and workshop leaders attended in person and via Skype, including the Senior Producer for the World Wildlife Fund, an Online Video Strategist, campaign strategists from DOT Connector Studio, and a former Senior Video Producer for Greenpeace.

We came into this workshop intending to put together a 12 video and left restructuring our entire fundraising strategy. You learn not only how to target an audience, but how to build upon a call-to-action to sustain your organization through the future.

—Giacomo Abrusci, Executive Director & Editor-in-Chief, SEVENSEAS Travel & Conservation Magazine

I left the catalyst workshop with a full head and heart, but also realistic, strategic and implementable video and social media campaign concepts that our organization was thrilled with as we launch the Island Resilience Initiative…

It was the right time, the right place and the right people to bring it all together and we are certainly grateful and inspired.

—Stewart Sarkozy-Banoczy, Island Resilience Initiative Director, Global Island Partnership

Fostering relationships with like-minded, inspiring people, and building a network towards a change for the better, the CMG workshop created an unforgettable experience in a very short time frame.

—Pooja Gupta, Independent Filmmaker & Artist

2016 CATALYST CAPSTONE PROJECTS

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HEALTHY OCEANS SEP 29 - OCT 2, 2016 Large Marine Vertebrate Project

Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance

The Ocean Project

SEVENSEAS Magazine

Philippines (LAMAVE)

(NAMA)

Kara DiCamillo, Communications and

SEVENSEAS Marine Conservation &

Executive Director Alessandro Ponzo

Community Organizer Shira Tiffany join-

Social Media Strategist for The Ocean

Travel Magazine’s Executive Director

and Media Director Sally Snow joined

ed on behalf of the Northwest Atlantic

Project, arrived with the goal to bring

Giacomo Abrusci and Project Coor-

us from the Philippines. As an existing

Marine Alliance, a fishermen-led org-

more action to World Oceans Day.

dinator Marcus Reamer joined us

Action Grantee, LAMAVE arrived with

anization aiming to build a broad

They had three campaign objectives

with the objective to increase the

the intention of building upon their

movement toward healthy fisheries and

for their capstone project: to increase

number of subscriptions to their online

Their Future Our Future campaign, which

fishing communities. We paired Shira

the total number of events and

publication. We paired them with

aims to mitigate the tourism impact

with independent filmmaker Sarah

activities registered on their site, to

Ashley Holmes, a graduate student in

on marine wildlife in the Philippines.

Curry and environmental consultant

increase international outreach, and

Film and Video at American University,

Paired with filmmaker Laura Fravel,

Darcy Metzler. Together the team

to create more youth engagement. We

and together the trio produced a short

the group storyboarded ideas geared

developed a short concept film encour-

paired Kara with Elizabeth Herzfeldt-

film that was released to the public

toward tourists for their campaign.

aging viewers to “Join the RevolOcean”

Kamprath, an American University

the final morning of the workshop.

The first film shows the emotional

by signing up for NAMA’s newsletter.

graduate

Kimberley

The video used stunning images pulled

connection between the Philippine

Gervereau, Founder of the Big Blue

from previous editions of the magazine

people and the ocean, and would be

Network. They produced a short con-

and showed how SEVENSEAS can play

displayed in airports and on busses

cept video of “How You Can Celebrate”

a part in saving our ocean, appealing

and ferries. The second film shows

World Oceans Day highlighting ideas

to marine enthusiasts and marine

key wildlife interaction guidelines for

for events and activities to stimulate

conservation professionals.

tourists and would be played at wildlife

the audience in creating their own

tourism destinations.

events.

student,

and

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ISLANDS & CLIMATE NOV 10-13, 2016 350 Pacific

Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana (CRCL)

GLISPA Island Resilience Initiative

Ocean View Foundation (OVF)

Fenton Lutunatabua, campaigner for

Stewart Sarkozy-Banoczy from the

Ocean View Foundation Director Kim

350 Pacific, joined us from Fiji and

CRCL’s

Director,

Global Island Partnership’s new Island

Gaffett joined us from Block Island

was paired with Meena Hussain, an

Jimmy Frederick, joined us from Baton

Resilience Initiative joined us with

off the coast of Rhode Island. We

independent digital communications

Rouge with the objective of increasing

the goal of promoting action towards

paired her with independent filmmaker

strategist; Jarrod Curry, Marketing

local action in response to rapid loss

building resilient and sustainable is-

and

Manager for the Ocean Foundation;

of land along Louisiana’s coast. Jimmy

land communities. We paired Stewart

communications strategist Katherine

and Adams Wood, an independent

worked with New Orleans Video Access

with DC Visionaries filmmaker and

Anderson to assist the foundation in

filmmaker. The team created a short

Center producer Katie Mathews and

COO Celene DiStasio and Pooja Gupta,

its efforts to create action in regards

training video to build capacity for

communications strategist Lauren Reid

founder of the EARTH CoLab, who uses

to sea level rise due to climate change.

the Pacific Island Warriors Network.

to produce a film that would convey

animation to tell stories of con-

They developed a video directed at

To provide more individualized and

the urgency of defending the coast.

servation. The team produced a short

year-round and seasonal Block Island

dispersed access to storytelling tools,

Using a relatable metaphor of land

concept film aimed at increasing mem-

residents

the film showed activists how to

loss in terms of football fields per

bership levels for GLISPA by inspiring

building on the island’s no-nonsense

capture footage on a smartphone and

second, the proposed video urges

leadership, catalyzing commitments

ingenuity. The strategy for the film

make higher quality videos on their

viewers to join the CRCL membership

and facilitating collaboration for all

and campaign revolves around a re-

own. After viewing the video, members

community, with a goal for a 25%

islands.

framing of the sea level rise threat

of 350 Pacific’s activist network will be

increase in memberships for 2017.

Communications

CMG

Fellow

with

the

Ayla

Fox

objective

and

of

as yet another opportunity to rise up

encouraged to come up with their own

and solve a problem as a resilient

short films to be viewed at their Faith

island community.

Leaders Forum in September 2017.

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ACTION GRANTS CMG distributes a limited number of $5,000–$10,000 Action Grants to organizations and individuals to help catalyze and support projects and campaigns that use video to create measurable action in our three focus areas. We seek filmmakers, activists and organizations of all ages and experience levels as potential grantees. Many of these grants include a matching grant from an organization connected to the grantee’s campaign. Included in the Action Grant is funding for the proposed production, post-production, distribution and impact measurement. Proposals may seek to create action locally, nationally, or internationally and may be based anywhere in the world.

“

The grant we received from CMG allowed us to create a unified platform bringing together seven NGOs, five local marine wildlife tourism communities and two government departments. The collaboration successfully interlaced policy, people, wildlife and scientific research - the result was one voice championing responsible tourism in the Philippines reaching +200,000 people.

”

—Sally Snow, 2015-2016 Action Grantee

OCEAN RECOVERY ALLIANCE

5 GYRES

ALEX FINN

Global Alert—Floating Trash / $10,000 2016 Action Grantee

#beadfree / $10,000 2016 Action Grantee

Becoming a Whale Heritage Site / $10,000 2016 Action Grantee

The Ocean Recovery Alliance’s project Global Alert— Floating Trash is a mobile app and web platform which allows communities around the world to take action to “See, Share and Solve” trash hot spots in their waterways and coastlines. The campaign targets communities, schools, companies, municipalities, and all of those whose lives are entwined with waterways, fresh or marine, and are thereby affected by trash polluting the water system and the ocean. The project’s planned video aims to engage viewers in downloading and using the Global Alert app and platform. The campaign will also show them how to most effectively engage community stakeholders to build collaborations focused on cleanup, prevention, and better management of watersheds and coastlines.

5 Gyres’ #beadfree campaign is the final phase of a three-year collaborative journey to eliminate plastic microbeads from consumer products through policy, design change and community engagement. As part of a two-year legislative campaign, the efforts of 5 Gyres and their collaborators culminated in a national bill banning microbeads from U.S. commerce by 2018.

However, public awareness of the severity of plastic pollution in our oceans remains low and trillions of microbeads continue contaminating our waters daily.

The #beadfree campaign centers around a digital action kit containing tools and resources; a series of community-building webinars; an art piece with action and data-capture iPad for display at major “millennial” festivals; and video assets. In addition to the #beadfree campaign, 5 Gyres is set to launch a similar campaign to work specifically on making our oceans #styrofoamfree.

Alex Finn’s Becoming A Whale Heritage Site is a short, interactive online film that uses 360VR inserts to tell the journey of one marine tourism destination’s mission to become an accredited Whale Heritage Site through the World Cetacean Alliance (WCA). Alex teamed up with WCA to produce this 5-minute film targeted at the decision-makers in potential Whale Heritage Site destinations around the world. The film explains the importance of the site designation and the direct correlation between protected areas and increased whale populations. It also portrays the protection of these areas and species as integral to the economic health of a local marine tourism industry. Alex was one of three finalists who pitched to CMG during the Camden International Film Festival. He was awarded this Action Grant at the festival in September.

DANNY COPELAND

NEW ACTION GRANTS

#loveminimantas / $10,000 2016 Action Grantee Danny Copeland’s campaign and 360VR film, The Mini Mantas of Maria, encouraged key delegates at the CITES conference in South Africa to vote in favor of protecting mobulid rays, building on campaign work done by the Pew Charitable Trusts. Danny and his partner organization, Manta Trust, aimed to inspire, engage and help inform the ocean-loving community and governmental delegates about the importance of the CITES legislation for the conservation of mobula rays. Using a virtual reality camera array, Danny created a 360-degree short film taking viewers on a virtual dive with these charismatic animals that are often out of sight and out of mind. The film was used to illustrate to CITES delegates the potential value in mobula ray ecotourism and the public desire to protect them; it also called upon the public to show their support through a petition.

The primary goal of helping to secure protective legislation was achieved when the CITES delegates voted to add this endangered group of rays to Appendix II protection. The campaign received additional support and funding from Pew Charitable Trusts.

ACTION GRANTS COMPLETED

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MICHELLE BENHAM Faith in Solar / $8,000 Action Grant Completed Grantee Impact: Michelle Benham’s Faith in Solar film and campaign aimed to mobilize faith-based communities in North Carolina. The film asked viewers to contact their state Attorney General, Roy Cooper, and ask that he open an investigation into power company Duke Energy to determine if the company is guilty of violating their public charter by limiting consumer choice.

The film was distributed primarily through sustainability activist nonprofit, NC Warn, from January to April of 2016. The campaign resulted in 113 letters sent to the Attorney General. NC Warn also saw 3,672 hits to their Emergency Climate Response page. The campaign continued into the Fall with 13 presentations of the film for more than 700 people.

HURRICANE ISLAND FOUNDATION

SHALINI KANTAYYA

THE OCEAN FOUNDATION

Off-shore, Off-line, Off-the-grid / $9,500 Action Grant Completed

Suncatcher Series / $10,000 Action Grant Completed

One Blade of Grass / $7,800 Action Grant Completed

Grantee Impact: Hurricane Island Foundation’s video

Grantee Impact: Shalini Kantayya produced a series

Grantee Impact: The Ocean Foundation (TOF) launched

series Off-shore, Off-line, Off-the-grid, aimed to drive

of nine open-source short videos that direct viewers

their SeaGrass Grow campaign and released two videos

traffic to the HIF website and encourage viewers to sign

to a website with opportunities for direct and locally

in spring of 2016, following a development period that

up for programs on the island. The films were released

relevant action in support of solar energy. Partner non-

began at our CMG Ocean Catalyst Workshop in 2015.

via email and social media between February and

profit Vote Solar will further utilize the videos in

The goal of the videos was to educate viewers about the

March in 2016 to parents, teachers, and students. HIF

trainings and outreach in 2017 and will use them online

benefits of blue carbon offsets in the form of seagrass

garnered a previously absent social media presence,

to gain signatures to their Solar Rights pledge, which

plantings, which capture carbon dioxide while also

reaching new viewers, and exposing the foundation to

launched originally with the posting of this Suncatcher

restoring coastal resiliency. The videos drove viewers

a more diverse audience. The three videos were also

series. Footage for the short videos was cut down from

to an interactive website detailing how to calculate

emailed to 1,278 potential applicants with an open rate

Shalini’s feature film, Catching the Sun, which was

their carbon footprint with an opportunity to purchase

of 21% and a 13% click thru rate. According to Phoebe

released on Earth Day 2016. Catching the Sun also re-

blue carbon offsets in the form of seagrass plantings.

Jekielek, HIF Director of Marketing, “these videos have

ceived massive support, with 16 national and global

TOF had an initial impact goal of $25,000 in offsets

taken our reach to new levels for the Hurricane Island

NGOs advising on the film, as well as 22 NGO promo-

purchased and they have already raised over $71,500 in

Center for Science and Leadership.”

tional allies and 32 solar companies spreading word

donations to the SeaGrass Grow campaign. As a result,

to affiliates in the cities in which screenings were hap-

they have planted more than 30,000 square meters of

pening and online via social media. An additional 28

seagrass in Elkhorn Slough, California.

solar companies promoted the screenings to their staff and customers via social media.

22

ACTION GRANTS

JESSICA PLUMB

NOÉ SARDET & TIERNEY THYS

SALLY SNOW

Protecting the Salish Sea / $5,000 Action Grant Completed

The Plastic Vagabond / $10,000 Action Grant Completed

My Future is Your Future / $10,000 Action Grant Completed

Grantee Impact: Jessica Plumb’s Safe Passage in

Grantee Impact: The goal of Noé Sardet and Tierney

Grantee Impact: Sally Snow and the Large Marine

the Salish Sea is part of a campaign by the Friends

Thys’ project The Plastic Vagabond was to mobilize

Vertebrate Project Philippines produced and dis-

of the San Juans (FSJ) to develop a new sensitive

local community efforts to curb plastic ocean pol-

tributed six short films, each focusing on an iconic

area designation, a “Particularly Sensitive Sea

lution while creating an international momentum

marine species in the Philippines with a wildlife inter-

Area” (PSSA), through the International Maritime

toward reducing our plastic footprint. The film, re-

action guideline delivered by members of the local

Organization, which would begin to limit the shipping

leased in both English and French, was screened to

community and tour operators in anticipation and

of fossil fuels and mitigate potential oil spills and

6,065 classrooms and included a TED Ed lesson plan

support of a proposed national marine wildlife inter-

other disasters in the Salish Sea. On the public front,

which answered 781 students’ questions. There were

action guideline law. The campaign so far has gained

the film was tied to a petition to designate the Salish

20 in-person international screenings with over 800

support from five NGOs working in the Philippines

Sea as a “Particularly Sensitive Sea Area” (PSSA) and

viewers. The project also called people to participate

who support passing the law: Marine Wildlife Watch

promoted heavily through social media. “PSSA” is a

in beach trash collection and an art creation contest

of the Philippines, Green Fins, Reef-World Foundation,

new term for most people, and the film was designed

with 10 creative submissions. The project also dev-

Save the Philippine Seas, and Greenpeace. The films

to offer context for this proposal. To date, the petition

eloped strong and durable partnerships with Tara

also gained accreditation by the Philippines’ National

to designate the Salish Sea as a PSSA has garnered

Expeditions, Ecomaris, and The Great Canadian

Department of Tourism and the Department of

over 1,600 signatures. It continues to garner public

Shoreline Cleanup.

Environment and Natural Resources. The films have

and political interest on the topic and more impact

been viewed everywhere from local screenings in the

results are expected in the coming months.

Philippines to Asia’s Largest Diving Expo in China and SharkFest in the UK. The campaign continues to gain

‘

momentum into 2017.

XX

24

FILMMAKER-IN-RESIDENCE Filmmakers-in-Residence (FIRs) receive funding to complete work from start to finish on a video-based project focused on ocean health or renewable energy solutions. Funding amounts range from $5,000 to $15,000 per resident and FIRs receive residence at one of our annual 4-day Catalyst Workshops. They also may be offered up to 2 weeks in residence at our CMG offices in Camden, Maine. The residency includes in-kind funding in the form of borrowed equipment, staff mentorship time, and room-and-board, as well as a resident honorarium for the length of the appointment.

“

Virtual Reality and 360° video is at the cutting edge of communication technology and has created new avenues for effective conservation media outreach. CMG’s Filmmaker-In-Residence grant has enabled me to take 360° technology underwater to capture California’s delicate kelp ecosystems in an immersive way that stands out from all other visual media, which is completely unique to visual storytelling and conservation outreach.

”

—Erik Rochner, 2016 Filmmaker-In-Residence

Filmmaker-in-Residence: Erik Rochner In June 2016 CMG awarded Erik Rochner a $10,000 Filmmaker-In-Residence grant to produce Kelp VR, a 5-minute live-action virtual reality film. Kelp VR will immerse viewers in coastal California’s stunning kelp forests and engage them in the important role kelp plays in healthy marine ecosystems. The film will provide a unique exploration of kelp forests and the life found within protected ecosystems, such as the Hopkins Marine Reserve in Monterey. The film will also address how scientists are collaborating to better understand the effects of global climate change on local ecosystems.

Erik has a BA in Film and Media Studies from UC Santa Barbara, an MFA in Science and Natural Filmmaking History from Montana State University and has worked all over the globe, on land, air, and sea, as a cinematographer and VR producer for National Geographic, Nature, PBS, Environmental Defense Fund, and Explore.org. Erik strives to create impactful imagery backed by compelling storytelling. Over the past couple of years Erik’s passion has grown for VR filmmaking, timelapse photography, and other unique ways to capture the natural world. Erik’s finished film, Kelp VR, is expected to

ERIK ROCHNER

Kelp VR

FIR Award: $10,000

release in early 2017.

Filmmaker-in-Residence: Kristen Weiss In June 2016 CMG awarded Kristen Weiss a $10,000 Filmmaker-In-Residence grant for her project, A Series of Solutions. She is producing four micro-documentaries, each about three minutes in length, highlighting different areas of ocean research aimed at sustainable ocean management and the protection of coastal resources and habitats.

Each of the four films will feature staff and research from the Center for Ocean Solutions, where Kristen is an early career science communication fellow. The Center is a partnership between Stanford University, Hopkins Marine Station, Monterey Bay Aquarium and MBARI. Kristen earned a Bachelor of Science in Conservation and Resources Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. While conducting research for her PhD in Queensland, Australia, Kristen produced two short documentary films featuring an innovative program that trains Indigenous rangers to manage their own community’s sea turtle and dugong populations in the Torres Strait Islands. Kristen also joined CMG for the 2016 Catalyst Workshop on Healthy Oceans as a media strategist, aiding each of the workshop groups with the development of their Capstone projects. Kristen’s films are expected to be released in March 2017.

KRISTEN WEISS

Series of Solutions

FIR Award: $10,000

26

CMG FELLOWS CMG Fellows are funded through a Conservation Media Group stipend and host organizations contribute a combination of matching funds, in-kind support and staff time. In addition to allowing video activists to pursue their creative conservation work within an existing organization, the CMG Fellowship Program also increases the capacity of host organizations to communicate their message and to measure conservation impact.

CMG Fellows are typically selected from our yearly group of workshop participants and Action Grant pitch finalists. Fellowships typically run for 3–12 months as parttime or full-time positions. While the filmmaker or strategist receives the fellowship, host organizations are intrinsically involved in determining, overseeing and reporting

“

on the activities and accomplishments of the CMG Fellow during the fellowship.

The experience of working with our CMG Fellow, Wilder Nicholson, has been nothing short of excellent. Together, we created media that transfers the magical physical experience of Hurricane Island into a visual one. We’ve also been able to build our communications capacity and expand our reach to more teachers, students, scientists, and life-long learners. Conservation Media Group’s commitment to collaboration and capacity building has been invaluable to our organization.

”

—Phoebe Jekielek, Director of Marketing and Outreach Hurricane Island Center for Science & Leadership

CMG Fellow at Hurricane Island Foundation CMG teamed up with the Hurricane Island Foundation (HIF) to further build their video capacity with the creation of a CMG Fellow position to develop video projects on Hurricane Island. Wilder Nicholson was selected to work on Hurricane Island over the course of 16 weeks and create video campaigns about Hurricane Island and the programs that they offer. The goal of this CMG Fellowship at Hurricane Island has been to produce several videos that capture the magic of the island as well as to work with the HIF team to develop their use of video throughout their outreach and marketing programs.

Wilder spent parts of August and September on Hurricane Island working with Phoebe Jekielek, Hurricane Island Foundation’s Director of Marketing and Outreach, to document the Center’s numerous educational programs. Wilder worked with the HIF team to develop new uses for video in their outreach plans, as well as work to build an archive of stock footage for the team’s future use. With the island closed for the Winter, he spent the rest of his fellowship time working on post-production with input from the HIF team. During his time as a CMG Fellow, Wilder completed three short films about HIF’s programs and produced several short clips for their blog posts and social media accounts.

Wilder graduated from Bowdoin College, where he studied Economics and Environmental Studies and took advantage of courses and fellowships to pursue film. He has a strong passion for the outdoors that has fostered an interest in working with land trusts and environmental non-profits. After participating in the Fellowship at Hurricane Island he feels motivated to continue a career in filmmaking.

WILDER NICHOLSON

Hurricane Island Foundation

CMG Fellow Award: $10,000

28

CMG Fellow at Sailors for the Sea Results Following their development of a strong Capstone Project at our 2015 Healthy Oceans Catalyst Workshop, we paired filmmaker Ayla Fox and Sailors for the Sea’s Social Impact Director, Hilary Kotoun, for a $10,000 CMG Fellowship to collaborate on SFTS’s “No Trash. No Trail. No Trace.” campaign aimed at cleaning up our oceans. Together, Ayla and Hilary worked to build the organization’s capacity for using video for action in line with their mission to “engage, educate, inspire and activate the sailing and boating community toward healing the ocean.”

They released their first video, Talking Trash, in August 2016 to coincide with the Summer Olympics. Talking Trash resulted in extended media coverage, 100+ new email subscriptions, and a 74% increase in website traffic for the organization which is working to eliminate single-use plastics in the sailing community. They released their second film, Trashy Boyfriend, in conjunction with Giving Tuesday, a day when many people pay attention to non-profits. The release resulted in a 44% traffic increase to SFTS’s website, but had a lower email open rate, which SFTS attributes to the amount of emails individuals receive from nonprofits on this day.

As a result of the CMG Fellowship, Sailors for Sea has now integrated video into their strategic plan. The organization’s president and board have requested that more videos be produced and that the videos be even edgier and have stronger calls to action. Two years previous, video was not considered important enough for a budget line, but, as of 2017, SFTS has set aside funding for the creation of a video for World Oceans Day. Additionally, SFTS will continue to use the films produced by our CMG Fellow, Ayla Fox. They are currently preparing to launch a video campaign with Sailing World

CMG FELLOWS

and Cruising World magazines using the Talking Trash video to reach all of their subscribers.

The benefits of this grant have been deeply felt throughout the organization. This fellowship has given me a renewed confidence in speaking with our audience. I am better prepared to reach them with a message that they are interested in and we are working to mobilize boaters to become stronger advocates for ocean conservation.

—Hilary Kotoun, Social Impact Director, Sailors for the Sea

30

FOCUS FUND CMG’s Focus Fund supports feature film projects that aim to create measurable impact in the focus areas of healthy oceans & renewable energy solutions. These grants of $25,000-$150,000 may be used for project development, a pitch trailer, a portion of or an entire production, and/or film distribution & impact engagement. CMG seeks filmmakers, activists and organizations with prior filmmaking credentials as potential Focus Fund grantees. Most Focus Fund grant proposals include matching grants or additional funding from organizations & foundations already involved in the film project, however matching or additional funds are not required. Focus Fund proposals may seek to create action locally, nationally, or internationally and may be based anywhere in the world.

“

The generous funding from CMG allowed us to move directly into production on a film whose message was time-critical in launching a worldwide campaign to excite citizens to take direct action against the threat fossil fuels pose to our shared planet…. we are deeply grateful to CMG for having taken the first bold step in making it a reality.

”

—Kelly Nyks, 2016 Focus Fund Grantee

Focus Fund Grant: Disobedience Disobedience is a 40-minute film directed by award-winning Kelly Nyks of PF Pictures. The CMG Focus Fund grant supported the production and distribution of the film, a sequel to the well-received documentary Disruption. Production for Disobedience occurred from January to April, and the film was released with free online viewings on April 29, 2016. Its release date aimed to coordinate with the worldwide 350.org Break Free from Fossil Fuels campaign May 4-15, 2016. The film engaged audiences around the world in the history of civil disobedience and its role in the Break Free movement, which generated involvement from over 30,000 participants and 20 escalated actions over 6 continents. The film featured verité footage of inspiring front-line actions in Brazil, Turkey, Germany, The Philippines, Canada, and the United States interwoven with interviews from some of the most renowned voices in the conversation of social movements and the climate crisis, including Elizabeth Kolbert, Naomi Klein, Marshall Ganz, Malcolm Gladwell, Naomi Oreskes, Michael Mann, and Bill McKibben.

KELLY NYKS

Disobedience

Grant Amount: $100,000 Disobedience Summit at ALNOBA, March 2016 In March 2016 CMG convened with the Disobedience production team and the Break Free campaign staff for a two-day retreat at Alnoba in Kensington, New Hampshire. Production team members Kelly Nyks, Jonathan Rapoport, and Tad Fetig, along with 350.org Break Free campaign representative Duncan Meisel, joined the CMG team to discuss the film and campaign’s progress, as well plans for the production and campaign teams in the coming weeks and beyond. Interviews for the final film were also conducted with Marla Marcum and Jay O’Hara from the Climate Disobedience Center.

Sean Flynn, Program Manager for the Points North Institute and Camden International Film Festival, was also in attendance and offered insight to the team.

32

BLUE INITIATIVE PROGRAM CMG’s Blue Initiative Program identifies unique marine conservation organizations for capacity-building video initiatives. The program focuses on small- to mid-sized organizations engaging local communities in conservation efforts, such as fisheries health, plastic pollution, climate change mitigation or adaptation and marine protected areas.

Through the Blue Initiative, CMG provides a $30,000 award to an international organization each year to create a series of short films aimed at engaging local audiences in direct measurable action. This award includes cash funding for video production and distribution, as well as in-kind support and guidance. In addition, CMG commissions a short film about the Blue Initiative project to engage world travelers in protecting the places they love to explore.

Funding for the Blue Initiative Program is in partnership with and made possible by a 5-year

“

grant from the Grand Circle Foundation, whose mission is “to give back to the places we travel.”

CMG has provided us with the financial and professional support to create Isle of Youth, Isle of Change, a film that will allow Cocodrilo’s fishermen, women, and youth to share stories and perspectives on how their fishing village of 300 is confronting rapid change due to increased tourism and dwindling fisheries. The film also highlights how Cocodrilo residents are working to restore coral habitats, encourage sustainable foreign tourism and diversify their local economy.

”

—Fernando Bretos, Cuba Marine Research and Conservation Program, 2016 Blue Initiative Grantee

Cuba Marine Research and Conservation Program Grant Amount: $30,000 The 2016 Blue Initiative Grantee is the Cuba Marine Research and Conservation Program (CubaMar), a project of The Ocean Foundation. For the grant, CubaMar has partnered with For The Sea Productions and Cuban filmmakers to create an original film that celebrates a remote Cuban coastal community’s relationship with the ocean, provides hands-on marine conservation experience to young Cubans, and situates Cuba in broader conversations about coastal habitat protection efforts. The film will focus on the isolated fishing community of Cocodrilo on Cuba’s Isla de la Juventud, or Isle of Youth. Cocodrilo is an isolated fishing town of 300 residents, which, like all of Cuba, is facing rapid change.

Cocodrilo is unique in Cuba in that its community leaders have developed a communitybased marine conservation citizen science project. Leaders have trained youth to assist in this project that focuses on restoration of Cocodrilo’s local coral reef. The goal of Cocodrilo’s citizen science project is not only to protect Cocodrilo’s marine environments, but to also provide the youth of Cocodrilo with an alternative to fishing, which is the most common livelihood for local residents.

The film will capture the stories of Cocodrilo youth as they participate in coral restoration and data collection as part of the citizen science project. For the first time, youth will get an intimate look at their local marine environment and be able to contribute to its protection in a meaningful way. The film will document their impressions, ideas, and opinions on what their local marine environment means to them and their community— giving Cuban youth a voice to an international audience. In additional phases of the project, CubaMar will teach youth the art of visual storytelling so that they can tell their stories through film in perpetuity.

34

Statement of Financial Position / December 31, 2016 Current Assets Cash & cash equivalents Accounts receivable Prepaid Expenses Property & Equipment Equipment Less: accumulated depreciation Total Assets Current Liabilities Accounts payable & accrued Net Assets Unrestricted Temporarily restricted

FINANCIAL STATEMENT

Total Net Assets Total Liabilities & Net Assets Statement of Activities / 2016 Annual Revenue Grants & Contributions Workshop Revenue Total Revenue Expenses Program Services Research & Development Blue Initiatives Workshops & Summits CMG Fellows Filmmakers-in-Residence Action Grants Focus Fund Program Outreach Total Program Expenses Support Services Management & General Fundraising Total Support Services Total Expenses Surplus / (Deficit)

35

$ $ $

229,548 0 0

$ $ $

0 0 229,548

$

49,919

$ $

229,548 0

$ $

179,629 229,548

$ $ $

562,847 4,711 567,558

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

20,104 63,744 73,721 25,435 41,513 102,506 103,999 66,472 479,492

$ $ $ $ $

57,956 12,110 70,066 567,558 0

2016 Expenses

by Category Program Expenses $ 497,492 Support Services $ 70,066

12%

88%

36

STRATEGIC PARTNERS & SPONSORS

CMG FOUNDING SPONSOR

THE LEWIS FAMILY FOUNDATION

www.lff.org

The Lewis Family Foundation transforms people’s lives and builds strong communities by empowering young people, developing courageous leaders and creating strong alliances with key strategic partners.

They focus their work in the Lewis family’s hometowns of Boston, MA and Kensington, NH and within the global villages where their company, Grand Circle Corporation, travels.

ADDITIONAL PARTNERS & SPONSORS

GRAND CIRCLE FOUNDATION

www.grandcirclefoundation.org

Grand Circle Foundation has a long history of giving back: “to the places where we travel, to the people who live there, and to the city of Boston and communities around the world where we live and work. The Foundation has pledged or donated more than $144 million throughout the world in locations including Africa, Asia, South Pacific, Europe and the Americas. Many of the projects the Foundation supports are, quite literally, in the path of our travelers, while many more are much closer to home.”

ALNOBA

www.alnoba.org Alnoba is a special retreat environment in the woodlands of Southern New Hampshire and home to multiple leadership development & sustainability programs. Created in harmony with the earth, it fosters deep reflection, authentic communication, and personal and organizational transformation through the immersion in nature, art, and mindfulness practices.

THE OCEAN FOUNDATION

www.oceanfdn.org

The Ocean Foundation is a unique community foundation with a mission to support, strengthen, and promote those organizations dedicated to reversing the trend of destruction of ocean environments around the world.

CMG Staff

The 2016 CMG Annual Report is printed on 100% recycled paper.

Liz Smith / Director & COO Margie Welch / Program Manager

CMG Advisors Mark Frevert / Grand Circle Corporation Lisa Genasci / ADM Capital Foundation Mark Spalding / The Ocean Foundation

CMG Board of Directors David Conover / President & Founder Philip Conkling Tony Grassi

Conservation Media Group | P.O. Box 1204, Camden, Maine 04843 | 207-236-2078 | www.conservationmediagroup.org