WhaleX, a new short film released last week on World Oceans Day, tells the story of an innovative plan to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Behind the documentary are local filmmakers Kirsty B Carter and Joe Harrison, from a Thirroul-based production company, Painting in Pictures.
Known for their climate-conscious approach to filmmaking, Kirsty and Joe recently had the honour of creating the exclusive documentary for the XPRIZE Carbon Removal competition, showcasing the invaluable work of the WhaleX team.
Painting in Pictures produces meaningful content with a low-carbon footprint. Their work includes commercials, documentaries and original editorial content for broadcasters such as the BBC, Business Insider, and Bloomberg.
Kirsty and Joe's collaboration with the WhaleX team for the XPRIZE Carbon Removal competition is a testament to their commitment to raising awareness and inspiring action in the fight against climate change. The documentary they have produced hopes to shed light on the vital role that whales play in carbon sequestration and showcase innovative solutions for a sustainable future.
Thanks to Kirsty for taking the time to tell us more.
How did you come to produce this film?
As a boutique production company with a climate-conscious approach, we strive to create films that don't cost the earth. When the XPRIZE team reached out to us from New York and London, inviting us to represent Australia as the exclusive filmmakers for the WhaleX team's XPRIZE Carbon Removal film, we were thrilled.
After several productive meetings with the WhaleX team to ensure we could effectively capture the story of Artificial Whale Poo, we eagerly joined the project. Being chosen to create an exclusive documentary for the @XPRIZE Carbon Removal competition, showcasing the invaluable work of the WhaleX team, was truly an honor. We are humbled to be part of this groundbreaking documentary, which has been produced for the XPRIZE Carbon Removal competition, shining a spotlight on the remarkable efforts of the WhaleX team.
What did you love about this project?
This film sheds light on the crucial role that whales play in carbon sequestration, offering an innovative approach to our ongoing battle against climate change.
XPRIZE Carbon Removal aims to tackle the biggest threat facing humanity – fighting climate change and rebalancing Earth's carbon cycle. We loved working with a very special dedicated team of scientists and engineers who were expelling their blood, sweat, tears, time and money into this project.
We were delighted to join the WhaleX team and play a small part in successfully highlighting the role of whales as climate engineers and showing how their creation of artificial whale poo could play a viable and economical role as a solution for carbon sequestration.
What were some of the challenges in the making?
The production process of our video featuring the WhaleX team was a collaborative and memorable experience. Working with this incredible group of individuals as we captured the highs and lows of first-time engineering experiments was an absolute inspiration.
One of the challenges we faced was capturing the team's scientific experiments in the open ocean. Monitoring weather and ocean conditions were crucial, and despite some rain before the shoot, we were fortunate to have clear water on the day. Filming on a boat presented unique difficulties, with rolling waves and constant motion. Overcoming seasickness and maintaining stability demanded patience and a lighthearted approach.
On one of the days of filming, I was overcome by seasickness. I felt like what appeared to be on the outside a sober yet embarrassingly intoxicated-looking drunk person who couldn't talk or walk. I then had to interview the team while keeping my eyes fixated firmly on the horizon as I suffered my very first crippling jelly legs and jelly stomach seasickness. That was a first.
Through collaborative efforts, we successfully documented each moment, showcasing the WhaleX team's important work. The production process was a testament to the dedication and adaptability of our team, resulting in a video that highlights their scientific endeavours.
Any local friends or businesses you'd like to thank?
We would like to express our gratitude to Penny at Honest Don's for keeping us caffeinated and entertained during the early mornings when we had to endure weather cancellations.
Additionally, we would like to thank local fellow filmmaker Danny Smith from Austinmer, who grabbed his camera and jumped on the boat with us to capture some incredible shots.
