The Hope of Cope is the second episode in my documentary mini-series, Conservation Crossroads, which explores grassroots conservation in Indiana. This episode features The Cope Environmental Center, a sustainable education and community nature center in Centerville, Indiana, whose mission is to connect people to nature and inspiring and challenging individuals and communities to achieve ecologically sustainable lifestyles to secure a sustainable future for all life on earth.
PROJECT PHOTOGRAPHY
Episode cover image for official website
Myself, gathering footage
The crafting and education room
YouTube thumbnail for episode 2
Birdwatching nook with bookshelf
PROJECT DETAILS
OBJECTIVE
The goal of this episode was to explore the mission and efforts the Cope Environmental Center and the impact of sustainability on local communities.
EXECUTION
I drove out with my Director of Photography to the Center several times to gather footage. I made the trip independently as well. We went out three times to gather interviews of three key staff members. When we began to film at the Cope Center, there was fresh snow on the ground. When we finished filming it was warm and the wetlands were in full greenery.
The video ended up highlighting the construction of Cope's sustainable education center. The Center provided some images, however, I had to scour the official Facebook page for other images of education programs and school groups since I could not be present for these events due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
I spent several days working on the final edit. I used DaVinci Resolve Studio edition. Additionally, I utilized iZotope RX7 to edit out the loud air conditioning sounds in Karin's interview.
EXTRAS
I got to hold Sandy the sand boa, which was an interesting experience. So cute! Special thanks to Pat Goodman for giving me her swiss army knife to fix my camera equipment.