Finding my footing with the topic has proven to be a challenging journey since my last entry. Unfortunately, Dallas and the Norwegian Orca Survey are yet to respond to my emails, leaving me in a state of uncertainty. Despite the hurdles, I’ve decided not to abandon my chosen subject, yet the struggle persists. It’s a paradoxical situation.
In an attempt to reignite my passion for this topic, I took a step back and revisited the core reasons behind my initial interest. Here’s what I uncovered:
- I aspire to create a guide.
- The inclusion of science, particularly biology, resonates with me. (I can’t help but ponder whether marine biology might have been the ideal field of study for me, but now is not the time for such contemplation – a haunting thought, nonetheless.)
- My guide should incorporate filmmaking know-how.
- The desire for a unique and impactful topic persists.
- The end goal is a thesis that is not only informative but also practical and influential.
As I reflected, it dawned on me that there must be others like me – individuals eager to capture the beauty of the outdoors through film but lacking either a biology background or cinematic expertise. Perhaps my guide could cater to both worlds: “Biology for Filmmakers” or “Filmmaking for Biologists.” Sustainability remains a crucial aspect, but maybe it’s more aptly termed as responsibility – the duty a conservation filmmaker holds toward their subjects and the environment, ensuring respect for boundaries and avoiding harm. Narrowing the focus to underwater filmmaking seems fitting, given the distinct conditions and requirements compared to land-based filming.
This comprehensive guide could equip filmmakers with the knowledge they need to navigate the intricacies of planning, producing, and publishing environmentally focused films.
On a completely different note, I had the idea for another thesis topic. It spawned from a project concept for a short film I had where a marine biologist who worked in the field for decades gets more and more depressed with the state of the ocean and ultimately drowns herself in it, because she can’t handle the lifeless once life full water anymore. This would convey a very strong emotional and also environmental message. A possible research question here could be, how to implement environmental messages in films.
I have to think about this.
