'The Pangolin Man' Short Film
Uganda
Aim
A short nature documentary that brings pangolins into the public eye.
OVERVIEW
‘The Pangolin Man’ tells the story of local Ugandan Moses Arineitwe, and his fight to save the most trafficked mammal in the world. It is a story of hope, truth, and importance, which aspires to create a connection between people and pangolins.
Moses has dedicated his life to protecting nature, rescuing pangolins, creating local projects for reformed poachers, and educating people to respect the world around them. The final film aims to shed a light on him and the amazing work he does in Uganda.
BUT WHAT'S A PANGOLIN?
Almost 70% of us have never heard of a pangolin - this project aims to change that! Here's what you need to know about these awesome animals:
- Often referred to as 'scaly anteaters', pangolins are the world's only truly scaly mammal - some climb trees, others walk on their hind legs like dinosaurs, others have a tongue longer than their whole body!
- They are incredibly unique and peaceful creatures that inhabit areas of Africa and Asia, feeding on ants as their main diet
- Pangolins are the most trafficked mammal in the world - a pangolin is taken from the wild every 5 minutes
- In Asia they are hunted illegally for their meat and scales; the scales are made of the same material as our own fingernails and hair, and are wrongly believed to hold medicinal qualities
- In areas of Africa, such as south-western Uganda where this film takes place, locals hunt pangolin for their meat as a source of survival, due to poor living conditions
THE LOCATION
The film is located in south-western Uganda, Africa. The story takes place in and around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home to luscious rainforests that hold an incredible biodiversity of life, including pangolins. I'll be filming in this area for about a month, 6,129 miles from home!
YOUR DONATIONS MATTER!
*ALL DONORS WILL RECEIVE A DIGITAL COPY OF THE FINISHED FILM AND A MASSIVE THANK YOU!*
I'm currently preparing for when I return to Uganda for the full shoot, and whilst I was able to self-fund the trailer (above!), the main film is a far bigger challenge - especially for a one woman crew! As I'm filming in Uganda for a month, self-funding alone isn't enough for me to create the film, so this project can't happen without your help!
Your donations really do matter, and every penny makes a difference! All money raised will go towards transport to and around Uganda to film Moses' rescue and education work, as well as basic living costs (which I'm keeping as low as possible by staying in local accommodation!) - both of which are vital in enabling me to continue the story!
With your donation, we can help make a difference to pangolins, Moses, and the people of Uganda.
PRODUCTION TIMESCALE
PRE-PRODUCTION FOR FULL FILM – NOVEMBER 2019 – JANUARY 2020
- Arranging transport and entry visas
- Arranging accommodation
- Testing camera and audio equipment
- Storyboarding and filming breakdown
- Contacting contributors/interviewees
UGANDA SHOOT – JANUARY – FEBRUARY 2020
- Interviews with Moses and (reformed) poachers
- Filming Moses' work with pangolins and education of local people
- Shooting stills alongside filming
FULL FILM POST-PRODUCTION – FEBRUARY – MAY 2020
- Logging rushes and transcribing interviews
- Assembling footage in the edit
- Sourcing foley
- Sourcing possible soundtracks/scores
- Refining the edit/colour correction
FINAL FILM RELEASE - MAY 2020
WHO AM I?
I'm Ellie, a young conservationist and visual storyteller with a determination to make a difference in the world we live in. Pangolins are beautiful creatures that desperately need a voice, and I'm making it my goal in life to help in their conservation. I believe this film will play a key role in that.
If you would like to know more about me and my work, head on over to https://www.elliestones.com/
And make sure to follow me on social media (linked above) for updates!
Thank you for your support!
This project successfully funded on 17th January 2020