THe Program
This was our inaugural year of the program. Our field expedition took us on location to Namibia, Africa, where we created a short film, focused on the life of conservationist and wildlife activist Aleksandra Orbek-Nilssen and her work with the indigenous Ju/'hoan San Tribe. From the most seasoned mentors to the fellows that have never left the country, the experience was like nothing we had ever seen before. While hard work filled the days, the laughs were abundant, the mentor sessions were personal and the education seemed endless for what we all would consider to be the trip of a lifetime.
We focused our lens and education to make a short documentary on how a tribe considered to be one of the world's oldest cultures are currently leading efforts to preserve Namibia's most coveted natural habitats, while fighting to preserve their own cultural ecosystems.
THe Film: "Poverty Of Perception"
Directed By: Stefan Hunt
For thousands of years throughout southern Africa, the San have lived a deeply connected life to their land and cultural practices. In the 1970's the government initiated land restrictions that forced the San to move from their ancestral lands into government conservancies with limited hunting, gathering and water access. Today, the San continue to fight for their cultural existence, land rights and the freedom to return home to their desired way of life.
This is a film about their way of life and one woman's experience working alongside the Ju/'Hoan San to support their efforts.
CINEMATOGRAPHER
CAMPBELL BROWN
Co-Producer
Hailey Allison
Behind The Scenes
Nicole Laughlin
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Adam Benton
DIRECTOR
STEFAN HUNT
ASSISTANT EDITOR
ALICIA RUBIO
CO-PRODUCER
SIOBHÁN WETZEL
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
CELINE COUSTEAU
THANK YOU TO OUR 2016 LEAD SPONSOR
SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT
"Behind The Scenes"
By: Nicole Laughlin
THE 2016 FELLOWS
Alicia Rubio
Editor
Assistant Director
Alicia is currently an English and Film and Media Studies student at UC Santa Barbara set to graduate in the spring of 2017. Her role within the Fellowship involved production and post production aspects alongside Stefan Hunt and Campbell Brown. With an interest in storytelling as a whole, cinematography and editing was her key focuses. She hopes to spend time traveling while developing her filmmaking capabilities and style along the way.
Hailey ALlison
Producer
Author, "Written work Article"
Hailey graduated from UC Santa Barbara in 2015 with a bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies and minor in Professional Writing. Always combining her love of nature and passion for writing, Hailey joined the Fellowship as a Producer to bring her background in environmental communication to the next level. She is currently a Senior Editor at a research institute.
Nicole Laughlin
Social Media
"Behind the Scenes" Director / Editor
"Introspective Film" Director / Editor
Nicole is a freelance filmmaker with projects ranging from commercial work to environmental and social documentaries. She is a graduate from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a degree in environmental science.
Siobhán Wetzel
Producer
Assistant Editor (Trailer)
Copywriter
Siobhán is a recent UCSB graduate with a bachelor's degree in English with a specialization in Literature and the Environment. With a strong passion for storytelling, she began her professional journey with UCSB's Blue Horizons documentary filmmaking program. She believes helping a story come to life on screen is one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences in the world. She is passionate about preserving our world natural beauty, and believes we should all do our part.
