Treatment (Pre-Production)

Clipped Wings is a 10-15 minute documentary film addressing how common household habits, such as the disposal of waste and use of pesticides, within our communities harm local wildlife. While investigating current environmental issues within Wilmington, North Carolina, the film follows the story of two birds (one that inhabits land and one that inhabits water) undergoing recovery treatment with SkyWatch Bird Rescue. This non-profit organization provides medical care, safety, food, and rehabilitation to injured birds until they can be placed in protected sanctuaries or returned back to the wild. Through the stories of the recovering wild birds, Clipped Wings questions the way modern society operates in regards to our environment and how it directly affects the wildlife in our backyards.

The majority of this short documentary film will be shot on a Canon 60D SLR camera with a cinematic style that is natural and homely. A GoPro Hero3+ Black Edition camera will also be used for b-roll including aerial or underwater footage of birds. The style of Clipped Wings’ cinematography will make the audience experience a sense of familiarity while watching the rehabilitation of the two injured birds. Most of the footage, including interviews, will be held in an outdoor environment accompanied by natural ambient audio.The film’s natural and homely style will create a sense of calmness to viewers in order to remind them of the serenity within local wildlife.  As the film progresses, the cinematic style along with the conflicting images of the victimized birds and beauty of local environment will impact the audience to think about the unsafe and unhealthy household habits harming local birds.

To educate the audience in ways to prevent damage to the local environment and wildlife, Clipped Wings will include interviews with Tom Hoban who is the Executive Director of the Cape Fear River Assembly, with Dr. Cahoon who researches water quality and freshwater ecosystems, with Dr. Mallin who researches the sources and impacts of urban pollution and environmental management issues, with Amelia Mason who is the head of SkyWatch Bird Rescue, and with people involved in the local animal control as well as veterinarians. The knowledge of these experts will provide the audience with methods to change the common household habits that lead to the injury of wildlife. Expert interviews will also educate viewers with how certain household habits affect the health of native birds. The ultimate goal of Clipped Wings is to raise awareness of what actions need to be taken in order to prevent the escalation of local wildlife suffering and inspire the audience to get involved with wildlife rehabilitation efforts, such as SkyWatch Bird Rescue.