Reel Earth Films

On this Giving Tuesday, I wanted to share why Reel Earth Films is so important to me.

What you see in this photo is not just a collection of film projects. It is the heart of what we do. Reel Earth Films is more than a film organization. It is a conservation impact organization that exists to protect wildlife, uplift communities, and tell stories that move people to care.

Right now, we are supporting women who are leading a powerful citizen science initiative to protect our oceans through Matriarchs. We are helping raise awareness for burrowing owl conservation. We are working on a new film called Diaspora that explores Mexican gray wolves and the deeper, spiritual connection so many of us feel with them. We are telling a meaningful environmental story here in Arizona through Rising Together, focused on belonging, resilience, and the relationship between people and place.

And in addition to all of this, we are developing a major new project in Arizona that I cannot share publicly yet, but I believe it will be revolutionary for conservation storytelling in this state.

Reel Earth Films is small, but the vision is big. It is built on the belief that stories can protect wildlife, restore habitat, and bring people together to care about the natural world in a deeper way.

If you feel connected to this work and want to support it today, thank you. It means more than I can say. If you want to support this work on Giving Tuesday, it would mean a lot to me. Every bit of help goes directly into filming, conservation, and the impact programs behind these stories.

There is so much ahead, and I am grateful to have you here.

5 years in the making.
Hundreds of hours spent in the field.
Countless cups of coffee at all hours of the day (and night).

And the hard work has paid off.

We are incredibly proud to share that our latest film, "Burrowing Owls: A Love Story," has been selected as a Finalist in the Innovation in Green Production category at this year’s Jackson Wild Media Awards.

From the very beginning, we set out to make a film that didn’t just document conservation, but actively participated in it. During production, we adopted a regenerative, low-impact approach to filmmaking:

We kept our crew small (often just 1–2 people) and worked locally in Umatilla County, Oregon.

Instead of hotels, we stayed in a decommissioned army bunkhouse, cutting lodging emissions and costs.

We powered our gear in the field using a solar battery system, no gas generators required.

We eliminated single-use plastics whenever possible, cooked on site, and followed a low-waste fieldwork protocol.

But the most meaningful part?

We helped install over 30 artificial burrows for wild owls while filming in Oregon over the span of our production, and more are on the way across the western United States as we roll our our Impact Strategy. Many of these burrows are now occupied by breeding pairs, directly supporting the species' recovery.

I’m so honored that Jackson Wild has recognized this work as an example of how filmmaking can reduce its footprint and leave something lasting behind.

Thank you to everyone who helped bring this story - and these incredible little owls - to life. A huge thank you to our Executive Producer Jim Lesperance for making this film possible.

Conservation funding is broken... and we're fixing it.

Most wildlife films stop at awareness, but we’re taking it further. Imagine if a film about cheetahs didn’t just tell their story, but actively helped stop the illegal trafficking of cubs and funded research to boost wild populations. This is the future of conservation storytelling.

For too long, conservationists have struggled for funding while their work protects ecosystems and biodiversity. At Reel Earth Films, we’re closing that gap. Our films don’t just highlight conservation issues... they drive direct impact. Every project we produce is tied to an impact campaign that delivers funding, equipment, and resources to the scientists and organizations on the frontlines.

Imagine if a documentary about wolves didn’t just follow their journey, but helped secure protected corridors so they could reclaim their historic territories.

Imagine if a film about marine life didn’t just expose threats to our oceans, but provided coastal communities with the resources they need to protect critical habitats.

Imagine if every wildlife film wasn’t just a call to action, but the action itself.

This is the model we’re building. We’re not waiting for change, we’re creating it.

If you believe in a future where storytelling fuels real conservation, join us. Share our mission, support our work, or reach out to get involved.

"Burrowing Owls: A Love Story" 🦉💛 As we wrap up our latest film, we're excited to share the incredible journey of these charming owls. Our partnership with the Global Owl Project has led to the installation of artificial burrows across the west, helping stabilize their populations amidst habitat loss. Discover the heartwarming story of resilience and love as these owls face the ever present and growing threat of habitat loss. Albatross World Sales