Client: German Environment Foundation
1×12 min, 3×6 min | 2023 | 16:9 | 4K DCI
The German Environmental Foundation commissioned us as the film agency for its new, innovative educational project: the ‘Forest Detectives’ are designed to help pupils in fourth to sixth grade learn more about the value of the forest and give them the opportunity to experience the forest first-hand. From studying the forest floor to analysing the microclimate in detail - each experiment helps to develop a better understanding and greater appreciation of the forest. The participating school classes in Hesse will be supported with a four-part explanatory film series. For this, we have come up with a serialised development with a framework story in which the young target group (9-12 years) can find themselves.
The starting point of the multi-part film series is the bright teenager Paula, who likes to try out new things. She accidentally destroys her mother's final presentation. Determined to undo this before her mother notices, she makes contact with a forest educator. She is now a ‘forest detective’ herself. Paula actually thinks she knows something about the forest. However, she realises that there is much more to discover in the forest. In addition to the main film ‘Forest ecosystem’, three other films deal with the topics of arboriculture, biodiversity and forest use. Selected content is clarified in the films with animated illustrations. In addition, external stock footage was used for special shots such as the forest from above or the forest in different weather conditions.
EPISODE 1/4 | FOREST DETECTIVES: BIODIVERSITY
EPISODE 2/4 | FOREST DETECTIVES: TREE KNOWLEDGE
EPISODE 3/4 | FOREST DETECTIVES: FOREST ECOSYSTEM
As there were only six weeks from the time the project funding was approved at the beginning of June until the first two films were completed in mid-August, the film team had a lot of tasks to fulfil in a short space of time: During this time, the scripts were written, potential actresses and forest educators were cast, contracts were signed, forests were visited, filming permits were applied for and vehicles and film equipment were hired. Two days of filming were scheduled for the scenes in the forest and one day for the scenes in Paula's mother's office. The films were shot with a team consisting of director, assistant director, producer, camera, camera assistant, sound, lighting and set photography in Berlin's Müggelberge forest and on the premises of the German Environmental Foundation. Paula's mother's study was equipped for the shoot mainly with original props from the Environmental Foundation. Professional 4K film and LED lighting technology with cine zoom lenses and an EcoFlow were used for the fictional shoot. This is a battery-powered electricity generator that could be used to charge batteries and operate our LED lighting technology and a cool box in the forest without an available power socket.
The production process for all four films took full account of social, economic and ecological sustainability. The film production was 100% climate-neutral. This is ensured by the collaboration of a green consultant specially trained for green film shooting, who accompanies the film production from planning to realisation. This person ensures that the German government's minimum green standards are met and makes sure that the film production's emissions are as low as possible. For ‘Forest Detectives - Understanding the Green Giants’, this was done by our Green Consultant Lara, who presented a final report with the emissions consumed (actual balance sheet) at the end of the film production.
Another challenge in the editing process of the films was the short time to completion with a high density of material. Our motion designer Miriam created various illustrations in parallel based on the four scripts and a VFX list in order to convey the knowledge about the forest more vividly. The illustrations were animated by Miriam after approval by our client and finally embedded in the live-action film footage by the editor Nora.
Finally, the colour correction of all films was carried out with colourist Marcus in the professional colour grading studio. At the same time, the numerous dialogues between the actress Paula and the forest educators were adjusted by our sound engineer Alex. The films were rounded off with music and an atmospheric sound design with natural soundscapes of the forest and nature and were released just in time for the start of school.
