What's going on with the Seal?

Seal of Saimaa is an indie nature documentary about the Saimaa Ringed Seal, an extremely endangered freshwater seal that only lives in the labyrinthine waters of Lake Saimaa, in Finland. While their situation has improved in the last few years, they are still well under the limit of immediate extinction. There are around 2,500 Giant Pandas in the wild. There are less than 280 Saimaa Seals left. Despite fishing limitations they are still drowning in fishing nets.

The documentary will be entirely made by us, two brothers. We grew up on the shore of Lake Saimaa, but we never seen the seals. Our grandfather told stories of how he used to see the seals as a kid, and now we will return to the lake, take a canoe, and head towards the areas where the seals still live. In filming the seals (note that this is tentative on actually finding any!) we are working with experts to ensure we don't disturb or harm the animals. 

The documentary will be filmed during the summer 2011, and it will be narrated both in English and in Finnish. As a disclaimer, the above project teaser was filmed with an iPhone over Easter vacation on a whim and edited with the minimum possible software. Expect higher production value in the end result (promise).

Why do we want to make this film?

A few professional nature documentaries have been made of the Saimaa Ringed Seal, but our focus is slightly different. We are interested in what the seal represents to people today. What does it symbolize? What does this tell us of our relation with nature? We talk to locals, tourists, fishermen, officials, and international experts. We want to be humane towards man and animal alike. We will also use the amazing surroundings provided by the lake, for instance the ancient cave paintings on the sheer rocky walls in some places. What did the ancient man think of the seal that shared the waters of the lake?

We want the documentary to speak to an international, engaged audience. People who care about how we live with other species on this planet, and who are concerned about making the right choices for the future. At the same time, there will be our narrative, returning to our childhood home and trying to reach even deeper to our roots.

The documentary will primarily be distributed online and documentary film festivals. Any other distribution will happen after this. 

If there are profits out of any later distribution or sales, 100% of profit will be directed to charities working with the Saimaa Seal.

We are doing this for cheap with your help

We aim to raise $3,000. This will go directly towards equipment primarily. We are filming with DSLRs in full HD, and will need to invest in at least one high-quality telephoto lens and an additional camera. We are using Panasonic Lumix GH1s - small, cheap and versatile in lenses. And we absolutely need to have a backup camera body. 

But wait... you wouldn't be just paying for our high-tech toys. This project makes your dollar work harder! We intend to buy as much of the needed extra equipment second hand from our dear friend eBay, use it (and insure it) and then sell it onwards to finance some of the post-production costs. Here, your $1 is worth $2! Minus eBay postage costs I guess, but that's the plan.

A lot of the equipment is already lined up, but we still need (in ballpark figures)...

Lens - $1,200
GH1 - $1,000
Tripod - $300
Insurance - $200 (maximum)
Watertight cases - $300 (best insurance)

Funds in excess of the above will go towards post-production. We handle most of the editing, but there will be help needed in visualizations and other animations (instead of the Google Earth -map hack you saw on the teaser). Distribution to film festivals will of course take up funds. Web design, travel, food, nature gear, all of that will be provided by us, borrowed, blagged or sought from sponsors. 

We are looking for funding from other sources, but you know, first documentary film of self-taught filmmakers not a grant magnet. If these don't happen, the rest will come from our savings. 

Yes! Save the Seal! And the documentary project, too! What else can I do?

On right hand side you see your chance to become a big fish. Every single perch is welcome!

You can help in other ways, of course, and we'd really appreciate that, too! Do you know anyone interested in conservation, nature, or cute animals? Send them this project! We will of course also need friends once this project ends - then, after post-production, getting the word about the final product will be hugely valuable. To make sure you stay in touch, please like our Facebook page!