Documentary Editor: Cycling the Danube for Conservation

Help turn a cycling expedition across Europe into a documentary about how people have shaped the Danube River, and what we can learn from those helping nature to recover.

The project

Conservation Amplified is a New Zealand charity on a mission to “Make Conservation Mainstream” by making it easy for people to learn about and get involved in the solutions that our ecosystems (and communities) need.

Earlier this year, our co-founders Callum Armstrong and Anna Wentsch bikepacked the entire length of the world’s most international river, ~3200km from its source in Germany all the way to the delta in Romania, through 8 countries in 8 weeks. Along the way, we interviewed key people from national parks and conservation orgs, and documented the journey.

We found ourselves cycling in the middle of a record heatwave, drought and extremely low water levels, which shaped the story in ways we never expected.

Our film asks three questions: how have people shaped the Danube as Europe developed, what’s being done to help nature recover, and what lessons can communities around the world take home?

This is the first expedition in a series that seeks to make conservation relevant to new audiences by sharing it through the lens of adventure.

Your role

Edit the main documentary, provisionally around 30 minutes, combining interviews, narration, cycling, wildlife and nature footage. Bring the story to life through pacing, b-roll, music and sound.

We’ll provide the story outline, footage, selected interview excerpts and voiceovers, and source additional wildlife and nature footage and co-ordinate partner reviews. You’ll have a clear brief and room to contribute your own ideas.

Who we’re looking for

• Experience editing longer videos in DaVinci Resolve, Adobe Premiere Pro or similar professional software.
• A feel for storytelling, pacing and sound, with attention to detail.
• Self-motivated, reliable, collaborative, and comfortable seeing the project through.
• Creative and curious.
• English-speaking.
• Colour grading, maps, graphics and subtitling skills would also be beneficial.
• You’ll need your own suitable computer and editing software.

Why get involved?

Work with original footage and interviews with conservation leaders across eight countries, directly alongside our co-founders. You’ll be named as editor in the film’s credits and can use the released work in your portfolio.

Be part of telling a story that connects climate change, ecology, community, freshwater & river health, industry & economy, history, culture, conservation, cycling and adventure into something people worldwide can relate to. We aim to help more people change their perspectives and actions by watching the film and starting or deepening their journey into conservation and sustainability.

The expedition has attracted international media coverage, as well as local coverage in multiple countries. We’ll promote the film online, through talks, film festival submissions, social media, and via our media connections who have covered the story and want to know when it goes live. The documentary will be published on YouTube.

There’s scope for more volunteer projects afterwards if you enjoy the work and want to stay involved. This documentary will be accompanied by subsequent stories that build on it, including around how conservation is being done in a warzone (Ukraine) and how the Danube Delta is being rewilded (Romania & Ukraine).

Time and location

Our starting estimate is that this will take around 100 hours (for example, 10 hours a week over 10 weeks). You can work on days and times that suit your lifestyle best, from the comfort of your own home or wherever you prefer.

Volunteer from anywhere, at times that suit you best. We’re based in New Zealand and communicate through email, WhatsApp, Google Docs and catch-ups when time zones and availability allow.

Interested?

Please send us a short introduction, why this project appeals to you, your availability and an editing example you’ve produced. If it looks like a fit, we’ll arrange a chat and go from there.

After you apply, we will send links to a few media articles covering our expedition for you to learn more (as we cannot add links to the SEEK listing itself)

Please note: this is an unpaid volunteer position.