WaterBear Network commissions first original
August 26, 2020
WaterBear Network, the free, interactive VoD platform dedicated to supporting life on earth, has announced its first original short film: The Whales and the African Seaforest.
This short is the first of a selection of original productions for the platform launch later this year.
The Whales and the African Seaforest will feature WaterBear’s unique ‘connect’ interactive technology throughout. WaterBear’s ‘connect’ feature empowers viewers to take action immediately while watching a documentary. This works via a second screen pop-up enabling people to ‘donate to this cause right now’, volunteer on site, share on social media or sign petitions.
The short for WaterBear will be developed by the in-house production team led by WaterBear’s CEO and founder Ellen Windemuth and head of production Andrea Walji in partnership with producers Craig Foster, Swati Foster and director Pippa Ehrlich.
Windemuth said: “Craig Foster and I pretty much grew up together in the industry. We have come full circle on My Octopus Teacher [a soon to launch Netfix project] and this new short The Whales and the African Seaforest. This WaterBear short is about the African Kelpforest, the whales and the myriad of species that depend on it. It is also a story about the role cold water swimming plays in mental health: how healing nature can be if we just feel and listen.”