A documentary series set out to save the Southern Resident Killer Whales and the entire ecosystem they depend on.
I have always been passionate about whales, and something always drew me to the ones who resided in the B.C. waters. I could never explain why my heart felt at home there, and now I think I can. It’s the strong connectedness between these animals and humans, and the deep sense of respect for the wild and the ocean.
About a year ago, we started to work alongside a passionate team dedicated to saving this ecosystem through a powerful and immersive story that’ll inspire change and protect the Salish Sea ecosystem.
Coextinction is 10-episode documentary series that reveals how to save the Southern Residents, the Salish Sea, and ourselves. The series will capture an intimate and provoking story of extraordinary people fighting to save an extraordinary species. Through devoted experts, supporters and wildlife activists, you will come to understand that Coextinction isn’t just about the Southern Resident Killer Whales; it’s about the wild salmon, humans, life on Earth, and how deeply interconnected we are.
We started Coextinction with the sole purpose to help the Southern Resident Killer Whales and quickly became immersed in how deeply interconnected this ecosystem is. Our fight now isn’t only for the Southern Residents, but for all the other ecotypes of orcas, the humpbacks, the salmon, the bears, the wolves, the forests, and the rivers.
When we started making this film, there were 78 Southern Resident Killer Whales left. It was 2017, and 7 Southern Resident orcas had died in the past year. In the first few months of us commencing pre-production, two more died, including two-year-old J52 Sonic. We knew we had to create a global movement to protect the Southern Resident Killer Whales.
But this is not a story about loss; it’s a story about opportunity.
We’re just a group of kids. Some of us can film and tell stories. Some of us can lead and inspire. But all of us, all of us behind Coextinction, are capable one thing in common… and that is making a choice. We chose to come together to create this film series, out of passion, love, and need. And we chose to tell this story because we see a true opportunity in a crisis.
What is happening in the Salish Sea and to the Southern Resident Killer Whales is a tragedy, yes. But it is also our opportunity now, our time, to band together to fight for what we love. If we’re just a group of kids doing something about it, so can you.
Our team is global. This story is shared by many. Coextinction affects us all. All life is interconnected. Let’s share this message.
A film can change the world, but for that we need your help.
We launched our crowdfunding campaign and have until June 22nd to raise as much as possible to allow us to tell this story as best as possible. Please, if you can, back our Kickstarter, “Coextinction,” so we can share this story as far and wide as possible.
Gloria and Elena, Directors for Coextinction
