The Seed Vault: Forever Securing World Food Supply with Crop Trust
Director, Editor, Principal DP
Unexpected stories
The Seed Vault, a short documentary about the Crop Trust and the Svalbard Seed Vault, was Directed by Daniel Sherer and produced by GoPro Cause.
The goal - To bring an unexpected story to a new global audience, shot entirely on GoPros, with a cinematic short documentary style and a compelling call to action, to raise money and awareness in support of a global cause. It seems simple enough, right?
This sums up the challenge of making this film. While GoPro is widely known for its epic, wild, and extreme videos, how about biodiversity?
Impactful Results
Beyond the digital platforms, the film played worldwide at conferences, festivals, and climate summits. The campaign raised over $50,000 through the GoPro Cause initiative to support the Crop Trust organization and won several awards.
Mountainfilm Tour 2019 @ South Hampton Arts Center, Courtesy of Elyn Kronemeyer
miles from the North Pole
Amid a snow-covered Nordic landscape, a portal on the side of a frosty mountain leads to a long, dark tunnel and a frozen door. Behind that door: the history of agriculture — of cultivation, selection, and environmental symbioses — as told by more than 880,000 seeds.
This is the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, the most extensive collection of seeds in the world and a safeguard against the loss of diversity —insurance that human agriculture can adapt and continue to feed the world.
This film follows world-renowned scientist Cary Fowler as he delves into the state of agriculture, co-evolution, extinction, and the future of our food supply.
creative toolbox
Loss
Long-term time-lapses of decomposing fruit helped portray the feeling of loss —losing something so beautiful and precious —such as the relationship between humans and seeds as well as our ability to adapt. [See the setup here]
Hope
Animation was used to illuminate moments of hope. We partnered with Uncle Ginger to animate specific stories as well as the graphics and title sequences. Hugh and Owen are true artists, and directing these sequences was a true honor.
Narration
It's one of the first GoPro films where nothing happens. If you think about it, a man walks into a door, through another door, and finally into an icy door to look at boxes on a shelf. Because of this, we needed a strong guide. Our main character, Cary Fowler, gave us a pure and imaginative narration to weave us through the film.
Interviewing and spending time with Cary was my favorite part of the project.
My favorite film the first night was “The Seed Vault: Preserving Crop Diversity Forever.” During some of the films, people yelled positive words when something powerful was displayed in the film. When an interviewee in "Seed Vault" stated that the government heavily funds war when the same money could completely save the seed vault for future generations. Many people in the audience began to yell and clap that this man stated something that is on so many people’s minds.
— Review: Flag Film Festival | Culture | jackcentral.orgAwards & Showcases
Mountainfilm - Special Selection - Classroom Curriculum Packet. 2017
SIFF Channel on Alaska Airlines - Selected In-Flight Entertainment 2019
Vimeo Staff Pick 2018
International Films for Earth Festival - Showcase 2018
SHORTSHORTS & ASIA Film Festival - Cinematec! Showcase 2018
A special program focusing on this year's theme "cinema TEC" - techniques and technologies of cinema.
Press
WE ARE F-STOP: SVALBARD WITH ALEX HOGUE [fstopgear.com] 2020
GoPro Uses CamDo Intervalometer in 'GoPro Cause' Film, 'The Seed Vault' [cam-do.com] 2017
GOPRO FOR A CAUSE AND CROP TRUST LAUNCH DOCUMENTARY ON SVALBARD SEED VAULT [GoPro News] 2017
Vimeo Earth Day Shout Out [linkedin.com] 2019
Middle Eastern seed bank re-deposits backups into Svalbard's doomsday vault
Inside the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, the deposit that protects the world's seeds
Svalbard Global Seed Vault, GoPro Launch Fundraising Campaign
Major Deposit to World's Largest Seed Collection in the Arctic - Crop Trust
GoPro Cause: Forever Securing World Food Supply with Crop Trust
Doomsday-proof vault in the Arctic receives a major deposit of seeds | Mashable
CAST & CREW
Director, Editor, Principal DP: Daniel Sherer
Narrator, Author: Cary Fowler
Music: Cyril Morin, Nick Phoenix, Western Skies Motel, Extreme Music Library
Animation, Titles, GFX: Uncle Ginger (Owen Gent & Hugh Cowling)
Creative Direction: Brad Schmidt & Mario Callejas
Producers: Jaci Pastore, Samantha Liss, Heather Smith, Rebecca Aguilar
Creative Producer (On-site): Daniel Sherer, Mario Callejas, Alex Hogue
Svalbard Adventure Cinematography: Alex Hogue
Additional Cinematography: Alex Hogue, Taylor Turner, Sarah Harbin, Shon Bollock, & Brian Town.
Sound Mix & Design: Nicholas Johnson & Daniel Sherer
Music Licensing: Ben Schwier
Assistant Editor: Rachel Reed
Content Supervisor: Tyler Wilken
GoPro Awards Submission Videography: Thibaut De Vreese, Gil Yarom, Colin Hart, Paul Crank, & Les Sisson
Svalbard Expedition Guides: Christian Bruttel & Fridrik Pall Fridriksson
GOPRO CAUSE:
Erica Stanulis - Director of Global Corporate Social Responsibility
Ashley McCormack - Program Manager and Creative Copywriter
SPECIAL THANKS:
Cary Fowler, Martin Fowler, Sarah Arno, Amy Goldman, The Crop Trust, Brian Lainoff, Mark Lainoff, and the Svalbard community.
TED Talks clips courtesy of TED Conferences, LIC.
Behind the scenes
Alex Hogue’s fun behind-the-scenes video from our Svalbard production.