UWE Bristol PhD research exploring how we can engage audiences in climate action

Two years into my PhD at UWE, I sometimes joke that I have learnt more about myself than I have my research topic. I have learnt so much from my research so far, but what continues to surprise me is how much I have been able to learn from the opportunities I have had at UWE, as part of the School of Arts at CATE and involved in the Screen Research Group, DCRC and the Science Communication Unit.

My PhD project explores how Natural History Documentaries communicate climate change, ecological crises and social justice. I have spent my first two years developing understanding of the Bristol-based natural history filmmaking industry, also known as ‘Green Hollywood’, attending conferences and interviewing filmmakers. This has helped me build upon my own experiences, as someone who used to work in the production of science and wildlife documentary series and learn more about the rise in sustainable filmmaking practices.

A key focus of my research focuses on how these documentaries (and David Attenborough!) engage audiences with these global crises and motivate them to participate in climate action. To support this and to develop my skills in facilitating group discussions and working with different audience groups, in my first year I decided to set up an environmental film club at UWE with the support of The Green Team in the SU. Yes, this has been a challenge, but wow has it been humbling! I have learnt so much from the community of students and staff who join monthly and share their emotions and responses to the films.

So far this year I have screened a brilliant variety of films that capture stories related to activism, climate solutions and consumerism. Films such as 2040 and Buy Now! prompted a fantastic response with audiences sharing their own personal experiences and their desires to change their behaviours and engage in wider community climate initiatives. This helped to focus discussions on exploring “what can we do next”, encouraging everyone to act with the information they have gained and the support of the film club community.

Last month, the film club worked together with the other groups in UWE to run events as part of the Future Citizen Sustainable Fashion week as part of the Future Citizens Project. I decided to screen ‘Fashion ReImagined’, an inspiring  film that follows the journey of Amy Powney, on her mission to challenge the exploitative, wasteful and extractive practices of the fashion industry.

Just like in most of the film club, the discussions afterwards helped provide a safe space for us to talk about difficult emotions such as guilt, grief and anxiety. In doing so, it created an opportunity to share tips, initiatives and events we can all get involved in to help us make more ethical decisions. More so, it allowed us to question how we can engage beyond our everyday individual decisions, in contributing to a larger systems change.

The next environmental film club will be a special one. We will be hosting One Kai in screening their documentary “Fighting for the Underdog” that raises awareness about the spurdog shark and the practices of the fishing industries on British coasts. Together with some of the filmmakers we will be discussing the issues at the core of the film and the films impactful mission in the Q&A and workshop after the screening. We would love for you to join us on Monday 24^th March from 5:30-8pm in 2D007 on Frenchay Campus. For more information, please visit the UWE SU website events page.

I have learnt so much from hosting this film club and have really enjoyed doing it. It has shaped my research and having the extended film club community has shaped my relationship with the wider global crises. To follow my work and find out more about the film club and my research please take a look at my blog. Feel free to get in touch if you have any questions – jelena2.krivosic@live.uwe.ac.uk.