By George Edwards, Priya Bala, and Corragh-May White
It’s not every day you get to create your own short film. Yet the MSc in Science Communication at UWE Bristol not only provides this opportunity but does so on such a scale you can’t help but feel incredibly lucky, supported, and excited!
In an assessment for the Science on Air and Screen module, groups of students were tasked with creating a short 7-minute science documentary about a topic of their choice. Our group, consisting of George Edwards, Priya Bala, Corragh-May White and Casey Spry, chose to focus on beavers.
So, how did we come to create “Slowing the Flow”? Keep reading to see how we navigated each key step, and dive into stories to show just how much we enjoyed every stage of the process.
Beaverin’ Away at Research – by George Edwards
Let’s face it. When you hear you’re going to be creating a scientific documentary, your first thought isn’t “Oh, let’s get on with research,” it’s more “Oh wow! We’ve got to do the coolest thing ever!” And I personally think we did.
Forming an Idea
We’d like to say we knew beavers would be a good animal to film to engage our audience, and to an extent we did. But, if we’re honest, we also just really wanted to have an excuse to see some beavers! (Read on to find out if we did!)
Having settled on beavers, we needed a scientific story to focus our film on, and at the time, there had been a lot of news about water pollution in UK rivers, most notably in the River Wye in Wales. It is also commonly understood by global scientists that beavers play key roles in maintaining the water quality of streams and rivers, thanks to the filtering systems of their dams.
So, our idea was formed – we were going to explore how beavers can impact river quality in the UK. But putting together a film wasn’t as easy as we’d expected – especially when beavers don’t want to play ball….
Background Research
One key thing that we had been taught was to avoid exploring a topic that had already been covered by other films, so our first port of call was to sift through other wildlife documentaries on beavers – and to our surprise, we found that no film had specifically focused on this idea.
With the idea formed, and the knowledge it was new, we set off researching the ecology of beavers, river pollution and the intersection between the two. While doing so, I came across a scientific paper, led by Gareth Bradbury, a PhD researcher at the University of Exeter, about how beaver dams can reduce pollution levels in streams and rivers. This gave us a basis on which to build a story, and further research into the topic helped flesh out the science, providing evidence for the topics we’d talk about.
Having emailed Gareth and set up an interview, the next thing we needed was beavers, and someone with knowledge of their conservation. As it happened, Casey had recently been given the contact details of Chris Jones, a farmer and conservationist at Woodland Valley Farm, who had also led the Beaver Trust for many years. Soon, we had two interviews set up, and an offer to stay at Woodland Valley Farm overnight to give us a chance of capturing beavers on camera!
Storyboarding, Interview Planning and Preparation
Possibly the hardest, yet also enjoyable, part of the process was the storyboarding and planning of the film. Deciding where to put what parts of the film, without having any footage, proved difficult, but working as a team helped us find a way to weave together a story and plan based on the information we’d gained via research, and the knowledge of what we wanted to film.
Creating a storyboard, where each scene is carefully planned out, proved incredibly useful when filming. For each scene, we already knew where we wanted the camera, landscape, and people to be positioned, and knew exactly what order shots/scenes would go in. This laborious, yet entertaining, task provided us with much-needed support during the filming and editing portions of the project and brought us closer as a team.
But how did we film “Slowing the Flow”? What was the experience like? Read on to find out, from Priya’s perspective!
Eager Beavers Begin Filming – by Priya Bala
Embarking on the project was an adventure for our team. Our journey took us from the historic city of Exeter to the lush, secluded Woodland Valley Farm. Along the way, we explored the dynamic relationship between nature and humans, focusing on the reintroduction of beavers into the UK. We interviewed passionate individuals, camped under the stars, and experienced the thrill of wildlife observation – complete with all its challenges. But beyond the work, the trip was filled with laughter, camaraderie and unforgettable moments that brought us closer.
Day 1 – University of Exeter
In our journey to document the intersection of nature and sustainability, our first stop was the University of Exeter where we interviewed Gareth Bradbury. His work focuses on a subject increasingly relevant in today’s landscape – how reintroducing beavers can impact the water quality of streams and rivers in England, and he has been exploring this since 2020.
Our chat began by discussing the current state of UK rivers, in which Gareth noted nearly all UK waterways are polluted, a fact found by the 2022 House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee Report. This report underscores a dire reality: most UK rivers struggle with poor water quality, due to pollution from agriculture and wastewater treatment plants.
Given the state of our rivers, the next question was whether beavers could improve water quality. Gareth’s research suggests they can, as beaver dams slow the flow of water, allowing sediments and nutrients to settle, reducing the level of harmful nutrients continuing downstream. One aspect of Gareth’s research is the comparison between rivers with and without beaver activity. According to his findings, there is a noticeable difference in water quality. To see what he told us, go give the film a watch!
As we wrapped up our conversation, it became clear Gareth’s work wasn’t just about studying beavers but was also about finding sustainable ways to restore the health of our rivers.
Day 2 – Woodland Valley Farm
Next, we made our way to Woodland Valley Farm – a beacon of sustainable farming nestled in the Cornish countryside. The farm isn’t just a place of work, but a living example of how agriculture can coexist with wildlife conservation. Here, we met Chris Jones, an enthusiastic advocate for rewilding, whose story is one of dedication to the land, its ecosystems, and the reintroduction of beavers.
Our interview with Chris was nothing short of inspiring. He spoke of his journey from conventional farming to embracing sustainable practices and the challenges and triumphs that came with it. He also shared his excitement about the reintroduction of beavers, a species that plays a crucial role in ecosystem restoration.
After a day of exploring and talking to Chris, it was time for the real adventure: camping out in the hopes of capturing the elusive beavers on camera. Setting up our tents near the river, we were buzzing with excitement and spent the evening huddled around camp, sharing stories, having the famous British Fish and Chips, and laughing about our day. The farm’s serene atmosphere made it easy to forget about the pressures of the project, even for a night.
As the night grew dark, we set up the cameras and kept our eyes peeled on the beaver lodges and dams for any sign of a curious beaver. Despite our high spirits, this was a test of patience. We heard rustling and splashes, but the beavers remained just out of sight. Though we didn’t get the footage we wanted, the experience of working in the quiet night was something we cherished.
Day 3 – Woodland Valley Farm
Determined not to give up, we woke before dawn for another attempt. The early morning mist added a magical quality to the landscapes, and our hopes were renewed. As we waited in silence, we finally saw a beaver gliding through the water, even if our cameras were not quick enough to capture it. Instead of being disappointed, we laughed about the irony of it, appreciating the beauty of the moment instead of worrying about the missed shot.
Success and Reflections
While the beavers evaded our cameras, we didn’t walk away empty-handed. The landscape was rich with evidence of their presence, and we captured footage of gnawed trees, carefully constructed dams, and the channels they carved through the wetland.
As we wrapped up our time filming, there was a sense of accomplishment and a deeper bond among us, and we reflected on the experiences of the past few days, from the academic discussions at Exeter to the hands-on conservation work at the farm, and we had come together as a team, sharing not just the work, but they joy and frustrations that came with it.
While we didn’t capture the perfect shot of a beaver, we documented something perhaps even more meaningful: the intricate relationships between humans and nature, the passion that drives conservation efforts and the undeniable signs of wildlife reclaiming its rightful place in the ecosystem.
This journey reminded us that sometimes, the most powerful stories are not just about what we see, but about the connections we make along the way. Whether in the halls of academia or the wilds of Cornwall, the message was clear—conservation is not just about protecting wildlife, but about understanding and nurturing the intricate web of life that sustains us all.
Editing – Some Dam Fine Work! – by Corragh-May White
After calling cut, we packed up our gear and returned to Bristol incredibly pleased with ourselves. But we scarcely had time to kick the mud from our boots before the next stage. Our project wasn’t over yet – oh no – it had only just begun. Now it was time to begin the editing process.
Editors for 2 Days
Some of our group had video-editing experience, however, beyond what I had learned in previous classes, all I had under my belt was a short-lived career making bad My Chemical Romance covers on GarageBand as a teen. So I was excited for the opportunity to add to my skill set, especially because I wasn’t learning how to edit in a classroom, but in an actual editing studio, Films@59, no less; the same editing studio that brought us Blue Planet and the Great British Bake Off – and we would be under the tutelage of their editing staff.
On the first day, we entered the Films@59 office, pinching ourselves as we passed security with our shiny new passes. The class was separated into individual editing suites and given a workshop on how to use the editing software, Avid, by a Films@59 editor. Then, we were unleased onto the editing suites and the clock was set – each group had just over 2 days to edit all our hours of footage into a seamless narrative story. It was an interesting and productive way to learn a new skill, to say the least, learning while creating a solid portfolio piece that demonstrates my ability, all while getting the opportunity to network with professionals in the industry.
After picking out the footage we wanted to use, it amounted to over 15 minutes – and our final film had to be just 7. This included B-roll, beginning and end credits, so naturally, what followed was 2.5 days of trying to “Kill Our Darlings”, as our lecturer puts it, while coming to grips with every aspect of Avid, from syncing visuals and audio, to focusing footage in post-production, to the fine detailing of trimming a single 0.3 second clip for that perfect shot. Luckily, our mentor Ben Williams-Butt was on hand to guide us through it all.
The Final Countdown
After days of arduous work (and only a small smattering of sweat), when the clock hit zero, we had a completed final film we were very happy with. We then headed to Films@59’s other location, where the company showcases its finished films to clients in their own miniature cinema, but that day, it displayed our own films. It was the most rewarding experience to see how far we had come, comparing my most recent work to earlier projects and seeing how much we had learnt and grown over the course of the module. To be able to cheer on my classmates and hear them cheer me on in return was a fantastic experience and a wonderful way to end the module. Seeing the finished film that we had nurtured from tentative doodles and ideas to a finished product on the big screen made it all worth it.
It was a long, and hefty process of getting to a final film, but our group genuinely enjoyed the whole experience, and are incredibly grateful to the Science Communication Unit and UWE Bristol for giving us the chance to make our first nature documentary! We would truly encourage anyone interested in science documentaries, journalism, education and more to consider taking this course and module to further your own careers in Science Communication.
If you’d like to go give “Slowing The Flow” a watch, it’s available on YouTube here:
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