Filmmaker and environmentalist Christine Lin leads video and media projects on topics ranging from bird conservation to climate action as the Senior Producer of Visual Storytelling at the National Audubon Society. I sat down with her to chat about Audubon’s online show ‘I Saw A Bird,’ increasing representation in front of- and behind- the camera, and making a film on a virus in the middle of the pandemic.
Tell me more about your role at the National Audubon Society. Have you always wanted to work in bird conservation?
I’ve always been passionate about conservation and wildlife, but I never imagined I’d be working for the birds years down the road! Besides trying my hand at an ornithology event for Science Olympiad in middle school, I didn’t focus on birds until I started working at the Audubon Society – but honestly, it’s become such a great way for me to not only learn more about the flora and fauna around me but also advocate for protecting our planet in a unique way because birds utilize just about every habitat you can imagine.
My role as Senior Producer of Visual Storytelling at Audubon combines both videography and social media, which are very often interwoven with each other. A lot of the projects I work on are, like my position suggests, visual in nature. This includes expanding our TikTok channel, planning out Instagram Stories, and, of course, making videos. Travel is largely on hold right now, but one of my favorite parts of work is shooting in the field. Following the birds has also ignited my love for the ocean in a way. In 2019 I created a video about Whooping Cranes off the coast of Texas and spent hours on a boat that traversed the waterways of Port Aransas, which allowed me to appreciate my home state from a different lens. And as of late, I’ve been especially interested in seabirds!
That sounds quite interdisciplinary in nature! What drives you to work on collaborative projects with fellow filmmakers, artists, and scientists?
Different avenues will resonate with different audiences, whether it be through visual art, music, science, or films. Throughout 2020 and the first half of 2021, I co-produced and co-hosted an online show called “I Saw A Bird” alongside Elizabeth Sorrell, David Ringer, Preeti Desai, John Rowden, and others. This initiative came about when we were all spending a lot of time in our homes, and in many cases needed access to nature most. In each episode, we invited special guests ranging from respected scientist Kenn Kaufman to Saturday Night Live’s Melissa Villaseñor to journalist Brentin Mock to legendary conservationist Dr. Jane Goodall. The one thing all these guests had in common? A love for our feathered friends! I think “I Saw A Bird” is a great example of how collaborations across various fields can help tap into that empathy for protecting wildlife and our planet.
The pandemic has seen a surge in binocular sales and backyard birding, bringing more people closer than ever to our avian friends. How has this past year been for you?
Like many people, my workspace has changed from mostly an office environment to working from home. I feel privileged to have the flexibility to work remotely and I’m hoping that this model will stick with organizations even after the pandemic is over.
Recently, I did a fun personal project called “Feathers Gone Viral” which involved filming a group of high school students and their mentors – aka the New York City Virus Hunters – conducting really cool research on avian influenza around the city. Because we wanted to be as safe as possible during the pandemic, we kept it to a bare-bones camera crew (aka, me) and shot everything, including interviews, with masks on. This presented some new challenges such as getting the best possible sound with masks, social distancing and working with limited equipment. But one thing I love about making documentaries is figuring out how to be resourceful and how to adapt to new situations. In the end, I was really glad I had the opportunity to create a pandemic-related short film – in the middle of a pandemic!
In fact, something I’m really excited about is a short documentary that I received a grant for earlier this year. I plan to film a group of Indigenous Guardians in the Northwest Territories of Canada as they monitor and manage their land in the recently established Thaidene Nëné National Park. Because of the pandemic, we’ve had to push production to next year, but I hope to complete this project once it’s safe to do so.
Wow, that sounds like it will be an impactful film, both for the communities of Northern Canada as well as personally! What drove you to this story?
I’d say that working with intent is a good way to describe how I approach what I do, because aligning my values and what I care about with my professional life is what keeps me motivated every day. A few years ago I filmed and spent more time with my grandmother, who’s from the Indigenous Amis community in Taiwan, and ever since then, I’ve gravitated towards stories in which Indigenous people are at the forefront of the conversation and in conservation. My hope is that this documentary will be just one of many stories in the future that shift the narrative in how we approach conservation – a narrative where we join together to protect the planet from an anti-colonialist lens.
Even if it’s something silly like making a funny TikTok video or brainstorming bird puns, I like to keep the impact and end goal in mind – whether that’s advocating for wildlife, fighting climate change, or increasing representation in the environmental and filmmaking industries. The fact that I’m seeing so many more people who look like me – and who don’t look like me – behind and in front of the camera makes me happy! I’m excited that people in the environmental fields are beginning to listen to the Indigenous knowledge that has existed for thousands of years, and I’m also excited about being a part of this new generation of storytellers and conservationists.
You can follow Christine wherever her camera takes her next at her website, Instagram (@chrriscross), and LinkedIn.
