Perspectives From the Summit: Candid Takes from 2023 Jackson Wild Delegates

Gunjan Menon @gunjunglebook
Creative Director & Story Producer – Beyond Premieres, In-Person Attendee

“I’m here after six years (the last time was in 2017 before the pandemic). I was a starry-eyed film student who came as a volunteer. It feels surreal how much has changed over the years. This year’s Jackson Wild is extremely special for several reasons. I’m returning to Jackson Hole as a speaker, advisory council member, ReGen/Jackson Wild Fellow and one of our films, Wings of Hope, is receiving an Audience Choice Award, and The Letter, which I worked on, is a finalist. Jackson Wild has truly been such a huge support in my career growth over the years.”

Caitlin Bailey @caitlinmbailey
Freelance Camera Assistant, Virtual Attendee

“For my grant with the National Geographic Society, I was able to film the Texas Horned Lizard Reintroduction Project at San Antonio Zoo. The Texas horned lizard is beloved in Texas and is our state reptile, but it’s rapidly disappearing due to urbanization and non-native species. Texas is 97% privately owned, so the best way for conservationists to bring this lizard back is to work with private landowners. In doing so, not only will the lizard populations increase, but so will other species that don’t get as much love or attention. I love that a little lizard is helping bring back many native Texas species and that people are learning the importance of endemic plants and wildlife. It also opens up the opportunities for new business models for the landowners, like photo ranches and camping experiences for guests. It reminds us that we as humans are not separate from nature and are very much a part of the land.”

Roshan Patel @roshcpatel
Media Producer – Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, In-Person Attendee

“One of my favorite examples of coexistence is the Asiatic lions in Gujarat, Western India, as seen in my film Pride. People have been living amongst lions, leopards, and other wildlife species that many Western societies have problems with. However, because of this region’s culture, people are largely vegetarian and have belief systems that value wildlife. Committed communities are dedicated to making sure wildlife has space, despite the challenges. As a result, the lion population is rebounding. This is an important topic for our industry because redefining “nature” and its boundaries opens up doors for how we envision goals and how we can reach them.”

David Hutchinson @hutchinsonmedia
Producer – Day’s Edge Productions In-Person Attendee

“I would highly recommend Ciril Jazbec’s film Dream to Cure Water, which is a finalist in the Climate Stories short form category. It’s a beautiful portrait of an indigenous community in Peru as they adapt to pollution caused by glacier melt. The cinematography, story, and pacing are all fabulous. I suppose I should also plug my own film, The Reservoir, which is a finalist in the Natural Sciences short form category. We tell the story of an island community battling against Lyme disease, and a group of scientists who have proposed an unusual solution: genetically engineering white-footed mice to make them immune. Is it possible to ethically alter another species for the sake of human health? Our film aims to find out!”