Imaginary Forces

Imaginary Forces Creates Graphic Picture of Sonar's Impact on Whales for NRDC and IFAW

Five minute environmental film uses design elements to embellish narrative and dramatize critical issues

Hollywood, CA – January 3, 2006 – Imaginary Forces has recently completed a five-minute film for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). Titled “Lethal Sound,” the film powerfully illustrates the damaging effects of military sonar and seismic air guns on whales and other marine life. Seismic air guns are used to find oil and gas deposits beneath the ocean floor. NRDC and IFAW are using the film to educate policymakers, industry leaders and the public on this controversial and potentially devastating problem.

Working largely with documentary and news footage, Imaginary Forces’ team of designers and producers crafted an informative and persuasive piece of communications that dramatically and visually illustrates the harm caused by intense underwater noise. The team chose to link these segments of the film with a unifying design motif suggesting the gentle ebb of sound waves trav-eling underwater while also depicting the harsh impact of intense underwater noise. The animation elements contrasts starkly with the graphic nature of much of the news and documentary footage the film employs.

Narrated by actor Pierce Brosnan, “Lethal Sound” is part of NRDC’s and IFAW’s efforts to influence government and industry to reduce harm from military and industrial ocean noise. The groups contend that intense under-water noise is destroying habitat for whales and dolphins, and in some cases causing their deaths. The film calls on viewers to speak up about growing harm from military and industrial ocean noise, and presents its case in a so-ber and straightforward manner.

In addition to its use as an educational and motivational tool, “Lethal Sound” is also being used in sixty and thirty second versions as viral emails. The film can be seen at http://www.nrdc.org/wildlife/marine/sonar.asp. Plans are being made to make a version available via podcast as well.

The film opens with underwater scenes overlaid with a series of thin white lines undulating in waves across the screen. We hear the sounds of dolphins and whales, and the lines vibrate and oscillate in response. At times the lines move with fluidity and grace, but at other times they jump wildly like a seismograph during an earthquake, representing the jarring effect sonar bursts and tests can have on these animals.

“We set out to illustrate the problem of sonar with graphics,” says Michelle Dougherty, the I.F. creative director on the project who supervised the de-sign elements, visual effects and editing. “We wanted to tell the story of how it impacts marine life, and do it in a way that felt organic. That’s why we chose the lines—they represent the way sound travels through the oceans.”

“Our goal was to not only dramatize the impact of sonar on whales and dol-phins, but to educate viewers as the nature of the problem,” adds IF partner and creative director Peter Frankfurt. “The film shows how we can mitigate the harm of underwater noise without compromising our defense or energy supply. It’s a sensitive subject, given security concerns around the world, but we all felt this was a truly important story that needed to be told.”

“‘Lethal Sound’ presents hard scientific facts simply and powerfully,” said Daniel Hinerfeld, associate director of communications at NRDC, who over-saw the production. “It’s an amazingly effective tool to educate decision makers and the general public about the harm we’re inflicting on these ma-jestic creatures, and the common sense precautions that can protect them.”

“There is no doubt that this film will amplify the issue of ocean noise, and motivate decision makers and advocates to take action,” adds Erin Heskett, Senior Program Officer at IFAW. “Ocean noise requires international solu-tions, and I believe ‘Lethal Sound’ provides the level of sophistication we need to communicate our messages and win this campaign.”

Additional Imaginary Forces credits go to executive producer Anita Olan, pro-ducer Claudina Mercado, designer Joan Lau, animators Hai Ho, Jason Lowe, Juan Monastario, Preston Brown, Robin Roepstorf and Yan Ng, editors Dan-ielle White, Charles Jensen and Vic Carbonneau, coordinators Justin Green-lee, Troy Miller and head of production Ben Apley. The film was jointly writ-ten by NRDC, IFAW and I.F.’s Ab Winsemius. The music score was composed by Michael Sherwodd, Chris Campanaro and Christopher Kemp at Elias Arts, and produced by Kala Sherman, working under creative director David Gold.

About NRDC
The Natural Resources Defense Council is a national, nonprofit organization of scientists, law-yers and environmental specialists dedicated to protecting public health and the environment. Founded in 1970, NRDC has more than 1.2 million members and online activists nationwide. Its purposed is to safeguard the Earth: its people, its plants and animals and the natural sys-tems on which all life depends.

About IFAW
Founded in 1969, IFAW works to improve the welfare of wild and domestic animals throughout the world by reducing commercial exploitation of animals, protecting wildlife habitats, and as-sisting animals in distress. IFAW seeks to motivate the public to prevent cruelty to animals and to promote animal welfare and conservation policies that advance the well-being of both animals and people. As one of the largest international animal welfare organizations in the world, IFAW has offices in 15 countries and a staff of more than 200 experienced campaign-ers, legal and political experts, and internationally acclaimed scientists.