While searching for new species in a remote forest they helped protect, a team of young explorers uncovers illegal gold mining that threatens the future of Dracula Reserve in the Tropical Andes of Ecuador—the most unique biodiversity hotspot on the planet.

An hour-long expedition documentary
2023 release
Unique impact campaign
Character-driven through two young conservationists—a quick-witted nature activist from the UK and an Ecuadorian biologist with a heart of gold
Seeking gap financing

Work Sample

This sample shows the film’s central conflict

Globally, species are disappearing at 1000 times the natural rate due to the rapid loss of wild habitat. In the Tropical Andes of northwestern Ecuador, a protected area corridor called Dracula Reserve is being assembled piece by piece to protect the most biodiverse ecosystem in the world and the unique, endangered, and yet-unknown species that depend on intact forest for survival. The corridor isn’t complete; there are still big gaps. And connecting them will mean a race against time as agricultural deforestation chips away at what remains.

Enter Reserva—a group of young conservationists who are working to save places like this through grassroots, youth-led fundraising. They created the world’s first entirely youth-funded nature reserve here in 2021, expanding Dracula Reserve by 244 acres. Now, they’re embarking on an expedition to traverse the entire planned corridor on foot, hoping to identify conservation priorities by discovering new species ... and new threats.

When the team stumbles across illegal gold mining exploration at the reserve, they are faced with the possible loss of not just the remaining unprotected land, but the entire landscape. Can this new generation of conservationists keep dreams of a Dracula Reserve wildlife corridor alive?

Otra Cosa follows two youth conservationists—British teen activist Bella Lack and budding Ecuadorian biologist Julio C. Carrión—on a 50-km research transect as they survey the entire length of the planned corridor for wild birds, reptiles, amphibians, and orchids. On a backdrop of scientific discoveries and tear-jerking disappointments, strong friendships develop between these two endearing characters and their small expedition team. This adventure-science documentary will give audiences an unfiltered look into a scientific expedition and ongoing conservation project, facing serious challenges as they occur in real time.

Protagonist Profiles

Julio C. Carrión & Bella Lack

Julio César Carrión, a 23-year-old Ecuadorian biologist who wears his heart on his sleeve: Julio grew up feeling like one of the only people his age who cared about the imperiled biodiversity of his home country. He co-leads the expedition’s herpetology team and birding team, lending a young scientific voice to this story about the world’s most biodiverse and endemic ecosystem. After finding a community of passionate young conservationists organized around protecting Ecuadorian cloud forests, Julio’s love for Dracula Reserve is now part of his identity. Excited for his first visit to the reserve he helped protect with this newfound conservation family, it is Julio’s voice that narrates the greatest conflict of the film—their discovery of illegal gold mining exploration by a large Canadian company on the reserve. Audiences will experience their highest highs and lowest lows as they fall in love with Julio.

Julio’s Other Work:

Bella Lack, a quick-witted 18-year-old nature advocate from the UK: Bella’s clever, dry sense of humor and poignant commentary on serious issues will make you forget she’s still just a kid entering her final year of Sixth Form (high school). Bella helped start the effort to save the piece of land they’re exploring, but speaking very little Spanish and lacking a scientific degree, she is unsure of her ability to meaningfully contribute to a rigorous scientific expedition. Over the 50-km transect, Bella makes one of the most significant scientific discoveries of the trip and proves that young people with passion and an ability to communicate are just as valuable to an expedition team as someone with a scientific degree.

Bella Lack in the media:

Impact Campaign

saving dracula reserve & the tropical andes

Otra Cosa is the keystone of a youth-led impact campaign that aims to protect a threatened piece of forest in the short-term, while building a movement to advocate for the removal of mining concessions from the Dracula Reserve corridor and enable its permanent protection in the National Parks system (SNAP). The campaign has a robust multi-platform strategy:

Impact through partnership: Footage distributed privately to conservation partners has resulted in more than $225,000 in direct support for Dracula Reserve’s defense and expansion. [STATUS: COMPLETE]
Direct conservation impact: The international, volunteer Youth Council that makes up Reserva: The Youth Land Trust committed to raise funds for EcoMinga to purchase and protect the 1,050-acre plot of land at the center of our gold mining discovery. This target is $109,000, which will be added to the $125,000 raised by OCA to support the same purchase. Reserva raises both awareness and funds through creative, youth-led fundraising campaigns, such as a virtual 5K, lemonade stands, or Instagram Live events. We also employ a creative campaign called 1 Million Letters #ForNature, through which we match letters from kids around the world in support of nature with $3/each toward conservation, enabling participation from youth who don’t have the ability to donate money. [STATUS: COMPLETE]
Government advocacy: We focus on our 1 Million Letters #ForNature campaign to reach the Ecuadorian government and advocate for long-term protection at Dracula Reserve. These letters are a uniquely positive way to interface with the government; they show that we want the Environmental ministry to be part of a good news story, not a fight. Our goal is to have mining concessions lifted from Dracula Reserve and ultimately have the reserve declared a national park. [STATUS: Delivered 300 letters to Ecuador’s Environmental Minister at COP15 and agreed to meet again about including Dracula in SNAP.]
Movement-building: Simply filming Otra Cosa has enabled our progress to date, but the film is a critical part of the long-term impact campaign—a permanent and shareable story that underpins the campaign and the global interest in its success. Film viewers may be inspired to write a letter, sign a petition, or even donate to conservation. Through local film screenings, we hope to raise the profile of Dracula Reserve, which is still very little known even within its nearest communities. [STATUS: Late Production/Starting Rough Cut]

Contact

Laetitia Doyle, laetitia.doyle@gmail.com

OTRA COSA