OVERVIEW
Belonging is a short documentary exploring the transformative experiences of BIPOC students in nature. North Hennepin Community College hired us to document their student life as part of their nature immersion course, GCST 1970, to attract future participation.
CHALLENGE
Although happy with their first attempt at documentation, Ana Munro, North Hennepin Faculty and Course Creator, wanted to have a heart-moving story. Ana wanted to create a documentary that could capture students’ experiences.
CLIENT
TEAM
SERVICES
Story Strategy
Project Management
Filming
Editing
Distribution
FILM SYNOPSIS
STORY STRATEGY
Uncovering the Story
We built our film around 5 keywords, identified the film's characters, and developed the narrative arc to captivate and engage the audience.
- Relational: Focus on the relationships between students, staff, and nature.
- Breaking Barriers: Reducing false expectations of people, spaces, and cultures.
- Outdoor Gatekeepers: Those in power who influence and have access to nature (education institutions, lawmakers, and budget authority holders at foundations, etc.)
- Motivated: The story aims to empower the audience to support equitable outdoor access.
- Inclusive Outdoor Learning: Our story seeks to spotlight and encourage more inclusive outdoor educational experiences.
- Hook: The opening of the story that instantly captivates the audience's attention.
- Conflict: The problem or situation where the main character encounters a significant challenge.
- Initiation: The moment after the Conflict. It's when the character's journey begins, showing determination and resilience in the face of adversity.
- Journey: Key moments happen when our character attempts to overcome the conflict.
- Resolution: The ending of the story. It's the big punch to the gut that the audience feels and is left with. It expresses what the Heart has learned from its journey and what it wants to share with the audience.
- Jab: The Jab is universal and often includes a call to action for the audience, tying back to the action the story was designed to create.
OUR APPROACH
Raw Yet Poetic, A Guiding Principle for Filming and Editing
The documentary used natural light and settings to maintain a realistic appearance, showcasing the rougher aspects of the environment.
To contrast these raw elements, we also included visually stunning shots of nature, focusing on small details like dewdrops on leaves or bark textures.
Handheld camera was used for personal interviews and reflective moments, while tripods helped capture still shots of Camp Northern Lights.
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Our raw yet poetic filming approach drew people into the student’s experience and themes of nature inclusion. This approach amplified the story strategy.
STORY EXECUTION
Blending Elements of Participatory and Observational Filmmaking
We engaged with our characters to explore deeper emotional and intellectual layers while stepping back at times to let events unfold naturally.
We filmed two critical moments of the film outdoors to emphasize the relationship between nature and the students, as relational was one of our keywords.
THE OUTCOME
Award, Licensing Deals, and Dope Reviews
Since its premiere, Belonging has won the award for Best Regional Film at the Ely Film Festival and secured two licensing deals with WaterBear Network and PBS Marquette, MI.
Moreover, the story and the main character, Dalorian, have captivated people.
- North Hennepin CC Screening, MN, Oct. 2023
- Minnesota DNR Diversity Training, MN, Nov. 2023
- National Place-Based Education Annual Conference, Grand Forks, MI, Nov. 2023
- International Association of Experiential Education Annual Conference, Univ of Madison, WI, Nov 2023
- Minnesota Association for Environmental Education Conference, MN, Nov. 2023
- Edina HS American Indian Advisory Meeting, MN, Nov. 2023
- Ely Film Festival, MN, Feb. 2024
- WaterBear Network, (online) Apr. 2024
- Fresh Coast Film Festival, MI, Oct. 2024
- Winterers' Gathering & Arctic Film Festival, MN, Nov. 2024
- Downstream Environmental Film Festival, MN, Mar. 2025
- Green Screen Environmental Film Festival, Nov. 2025
Ana Munro
PAINTER & NATURE LOVER
"I have received so many compliments about the film’s message, content, and stunning visuals. This film captures students’ experiences, elevates their voices, and also puts the viewers in the scene."
Hannah Anema
PAINTER & NATURE LOVER
"Belonging touched my soul. I loved the feeling of solitude and unsureness at the trip's start and the togetherness, confidence, and bliss the students developed within 5 days."
Mike D. Jones
DIRECTOR
"Featuring multiple voices while focusing on [Dalorian] was skillfully done. It avoided confusion and showcased diverse perspectives with one clear leading voice."
Ana Munro
POET
"This doc returned memories of youth retreats – the fear of opening up to strangers that became a shared bond. The ending was beautiful and full of love."
Ember Berg
STORYTELLER
"The authenticity of those kids is what moved me. They were open and vulnerable. I felt like I was right there with them."
Christian Vang-Dixon
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
"Seeing such a diverse group of young adults bonding over nature was moving. It brought me back to my childhood and why I got into environmental work."
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