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Explore posts about Wild Commons Films | Filmmaker Discourse | or Meet the Team

 

Wild Commons is a home for independent films about science, nature, and the people working to protect our shared planet.

Here, we go beyond the films to explore the science, communities, creative choices, and bigger questions behind them, from conservation and culture to filmmaking, distribution, and what it means to tell true stories about a changing world.

Explore our posts below ⤵

Meet Hayden Hanke
Meet the Team Wild Commons Meet the Team Wild Commons

Meet Hayden Hanke

Before picking up a camera, Hayden was photographing distant galaxies from his cul-de-sac. That shift in perspective — from the cosmos to the creatures closest to home — set him on a path combining science, visual storytelling, and conservation. Here, Hayden reflects on his journey from astrophotography to filmmaker engagement, and why images and stories may be our most powerful tools for protecting the natural world.

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Meet Kika Tuff
Meet the Team Kika Tuff, Ph.D. Meet the Team Kika Tuff, Ph.D.

Meet Kika Tuff

Before becoming a filmmaker, Kika was a scientist studying deforestation. But after years researching a problem the world already knew how to solve, she had to accept that data alone rarely changes human behavior. Here, Kika reflects on her transition from science to filmmaking, and why emotional connection is a critical tool for confronting ecological collapse.

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Meet Matt Podolsky
Meet the Team Matthew Podolsky Meet the Team Matthew Podolsky

Meet Matt Podolsky

After 18 years producing nature documentaries — including a Sundance audience award winner picked up by National Geographic — Matt knows firsthand how broken independent film distribution has become. That's exactly why he co-founded Wild Commons.

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