The Power of One (Post-Production)
After a year of crowdfunding, pre-production and filming in the Colombian jungle, we have finally have shot “The Power of One”! And after witnessing Jaibazul first-hand, meeting Jorge, and going through this journey, we have realized that this film is so much more than we originally envisioned. This is a heartfelt, beautiful and inspiring story that we cannot wait to show to the world, as we are certain that, just like us, people who witness Jorge's mission will be moved to activate their power of one to save our world.
Logline
Naturalist Alex Valdez and a team of young documentary filmmakers take us on an adventure to discover an unknown ecological sanctuary deep in the Colombian wilderness, where an anonymous conservationist named Jorge is restoring an ecosystem from a deforested piece of land and creating a home for a variety of endangered animals. Through this impactful story we seek to help Jorge complete the restoration of Jaibazul and inspire a whole generation to turn their power of one into the power of many.
This film/series is the first step in our mission to to build a network for independent conservationists around the globe to access funding and ecological experts to restore our world’s ecosystems.
Why this Film?
There are less than 6,000 cotton-top tamarin monkeys roaming the wild and a large amount of them live in Jaibazul, an ecological island surrounded by deforestation. Jorge has had to maintain his identity and location hidden from the public to protect Jaibazul from poachers and total extinction. We want to educate viewers on the urgency and action that is needed to save our planet and give Jorge direct access to people who want to fund the restoration of Jaibazul.
Our Impact Campaign
Alongside Jorge, we have developed a budgeted impact campaign with a timeline for him to expand the restoration of Jaibazul and build an international research center for various studies. We have also connected him with NGOs, such as The Humboldt Institute and Proyecto Tití, as well as experts to guide him on how to properly restore this dry forest. Through our non-profit, The Little Hummingbird Institute, we plan on funding Jorge’s project and partnering with other independent conservationists around the globe to help them restore our world’s ecosystems.
Funding
With the help of more than 160 incredible supporters, we have shot an incredible documentary film that needs only to go through post-production to be completed. With $60k we can complete the film, and also market and distribute it via festivals and industry buyers.
A budget of $60k will allow us to cut the film with a professional film editor in Los Angeles, sound mix and color grade the film, compose the music with two incredibly talented Colombian composers, and hire a marketing team to promote its festival run and distribution journey.
Once released, we will begin the process of funding Jorge's mission to restore, expand and save Jaibazul. We strongly believe that after seeing such a powerful story and visuals, audiences will be moved to support Jorge's project.
About Jorge, Our Protagonist
Starting with a large deforested piece of land he inherited, Jorge is restoring an entire ecosystem and is saving Colombia’s critically endangered cotton-top tamarin monkey. Jorge keeps his real name and face anonymous so no one will poach the new homes he continues to create for multiple endangered species of flora and fauna. Jorge has to date planted 10,000 trees despite adversities, such as harsh weather and organized crime.
Our Director
Alex Valdez is an anthropologist and documentary filmmaker from Los Angeles. He has translated his love of nature to raising awareness by creating academic publications and starting an organization to connect ecological conservationists with funding and researchers, named The Little Hummingbird Institute. As a proud Mexican American, he has a cultural and linguistic connection to Latin America. Alex is the only person that Jorge trusts to make this film/series, and with his sensible passion for ecology, Alex could very well become the first Latino naturalist TV personality and educator in the vein of Steve Irwin and Jeff Corwin.
Thank you!
We cannot wait to embark on this adventure with you and this documentary is only the beginning of a movement in which we all can partake in shining a light on all the people in the world taking ecological and humanitarian initiatives to change it for the better.
Alex Valdez is an anthropologist and documentary filmmaker from Los Angeles, California. Being raised in proximity to the industry, film has always been a large part of his life. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, he has translated his love of nature to dedicating the last two years to raising awareness, creating academic publications, and pursuing a documentary related to the Jaibazul sanctuary. Alex is also working on his Ph.D. in primatology. As a proud Mexican American, he has not only a linguistic, but a cultural connection to Latin America, leading him to visit and initially scout out the Colombian nature reserve on nothing more than an email conversation with its host and founder, Jorge.
Pablo De la Fuente is a producer and filmmaker from Mexico City based in Los Angeles, California. After being raised in Mexico, his love for filmmaking led him to study in Chicago, IL, to later move to LA to work as an Associate Producer in various projects, from the hit series The Garcias to the critically acclaimed HA Festival. Due to a fascination with impactful storytelling and humanitarian causes, Pablo has found great synchronicity with Alex’s mission to tell the story of Jaibazul, in which they both see a great potential of inspiring a whole generation across the globe.
