Scenoptica

Scenoptica is an open source project to make thoughtful films and documentaries, freely accessible lectures on ecology and the environment, and to release all of the footage we've filmed of the landscapes, plants, animals, and people of our planet.

We also release the "sources" of our films, allowing you to access and reuse the raw files we used—hence the term "open source filmmaking," although we try to make everything about the project libre and open source, from the software used for filming and editing, to the content (released under a Creative Commons license), to the Scenoptica website itself (GPLv3).

Supporting us will mean directly sustaining the project, and hopefully one day expanding it, as everything is currently done at a loss and fueled only by passion. There are still so many stories to tell. More specifically, helping the project means helping with the following:

• Upgrading or purchasing equipment. As of this writing, our oldest piece of equipment is our camera (12 years old) and the newest is our shotgun microphone (1 year old).

• Labour costs. Currently, there are two of us responsible for the entirety of the project (recording, editing, uploading, maintenance, etc.). Occasionally, we enlist others for help and try to renumerate them fairly. On a more permanent basis, we'd like to be able to support people's livelihoods through Scenoptica.

• Maintenance costs. This means domain hosting, etc., but not necessarily server costs. Since the website is open source, it is hosted using GitHub, while videos are uploaded to a variety of (free) services, most importantly the Internet Archive. Even if it might be better to self-host video, it is ultimately best to diversify the locations of files in case one of them breaks or we discontinue the project.

• Caring for abandoned animals. Gandalf, Caramel, Hendricks, Mackerel, Clemmie, Princess, Bonder, Poppy, Blip, Arian, and Scabcat are our current residents, each one arriving here for one reason or other but equally welcome to stay.

• Our community mutual aid fund. A portion of funds goes directly towards buying food for struggling families. The specific items we give are rice, sugar, instant noodles, oil, and tea. We purchase these items in bulk and distribute them personally to ensure as much food as possible can be given.

• Sustaining our own needs. Finally, we hope that Scenoptica will grow enough to support our own livelihoods, which in turn will mean that we'll be able to dedicate our full time to the project.