‘project borneo 3D: an action movie’ website homepage

every minute of everyday, rainforest areas equal to 300 football fields are destroyed. forests are logged and burnt, often illegally, for cheap timber and to clear land to produce palm oil. the accelerating deforestation is resulting in massive amounts of greenhouse gases being released into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change and extreme weather events. our global habitat is in serious jeopardy. without forests, life on this planet cannot continue to exist.

deforestACTION is a multi-platform global media project developed by microsoft’s partners in learning and toronto-based takingITglobal that aims to protect rainforests. driven by millions of students across the globe working with conservationist dr. willie smits and organgutan outreach, deforestACTION is out to save the orangutans and start a new wave of youth action. they are looking to recruit ten passionate and courageous young people (aged 18 – 35) to lead a project to save forests and feature in a 3D feature documentary that will record their challenges, adventures, risks and achievements, bringing their experience and efforts to the attention of the world. these project leaders will spend five months in borneo as the eyes, ears and hands-on activists for the project, connecting with millions of supporters from around the globe via social media, online sites, blogs, mobile apps and satellite mapping technology.

supported by screen queensland the award-winning queensland-based production company virgo productions in collaboration with national geographic entertainment, will develop the 3D documentary about the project. entitled ‘project borneo 3D: an action movie‘, it is set to be the largest, most ambitious documentary project ever mounted in the asia / pacific region. commencing in june 2011, shooting will take place over five months and will be produced and directed by cathy henkel (‘the burning season’, ‘the man who stole my mother’s face’), shot by cinematographer don mcalpine (‘moulin rouge’, ‘romeo + juliet’, ‘wolverine’) and stereographer paul nichola (‘cane toads: the conquest 3D’).

project borneo 3D: an action movie cheekpadder orangutan image courtesy of steve lacey

designboom supports the initiative and encourages you to get involved and do your part to help in this global mission to stop deforestation. potential candidates for the positions of the ten project leaders of deforestACTION are invited to submit a 90 second pitch clip outlining why they should be chosen.

the call for submissions and voting will close sunday, april 10th at 5:00pm eastern standard time (GMT-5). to find out more about what you would be doing as a project leader and how to apply you can visit: project borneo 3D: an action movie deforestACTION: project borneo

Project Borneo 3D – Recruitment Clip from The Production Room on Vimeo.

2011 is considered the international year of forests and this project aims to deliver real solutions, high impact tangible results and new hope for the forests of the world.