On The Brink was made entirely by volunteers with virtually no budget and completed in early 2003 in time for the run-up to the State elections in our home state of New South Wales (NSW) in Australia.
In the 3 months prior to the elections we held screenings of the film in
over 100 cities and towns in NSW. Before each screening there was a parade in the town including the costumes of our 4 endangered species handing out flyers advertising the event.
At the end of each screening there were card tables at the back of the theatre with letter-writing materials, envelopes and stamps and folks were asked to write a note to the Premier of NSW asking for the protection of the old-growth forests where our
endangered species live. Over 8000 people attended these screenings and
there was a flood of letters to the Premier.
A week before the elections in March 2003, the Premier promised that if re-elected the Labour Party would protect the remaining unprotected old growth forests of NE NSW and 2 months after the election he kept his promise by reserving 15 "icon" forests, a total of 180,000 acres being added to the National Park system. So, this film is a classic example of the use of film to achieve a conservation outcome.
I believe that this could be replicated anywhere using costumes of local species.
On The Brink stars 4 endangered species – Koala, Masked Owl, Spotted-tail Quoll and Yellow Bellied Glider with Olivia Newton John as the voice of Koala and Jack Thompson as the voice of Spotted-tail Quoll. It is presented and narrated by Sir David Attenborough, David Bellamy and David Suzuki.
See www.rainforestinfo.org.au/spp/index.htm
