National Geographic Documentary Films’ VR short ‘The Protector’s: Walk in the Ranger’s Shoes’ -Tribeca Film Festival 2017 VR

The Protectors in partnership with African Parks and the National Geographic Channel

National Geographic Documentary Films’ VR short The Protector’s: Walk in the Ranger’s Shoes. Photo Splash Magazines
Share the article:

The Protectors: Walk in the Ranger’s Shoes was exhibited as part of the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival‘s  groundbreaking immersive storytelling Virtual Arcade featuring “Storyscapes.”  Academy Award-winning director Kathryn Bigelow (“Last Days,” “The Hurt Locker”) and VR creator Imraan Ismail (“The Displaced,” “Valen’s Reef”) have co-created The Protectors in partnership with African Parks and the National Geographic Channel.  The film was released exclusively on Within, the premiere distributor of VR content, on May 1 and on YouTube and Facebook 360 starting May 8.

National Geographic Documentary Films’ VR short The Protector’s: Walk in the Ranger’s Shoes. Photo Splash Magazines
Courtesy of Tribeca Film Festival 2017

The Protectors: Walk in the Ranger’s Shoes,” is a documentary short shot in Virtual Reality that chronicles a day in the life of a ranger in Garamba National Park, managed by African Parks, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. These rangers are often the last line of defense in a race against extinction as poachers continue to slaughter elephants for their ivory tusks. The rangers face constant danger and even death at the service of these sentient, noble creatures and can therefore truly be called the unsung heroes of this race against time.”

National Geographic Documentary Films takes viewers to the front lines of Garamba alongside the rangers who face constant danger and even death while protecting elephants from heavily militarized and incentivized poachers. Shot entirely in virtual reality.  National Geographic has a strong sense of purpose and funds projects around the world to sustain habitats and has been a pioneer in visual storytelling. The cinematic virtual reality of  The Protectors: Walk in the Ranger’s Shoes has an unique transportive power to bring the audience into awareness of the mission of protecting the critically endangered elephants in Africa and bring the audience as a witness into the world and work of the rangers inside the Garamba National Park.  National Geographic brings awareness, information, and facts from the VR’s short. Humankind should not buy ivory products and the world needs to stop the abuse of elephants for entertainment or profit.  People need to take action against animal cruelty and preserve endangered species by becoming united and support more films like The Protectors: Walk in the Ranger’s Shoes.

National Geographic Documentary Films’ VR short The Protector’s: Walk in the Ranger’s Shoes. Photo Splash Magazines
National Geographic Documentary Films’ VR short The Protector’s: Walk in the Ranger’s Shoes. Photo Splash Magazines

Do you love elephants? Did you know an elephant is slaughtered every 15 Minutes?

At this rate, elephants could be extinct in just 12 years. African terrorist groups such AL-SHABAAB, The Lord’s Resistance Army, Boko Haram and Janjaweed use the sale of illegal Ivory to fund and carry out attacks.  There is massive greed for ivory products in the Asian market that makes the illegal ivory trade extremely profitable and has led to the slaughter thousands of African elephants.  Between 2010 and 2014, the price of ivory in China tripled, causing the increase of illicit poaching.  If elephants are to survive, the demand for ivory must be drastically reduced. The sad news is those female African elephants have also tusks and are killed, which has increased the number of orphaned baby elephants.

Tribeca Talks VR with Kathryn Bigelow and Imraan Ismail: The Protectors.

Surprise guest Hillary Clinton joined Tribeca Film Festival’s VR panel discussion at Spring Studios on Sat. April 22, 2017, in New York City during earth day to bring consciousness on elephant poaching. The panel was moderated by the academy award winner Kathryn Bigelow.  As Secretary of State, Clinton brought forward the issue of global wildlife trafficking of the critically endangered elephants. The Clinton Foundation joined forces to take action and save African elephants order to stop the killing, trafficking, and demand.

Andrea Heydlauf, Chief Marketing Officer for African Parks, Rachel Webber, National Geographic Partners’ Executive Vice President of Digital Product, Director and writer Imraan Ismail, Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Director Kathryn Bigelow attend a panel discussion after the VR screening of National Geographics “The Protectors: A Walk in the Ranger’s Shoes”(Photo by Anthony Behar/National Geographic/PictureGroup) Courtesy of Tribeca Film Festival.

Clinton mentioned during the panel, “It’s really important for everyone here to know that there is something you can do. You can support organizations like African Parks and others.”  “I’m very proud that under President Obama, the United States passed a near federal ban on the transportation and interstate trafficking of ivory in our own country”.

Splash Magazine’s support causes that bring awareness and empowers the world. Preserving endangered species like the “Elephants” is part of our voice to bring and promote the conservation of all animal species for future generations.

If you want to learn more about supporting Garamba’s rangers visit www.african-parks.org, where 100 percent of the funding goes directly to manage the parks and support the rangers.

Follow LA Splash Magazine Twitter @SplashMagWW Instagram @Splashmags

Follow Yenis Monterrey (Writer) Twitter @Foxactress Instagram @YenisMonterrey

Follow National Geographic  on Facebook, Twitter @NatGeoChannel  Instagram @NatGeoChannel ,

and YouTube 

 

Author

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*