I’ve been wishing to make a birding movie long before the idea for ‘Binos’ even came to me.
I first started shooting with a camera when I was a child. I used to shoot photos with my Dad. Growing up going fishing and hiking with him, taking photos of birds, wildflowers, moths, you name it. Anything in the woods was what I liked, but nothing was better than the birds. Once I started transitioning into video production, I knew that I wanted to make a movie that was inspired from my personal experiences while birding. I’m an above-average birder, especially for my age, and the main thing I’ve learned is, birders are the kindest community of people.


Bit of Background

Birders have this “shared generosity” that is like no other. I believe it comes from two things. First, birding really isn’t competitive. It’s not about who can see more birds (sometimes.) It’s about spotting beautiful birds and sharing them with others. Nobody sees a Blackburnian, for example, and hides it from others. Instead, you share it with those around you and show them so they can see. You literally can draw a crowd from one single bird and create this incredible shared experience between strangers. I’ve done it multiple times and gathering a hundred people to look at one bird is special. The second thing is the collective experience of being talked to like you’re an idiot. If you’re talking about birding, holding binoculars, anything that indicates you're birdwatching, can mostly get a bogus response. Even just saying the word “birding” gets a reaction. Usually it’s, “What, you just look at birds?” And to me, I never understood why it’s so weird to people. I don’t get it. This dynamic has created a world of kindness and generosity, separate from the patronizing, narrow-minded people. And there is a ticket into that world, your binos.

World of Generosity

Binos are binoculars. They are the ticket into this World of Generosity, no lie. Say you're hiking and you walk up to a couple folks staring into the tree line. If you have your binos, you’re good. If you don’t, you better ask extra nice what they’re looking at, or else you will get shunned. I know this. It’s nothing personal, unless you make it personal. It due to the built-up wall formed by the condescending comments that non-birders have said to them. I once asked this lady standing off the trail, “What are you looking at?” She turned at me with the most despicable face and I simply raised up my binos (just like the movie) which symbolized to her “I’m looking too.” Her demeanor instantly changed, and I helped ID a Wilson’s Warbler for her. That experience is one of very very many that made its way into ‘Binos.’

Binoculars

'Binos' features the work from a few of my classmates over the years. I went to high school with Charlie Davis and Ryan Freeman. We were in band together. Charlie would go on to be in more of my work. He is an American original and delivers my comedy better than anyone I know. Ryan is an auteur musician, always has been. I was psyched when he agreed to work with me on this project. It was the first time I collaborated with a composer on the tone I had in my vision. After a few back and forths, he pieced together a perfect score for me to use. As soon as it got stuck in my head, I knew it was a good sign. Logan Pero, I met in my college years. An incredible editor who helped me shoot this film when I had to be in front of the camera. I've never had a production run smoother or faster in my life. He was also responsible for achieving the reflection effect so I could focus elsewhere. I wanted to shout out the Cornell Lab of Ornithology as well for allowing me to use video clips from the Macaulay Media Library. That was very gracious of them and they're definitely part of the team.

The Crew

 'Binos' is a short film all about birding. The focus being the generous common nature 
among birders and how binoculars are the ticket into that world. One away from clueless 
wonderment and condescending strangers.

Binos

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Binos

Short Film

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Credits

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