“Movies and documentaries in defense of animals represent a new form of activism, and improve the way to educate people,” so said the renowned international activist and star of the documentary The Cove Rick O’Barry, during the workshop “the Cinema as a means of activism.”

The workshop was held last Sunday 14, as part of the activities of the IV edition of the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival, organized by the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and its sister institution in the Dominican Republic, Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (Funglode) .

The environmental activist said that through making documentaries and films about environmental issues and animal rights today, people are more aware of the problems that arise in this world. “In the past you had to tell journalists the problem, but now they go to the interview with a base about the problem and ask about possible solutions.”

The creator of the Dolphin Project (www.dolphinproject.org) urged young filmmakers interested in the environment, “to use the medium to create awareness.” Alisson Argo, a leading environmental film director, discussed her beginnings in this type of production. “I went from being a Broadway actress to a film production company in defense of animals after learning the plight of a Gorilla, and made my first film.”

The winner of six Emmy Awards said that movies about animal rights ” do make a difference”, as many people know about the situation of these living beings and can help improve their situation. Argo said that when making a documentary, you should “tell the story, show the facts and let people draw their own conclusions.”

Meanwhile Stefanie Brendl, co-producer of Extinction Soup said that movies are a powerful tool, even to change laws and impact the population. Brendl cited as an example the film she co-directed, with which they could make the trade of shark fins in Hawaii eliminated, and the negative perception that people have about this animal was changed.

The environmental activist advised young filmmakers who want to make environmental films to “be well honest, surround yourself with experts in the field in which you want to make your movie, and create a human emotion to make the public be interested in what is happening.”