NOTE: If you have any questions about the film, or wish to see any clips, you can skip straight to the comments!
In an urgent and powerful bid to expose Northern Thailand’s escalating environmental and humanitarian crisis, ‘The Vicious Cycle’ follows the gruelling 1,600km cycling journey of Joanna and Max Hellier from Chiang Mai to Phuket. Over 10 relentless days, their expedition sheds light on the severe air pollution caused by the burning season. Battling sleepless nights, hazardous air, and treacherous roads, Joanna and Max’s journey epitomizes the resilience and urgency required to confront these global environmental challenges.
Their path is intertwined with poignant interviews featuring local farmers and communities, victims of the crisis, local medical professionals, policy-makers and experts from Greenpeace and EJF. These compelling conversations reveal the devastating impact of agricultural practices on both the environment and human health, highlighting the dire need for immediate and systemic change. ‘The Vicious Cycle’ is a call to action, aiming to educate and inspire a global audience to reconsider dietary habits and advocate for sustainable solutions to combat this pressing crisis.
A cycling crash that threatens to halt their mission, plays out side-by-side a groundbreaking revelation about the pollution crisis: the extensive corn cultivation for animal feed, a practice entrenched in Northern Thailand and its surrounding areas, lies at the heart of the burning season. This cultivation, closely linked to the global demand for meat, unveils a critical cause-and-effect dynamic. It's a dynamic that, once understood, empowers global citizens with the knowledge to safeguard these communities against the ravages of climate devastation.
With 'The Vicious Cycle,' Joanna and Max Hellier not only narrate a tale of adventure, resilience and environmental advocacy but also illuminate a path forward. By coupling the deeply personal journey of its protagonists with the expertise of environmental experts and the lived experiences of local populations, the film articulates a clear and profound call to action.
It challenges viewers to rethink their dietary habits and consider the broader implications of meat consumption on our planet. It's a must-watch for anyone ready to be part of the solution in our ever-changing planet.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RLCUTZKmSXASASn5cRLSzS9ILZnJ-AeP/view
Since editing this trailer, we received an additional 17,500 USD from Vegan Grants (Karuna Foundation), which has allowed us to film a further 14 interviews with local community members, farmers, doctors, policy-makers, victims and experts. This has contributed hugely to the storyline and how we will present the heartfelt humanitarian and environmental crises, whilst impactfully presenting a solution.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IPXJqOTRDg1XYMOzIDbTNJi4aUFSK0l9/view?usp=sharing
This is a Google Drive link to the pitch deck to read more about the Vicious Cycle and to see further visual samples of the additional interviews and scenery filmed since the Vegan Grants (Karuna Foundation) funds.
The burning season in Northern Thailand, typically spanning from January to April, has catastrophic impacts on the region’s environment, public health, and local communities. This annual phenomenon primarily results from the agricultural practice of crop burning to clear land for the next planting season and, to a lesser extent, forest fires. The crisis is urgent due to its immediate and long-term effects on human health, economic stability, and environmental sustainability.
The Urgency of the Crisis
The urgency of addressing the burning season in Northern Thailand cannot be overstated. The health impacts are devastating, with studies indicating a sharp increase in premature deaths during the burning months due to respiratory illnesses and cardiovascular diseases. Children, the elderly and lower-income families are particularly vulnerable, facing severe and sometimes fatal health consequences. Economically, the crisis disrupts livelihoods, as agricultural productivity plummets and healthcare costs soar, leading to further impoverishment of already struggling communities.
Environmentally, the consequences are equally dire. Massive deforestation and loss of biodiversity occur as forests are razed, destroying habitats and driving species to the brink of extinction. The burning season significantly contributes to climate change by releasing vast amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, exacerbating global warming. This vicious cycle of environmental degradation and human suffering highlights the critical need for immediate, systemic change to protect both the planet and its inhabitants.
We are about to begin the assembly phase of post-production. We anticipate post-production including colour grading and subtitling will take approximately 2-3 months. Our initial production schedule was forecast to release the film during the beginning of the burning season this year (January 2024), however, due to budget limitations, we are now aiming to release the film before the beginning of the burning season in November/December 2024.
We are seeking $37,000 for post-production completion.
Please see a basic breakdown of how these funds will be spent:
Offline edit
Subtitles (Thai & Northern Thai to English)
Online edit
Audio mixing
Color Grading
.....................$17,000
Music Composer / Score
.....................$5,000
Director, Producer & Line Producer
.....................$15,000
= Total $37,000
Directors Max & Joanna run Thailand’s biggest sustainability and community-driven organisation 'Root The Future' and have experience in environmental activism in the region. During their various campaigns over the last 4 years, they have found one of the most effective ways to get the attention of the masses is to use a story of extreme physical endurance to get important messages to a wider audience.
Max & Joanna also believe that to solve this issue, there needs to be global attention (especially from Western countries like the USA with the highest meat consumption) and not just national attention. With their unique perspective and insights into both the local Thai culture, and Western culture used to approach the film narrative and English language, Max & Joanna are uniquely qualified to tell this story.
Max Hellier - Director & Cinematographer
Max Hellier is an accomplished videographer, director, and environmental advocate, best known as the co-founder of Root The Future, a platform dedicated to promoting plant-based living and environmental consciousness. Originally hailing from a background in film/TV and media production, his work has gained notoriety on platforms such as National Geographic and has been viewed across the MENA region and the UK on channels like Sky, ITV and Freeview. His dedication to exploring and advocating for critical environmental issues is evident in compelling visual storytelling and bringing urgent topics to the forefront. Max's form of storytelling doesn't just inform, it sparks change, establishing him as a pioneer in environmental documentary filmmaking.
Latest previous work
- Culturally Plant-Based 2024 Docu-series (Director)
Joanna Hellier - Director & Producer
Joanna Hellier director, producer, and co-founder of Root The Future, a platform in Thailand dedicated to advancing sustainable food choices and environmental sustainability through compelling storytelling and impactful campaigns. Notably, Joanna's expertise and passion have led her to speak at the United Nations, where she emphasized the critical role of sustainable dietary choices in combating climate change. Joanna also recently completed work on the upcoming docuseries 'Culturally Plant-Based', which uses poetic storytelling and visually compelling imagery to tell the stories of a group of street food vendors who have been selling and perfecting culturally plant-based recipes for decades.
Gareth Sheehan - Director Of Photography
Gareth Sheehan is a director of photography with over 20 years of experience in cinematography and film production. He has worked on a variety of award-winning productions around the world including documentary films, television and feature films.
Notable previous work
- Inventing Tomorrow - Camera Operator (Official Selection 2018 Sundance Film Festival)
- Nómad-A - Director of Photography
Adam Bennet - Editor
Adam Bennett brings over 18 years of experience, having navigated various roles in the production world, from editing for independent TV companies to directing and producing in reality TV, documentaries, and advertising. He is the co-owner of Sticks & Glass, located in Leeds, UK, and has led the company to work with prestigious partners such as CBS, BBC, and NBC Sports. His role has been instrumental in leveraging his comprehensive background for creative storytelling and innovative post-production solutions, positioning Sticks & Glass as a key player in the industry.
Financial Shortfalls
Lack of funding could mean that we are unable to finish the project to the highest standard with meticulous editing, colour grading, sound engineering etc.
The film will still be completed, but the edit will take much longer and the project will not be able to afford the team necessary to build the film to a high standard.
Distribution
We are aiming for a mainstream streamer (Netflix Global, HBO Max etc) but there is a chance this may not be picked up by those streamers.
Finishing the project to the highest standard possible will help our chances with mainstream distribution.
We already have interest from the WaterBear streaming platform (pending the finished film), and in the worst-case scenario, we can self-distribute, and self-market the film including hosting film screenings, securing independent film screenings, applying to film festivals and providing the film for educational screenings.
Deadlines
To maximise press engagement and reach, the film should be released during the burning season to capture the attention of the crisis itself. Financial restraints may be a contributing factor to missing this deadline.
The film can be released after this period, but the reach, attention and impact may be lessened.
Grants (already received)
Vegan Grants (Karuna Foundation): $17,500
Thrive Grant: $5,000
In-kind Contributions (already received)
One Charge: EV follow-vehicle for 10 days
Optima: 2x Professional Street Bikes
Corporate Sponsorships (already received)
NRF: $13,000
US Dry Bean Council & US Dry Pea & Lentil Council: $10,000
Max Hellier
3 months ago
More sample visual gifs:
He told us about the bears, the tigers & gibbons. He told us about the ancient trees & jungles. He told us about the lives of his loved ones. All of which are now gone. Environmentalism is Humanitarianism.
When you know your only option to provide for your family is growing corn.
On Day 7 & 1000km in, Max crashed his bike whilst going 35kph. He received multiple hairline fractures to his skull, a broken rib, a broken finger and grazes to his right side.