Greenpeace - Making Waves: Making the Ministry of Rice

Lucy, one of our video producers at Greenpeace International, made the new video for our campaign against GM rice. Here's the story she's written about how it all came together with photos by Raffa and Tulio, from our video department.

“We need a film..”
“Great, about what?”
“genetically modified rice….”
Why do I never get the orang-utans or the whales?
“..something informative yet engaging…funny, memorable. different..”
“er OK sure …”

Only, I wasn't sure I could pull it off at first - but the sustainable agriculture team here at Greenpeace International knew what they wanted and their passion was infectious. They explained that the EU is considering to allow Bayer’s strain of genetically modified rice, LL62, to be sold in Europe, and ultimately ending up on our dinner plates. If that wasn’t enough, it’s resistant to Glufosinate - a herbicide considered so dangerous to humans that the EU has banned it. But apparently it’s fine to spray this stuff on rice in other countries and then import the genetically engineered rice for EU citizens to eat? I don’t think so! The challenge was set ….now I just needed to figure out what film I was going to make.

After pitching a number of ideas, all damn good obviously, but not quite right, I stumbled across the one. It started with a very late night, a bit too much wine, and slowly turned into an obsession with a 1940’s housewife called Jean. Through slightly bleary eyes I caught on the news an old 1940’s Public Service Announcement, “Make do and Mend”…good old fashioned British government propaganda… It was the Eureka! moment for me.

After asking everyone I knew in Amsterdam if they owned a traditional 1940’s kitchen, unlikely but worth a try, I remembered one of the few sunny days last summer cycling by the river where I had come across an old 17th century house with a beautiful old kitchen.

Bingo, I had a location! It also happened to be owned and run but the nicest most helpful people I have ever encountered, who gladly agreed to let us make our film there. Result!

Lucy is in the middle - looking very focused!

Next…what’s a film without a very talented Director of Photography? I am fairly new to Amsterdam so my list of contacts was still a little limited. However, I had seen a clip from the feature, Winterstilte shot by Dutch cinematographer, Peter Brugman, which I fell in love with. Shots of mysterious looking people wearing stag horns in the Swiss mountains, lit only by moonlight. Maybe not the obvious shots for a 1940’s Public Service announcement but I had a hunch it could work. After a few calls (he’s a v busy man…a bit of pitching, pleading, moral cajoling… he agreed to do it!

It all spiraled (mildly out of control) from there. Amber Bordewijk from Godmother films came on board as my producer, thank god and just in the nick of time, she was my rock. I found the wonderful props ladies, Saskia and Barbara from Artstikke whose attention to detail was incredible. If you look back again at all the props in the film you'll see that no detail was missed - they even put potatoes in the cupboard!

After much deliberation, and discussion with Peter and my editor Daniel, I opted to shoot on the EX3 with Zeiss prime lenses, rather than on film, given time and financial constraints, and aimed to achieve the 40’s black and white film look in post. I also did a few test shots with my husband wearing an apron and playing the role of Jean.

Then there was the talent! That was fun to find as Amsterdam sure has no shortage! After a number of auditions I was lucky to find the very talented and charming Caroline de Cristofaro, who without doubt was my perfect Jean. I paired her up with her 1940’s husband, Greenpeace’s very own Tom Cruise, Justin Pratt from HR, he has never looked so dapper! Then came Alfred as the scientist, and Oscar as the businessman. I was on a roll, my cast was almost ready.

I still needed costumes and makeup and a son for Jean! Amber hooked me up with the lovely Marrit v/d Burgt who provided all the fantastic costumes in the film, and Anne Rijke who’s eye for the hair and make up made all the difference. Marrit even provided her own son, Jitse to play the role of the boy.

Almost there, we had ambitious plans and so I recruited Raffa (our talented trainee DOP) as our gaffa and Tulio (our hmm how do I describe him….mad genius) who stepped into to assist Peter as the grip. Raffa where’s that 300 K!!! Tulio steady with the dolly.

One gas mask later and we were ready to shoot!

For the shoot day itself take a look at the pictures. It was as an amazing, very long but thoroughly enjoyable day.

It had been a challenge but in the end it all came together, thanks to an extremely talented and professional crew who all went the extra mile for such an important cause. The rushes looked stunning, we were knackered, but we were one step closer to keeping that genetically modified rice at bay.

Now to the edit... in stepped Daniel Bird, (also the Voice of Ministry of Rice) and our very talented filmmaker. We cut together for 3 days then he returned to Prague to create his incredible animations that brought the film to life even more.

Some very long nights later, the circulation has still not returned to Daniels hands, he delivered me a very beautifully graded film.

Et voila!
Hope you enjoy it!