SavingSpecies Enters Strategic Partnership With New York City's Thousand Names Productions

Partnership allows new film Dreams of the Last Butterflies to be one of the first carbon-neutral films made and produced in NYC, while raising awareness of conservation needs. End Quote

Everyone, including filmmakers and musicians, must use their talents for connecting with wide audiences to highlight these environmental challenges.

New York, NY (1888PressRelease) January 30, 2013 - Stuart Pimm, founder and president of SavingSpecies, today announced a new partnership with Thousand Names Productions. The partnership ensures that the company's latest film, by award-winning New York City-based filmmaker Zina Brown, will be carbon neutral. It is among the first carbon-neutral films produced and made in New York City.

In Brown's imaginative, visionary work, Dreams of the Last Butterflies, performers wear realistic butterfly costumes to illustrate his epic poetry through a combination of dance and music. Kai Altair, one of the lead performers, is an acclaimed songwriter and dancer based in Brooklyn. She demonstrated her commitment to conservation and wildlife by creating the annual Mermaid Lagoon event where she performed to raise money for such efforts as the cleanup after the BP Gulf oil spill of 2010. The film features evocative imagery, music, and unique choreography to dramatize the decline of butterfly species around the globe.

Stuart Pimm, who is also the Doris Duke Chair of Conservation Ecology at the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University, said: "I am delighted that the scientific talents of SavingSpecies are being united with the artistic talents of Zina Brown and Kai Altair in this new partnership. Zina and Kai's enthusiasm for our partnership demonstrates their strong commitment to wildlife and conservation. I hope other artists will look to their example and use their talents to help heal the planet. I thank Zina and Kai, and Thousand Names Productions for their support and all they are doing to protect biodiversity."

Zina Brown emphasizes the unique opportunity for artists to garner support for conservation efforts. At the same time, the artistic community can endeavor to minimize its environmental footprint. "Sadly, the earth has a climate crisis and an extinction crisis. Everyone, including filmmakers and musicians, must use our talents for connecting with wide audiences to highlight these environmental challenges. At the same time, our actions must match our message. That's why we're so thrilled to partner with SavingSpecies to account for our carbon costs," said Brown.

Lead performer and songwriter Kai Altair agrees. In support of the partnership, she said, "Our planet is in serious trouble. We humans have caused a tremendous amount of damage to the earth, and the creatures nurtured by our planet have suffered greatly. All of us must do our part to reverse this trend, and bring hope and inspiration to a new movement towards change. I am so proud to work with Dr. Pimm and SavingSpecies in combining art and science to protect our beautiful earth."

About SavingSpecies
SavingSpecies, Inc. was founded by senior conservation professionals committed to preventing species extinctions. Preventing species extinctions is SavingSpecies' only objective. SavingSpecies scientifically evaluates projects and then provides funding for land purchase via individual donors. SavingSpecies connects local conservation programs to donors, helping donors reduce their carbon footprint. The projects that SavingSpecies supports restore degraded habitats in areas of the world's greatest biological richness. SavingSpecies clearly distinguishes all donations for project work from those needed to support administration and operations. SavingSpecies is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization, and all donations to SavingSpecies are tax-deductible.

About Thousand Names Productions
Director Zina Brown's unique visual and narrative style has been screened in film festivals across the world, including such prestigious events as the Miami Short Film Festival, Melbourne, Australia's Sexy International Film Festival, and New York City's VisionFest. With over 15 years of directing and producing experience, his credits also include the "Best Music Video" award at the International Festival of Horror, and work with such musicians as Karsh Kale, Kai Altair, and Pela. Zina's films display an emphasis on dreams and fantasy, and his commitment to wonder and entertainment is matched by his ability to capture otherworldly performances and places in his films.

http://www.savingspecies.org/

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