World Animal Awareness Society | Tom McPhee | Talks at Google

TL;DR

Tom McPhee, a documentary filmmaker, discusses his work in making documentaries about animal welfare and his organization, the World Animal Awareness Society.

Transcript

MARC DE SCHWEINITZ: Welcome to Talks at Google. I'm Mark de Schweinitz. I'm here with Tom McPhee. Tom, thanks for joining us. TOM MCPHEE: Oh, my pleasure, Mark. I actually came bearing gifts, too. I know you can't see it in front of here. But I wanted to really thank you because I do appreciate you giving me this opportunity and just the friendship... Read More

Key Insights

• 😮 McPhee believes that the documentary filmmaking landscape is evolving, with the rise of digital platforms like YouTube and the ability for small outfits to have a greater impact.
• ❓ He emphasizes the importance of partnerships and collaborations with other production companies and publishers to reach a wider audience.
• 😃 McPhee also highlights the power of digital platforms like YouTube and Google in helping content creators like himself have a bigger footprint and reach more viewers.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does McPhee develop a story for his documentaries?

McPhee gathers as much information as possible, films different interactions, and then looks for story threads that emerge during the editing process. He believes in letting the story develop organically rather than having a predetermined plan.

Q: How does McPhee navigate the competitive landscape of YouTube and stand out with his content?

McPhee focuses on building relationships with other digital publishers and using analytics to understand what content resonates with viewers. He also emphasizes the importance of descriptive titles and tags to make his content more discoverable.

Q: What is McPhee's goal with the World Animal Awareness Society?

McPhee's goal is to make it easy for people to access and understand stories about animal welfare and human-animal interactions. He wants to create a platform that serves as a reliable source of information about animal welfare and rescue organizations.

Q: Does McPhee ever feel scared or in danger while filming?

McPhee says he filters everything through a lens while filming, which helps him stay focused and not feel scared in the moment. However, the emotional toll of filming challenging situations can catch up with him during the editing process.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Tom McPhee explains his journey from working in technology to becoming a filmmaker, with a focus on documentary films.

• He talks about his first documentary, "An American Opera," which tells the story of people rescuing their pets after Hurricane Katrina.

• McPhee discusses the goals of the World Animal Awareness Society, which is to tell stories about human-animal interactions and understand our evolutionary arc.