When Silence Becomes The Song

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Synopsis

“When Silence Becomes The Song” is a 60-minute documentary following Ella Marcil, a determined film student, as she teams up with passionate biologists and conservation videographers on a journey across the remote and rain-soaked Alakaʻi Plateau in search of the ʻAkikiki, a critically endangered forest bird found solely in the mountains of Kauaʻi.

As she records the team’s race against time to find and rescue the remaining forty wild birds before they succumb to avian malaria, Ella finds inspiration in the unwavering determination of the human spirit, witnessing firsthand the incredible lengths undertaken to help other species survive against all odds.

This documentary serves as a rallying call to protect not just the ʻAkikiki, but every species from extinction, and to encourage us all to address issues impacting our communities, local environments, and ecosystems.

Distribution

This documentary aired on PBS Hawai’i, as well as several other PBS affiliates nationwide in November 2024. It was also showcased in several film festivals worldwide, as well as presented in diverse community screenings, nature conservation / sustainability events.

Director’s Statement

“Trekking through the dense labyrinth of branches and logs, I carried everything necessary for me to live off the grid for a week. Guided by Graham, an accomplished photographer on a quest to identify unknown species and help KFBRP in their work, we hiked for hours, all to prevent an impending extinction crisis. The ʻAkikiki, a once common honeycreeper of Kauaʻi, was now reduced to a few wild individuals clinging to existence in the most remote parts of the Hawaiian forest mountains.

As we rested beneath a towering ‘Ōhiʻa tree, Graham’s cheery tone shifted, reflecting on the lower elevation where we stood, once thriving with native birds. “As invasive species go higher up the mountains,” he explained, “native birds are disappearing. Listen…”

And there it was. Nothing but wind in the branches and… silence.”

– Ella Marcil

Documentary Film Process

Development

“When Silence Becomes The Song” took months of careful preparation before filming could even begin. Ella was studying in Cincinnati while most members of the production crew and science team were in Hawaiʻi. For that reason, meetings had to be scheduled virtually, on different time zones. There were numerous late-night and early-morning discussions with producers, conservationists, scientists, and other media team members about script pitches, logistics, and safety precautions – just to name a few. The film initially focused on the perspectives and point-of-views of four people (two biologists and two videographers) as they go through their rescue mission. However, it quickly became clear that planning ahead of time would be nearly impossible due to various factors including weather conditions, access to the birds, and people’s unavailability as they follow and track the birds over a very large area of the Alakaʻi Plateau. So the script changed, and solely focused on Ella’s journey as she spends time with the team and witnesses the ʻakikiki’s extinction in the wild.

Production

Ella flew to Hawaiʻi on the very first day of her university spring break in March 2023. The next morning, she and Graham hiked up the Alaka’i Plateau to meet up the rest of the team. The plateau is known as the wettest spot on Earth, so filming conditions were extremely difficult. Halfway through the week, equipment started failing, and backup plans and equipment had to be implemented and used. Ella had originally hoped to document the rescue of ʻakikiki eggs and chicks, from the nests all the way up to the conservation center where the birds are being relocated, but that turned out to become an impossibility as the nests they were hoping to collect were failing one after the other. In fact, during her time up in the mountains, Ella saw more dead ʻakikiki than living ones. Forest birds could be heard in the most remote parts of the mountains chirping and going about their business, but the ‘akikiki’s songs weren’t much part of that symphony. Silence was indeed becoming their song. And now, ʻakikiki’s songs are no longer heard in the wild.

Post-Production

After returning to Cincinnati, Ella began post-production, and additional virtual meetings took place as the film was being edited. A first version of the film was presented in-person at the Kauaʻi Community College on August 8^th in order to receive feedback, and most importantly, to get the blessings of local Hawaiian cultural practitioners and Kūpuna (i.e. honored elders). Additional virtual community screenings were also held on other Hawaiian Islands (Maui, Oahu and Big Island) for feedback and suggestions to improve the story. The community response to the film was overwhelmingly positive, and based on all the comments received, the film was finalized in early 2024.

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