Featured Independent film projects
“THE OAK OPENINGS”
In Production | Hidden away in the Midwest, a globally rare ecosystem is fragmented and scattered. Composed of oak savannas and wet prairies, this is the last stronghold for over ⅓ of Ohio’s threatened and endangered species.
This feature-length natural history film will not only reveal the beauty of this forgotten region, but be the centerpiece of an impact campaign to restore and protect this habitat.
“HELLBENT”
In Film Festival Circuit |In a quiet rural township, America’s largest amphibian is locally threatened with extinction by the installation of an injection well, prompting biologists and community members to band together and protect their land in a novel way and save the hellbender. Short film.
“GUARDIAN OF TAGONG”
In Production | the mountains of Indonesia, one of the largest and most critically endangered hornbill species is struggling to survive. The dedication and passion from a local ranger who once hunted this great bird, is now saving the species from extinction.
FEATURED FILM PROJECTS
In this heartwarming film, follow the journey of a little blue penguin as he embarks on a quest to find love amidst the hustle and bustle of Tasmania’s busy coastline. Filled with adorable encounters and charming adventures, this story reminds us that even the smallest hearts dream big. Directed by Annie Roth
With the goal of banding 100,000 birds, this film follows Tom and Paula Bartlett on their quest throughout northwest Ohio, and the impact they have not only on bird research, but those they meet along the way.
Co-produced with Christy Frank Photography
Featured Broadcast Wildlife Projects
“How Silver Key Anoles are Adapting to Tropical Hurricanes”
Traveling to the far corners of the world, we discover the extraordinary ways animals are adapting to our rapidly changing planet. We witness nature’s remarkable resilience, as our perception of evolution and its potential is forever transformed. Running Wild Media traveled to Turks and Caicos to bring this story to life.
“AMERICA’S NATIONAL PARKS | BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK”
Young bighorn sheep learn how to survive among the cliffs of the Badlands National Parks. Featured in the Badlands National Park episode of “America’s National Parks” by National Geographic.
Swallows build and defend nests in some very unlikely places. Featured in the Badlands National Park episode of “America’s National Parks” by National Geographic.
Prairie dog families thrive among the short grass prairies of Badlands National Park. Featured in the Badlands National Park episode of “America’s National Parks” by National Geographic.
“AMERICA’S NATIONAL PARKS | GRAND TETONS”
Winter is a tough time to find food in Grand Teton National Park, but red foxes have evolved an incredible hunting technique to get them through the coldest months of the year. Featured in the Grand Tetons episode of “America’s National Parks” by National Geographic.
“THE MATING GAME | AGAINST ALL ODDS”
All life is driven by the need to breed. Yet for a few, the odds of success are overwhelmingly against them. The first endangered species to be cloned in the United States lives in a research center in Colorado. Featured in BBC’s “The Mating Game” narrated by David Attenborough.
Featured Client PROJECTS
INDIANAPOLIS ZOO
Focusing on the Penny and Jock Fortune International Chimpanzee Complex, Running Wild Media is working with the Indianapolis Zoo to produce educational video content to be used across three different exhibit areas in the zoo. This project pulls together important educational themes of conservation, research, cognition, welfare, culture, evolution, and sustainability of the chimpanzee community on grounds and in the wild.
Running Wild Media has been instrumental in helping Defenders of Wildlife amplify their conservation efforts through powerful storytelling by capturing stunning visuals and compelling narratives. Our creative approach helps Defenders of Wildlife connect with a broader audience, fostering awareness and inspiring action to protect endangered species and their habitats.
CNN is committed to reporting on the environmental challenges facing our planet, together with the solutions. We have helped visually bring many of CNN’s wildlife and science focused storytelling projects to life.
We collaborate with Metroparks Toledo to create engaging visual content that showcases the beauty of natural spaces and promotes conservation efforts within the park system.
We have partnered with NOAA's EEBlue program to produce dynamic educational videos that highlight the importance of marine conservation and environmental stewardship.
We collaborate with Sunday Morning by providing stunning nature footage for their "Moment of Nature" segments, showcasing captivating scenes from the natural world.
featured Client videos
"Forestry" | The Nature Conservancy
"Flowing Forward" | Black Swamp Conservancy
"Keepers of the Deep" | Hakai Magazine
MarineLab Key Largo
Safari Live Promo | Nat Geo
International Rhino Foundation
Featured impact campaigns
“RESILIENCE: STORY OF THE AMERICAN RED WOLF”
The directors cut of the story chronicles the conservation of one of America's most iconic and rare species.
The Florida grasshopper sparrow numbers less than 100 in the wild and White Oak, US Fish and Wildlife, the FWC, and Tall Timbers are working tirelessly to save it from extinction.
A 360° video education series used in classrooms around Honduras to give school children the opportunity to see the amazing ecosystem that exists around them.
OUR AWARD WINNING SHORT FILMS
STORY OF THE WILD
One of the last great wildernesses on earth is in trouble in this changing world. Two filmmakers set out to raise awareness so the wild doesn’t become limited to just stories.
LIVING ISLE
A chain of islands known as Cayos Cochinos are recognized as a one of the key sections of the Meso-American Reef to preserve and commercial fishing has been banned. The Garifuna people are allowed to hunt and fish as they have for hundreds of years.
RISING TIDE
Small changes everywhere can make a huge impact on reef ecosystems. We need those changes today, not only to preserve these beautiful places, but to save ourselves.
behind the scenes | the wildlife of filmmaking
Join Justin Grubb and Alex Goetz as they explore the wilds of North Carolina in search of the worlds most endangered canid. An animal that has already gone extinct once in the wild. There are less than 30 American red wolves left and their conservation is critical to maintain a healthy ecosystem.
Following a day in the life of a baby elephant and its family in Botswana to get the inside scoop on what it is like to live out in the Okavango Delta. Come face to face with one of the cutest inhabitants in the second episode of The WILDlife of Filmmaking.
We travel down to the Suwannee River in Florida to come face to face with an ancient and hefty reptilian beast. We teamed up with the FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute to learn more about this animal and to collect valuable data to help protect this species.
Along the rocky shore of Fernando de Noronha, Brazil, Justin Grubb snorkels with and films a hunting octopus. Check out the amazing way this animal can change the color of its skin while it hunts.
FEATURED PUBLICATIONS
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC WILDLIFE WATCH
“Trade in sea turtle products is banned, but they're still sold in Japan.” Japanese demand for tortoiseshell is driving critically endangered—and protected—hawksbill sea turtles toward extinction.
By Justin Grubb
NATIONAL WILDLIFE MAGAZINE
“America’s Forgotten Wolf.” World's rarest wolf. The most-endangered wolf on Earth, the red wolf was once common throughout the eastern and south-central United States and now only lives in North Carolina.
By Justin Grubb
OCEANOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE
“For the Love of Reefs.” The California Academy of Sciences team explores the mesophotic reefs of Brazil to unlock its secrets and discover new species of fish never seen before in order to save this habitat from extinction.
By Justin Grubb
Photography
