Protect What Matters

How do you turn quiet public support into a voice loud enough to be heard?

Protect What Matters is a collaboration I began with the USDA Forest Service, The National Forest Foundation, and Forest Trends. I conceived and directed the film series to strengthen public support for the forest management Colorado's Front Range urgently needs. Most Coloradans already back the thinning and prescribed burns that reduce wildfire risk. The campaign's job was to make that support visible, personal, and easy to share.

The series pairs a hero film with six character stories: a trail runner, a professional climber, a brewery, a ski maker, a historic working ranch, and an outdoor education center. Each has its own reason to care about healthy forests. Rather than leaning on wildfire imagery, I approached each film as a portrait, spending time with each subject in the places they depend on and letting their own reasons for caring carry the story. The films lead with what's at stake instead of fear: clean water, working land, local livelihoods, and the places people love.

The films anchor the campaign's outreach, workshops, and partner toolkits. They give agencies, utilities, and community groups a shared story to bring to public meetings, the press, and conversations with their neighbors.

Director: Aaron Colussi
Producer: David Broad
Producer: Mason Trujillo
Director of Photography: Colin Rinaker
Editor: Matthew J Ross
Graphics: Matthew J Ross