Wildlife & Conservation
We tell the stories that provide solutions and incentives that enable people, species and ecosystems to thrive on a verdant and habitable planet.
Learn MorePowerful Storytelling Powerful Storytelling Creating a better world one story at a time
Vulcan Productions has closed its doors.
Twenty-three years ago, Vulcan Productions was started with the idea that storytelling can drive real impact. We’ve been nominated for Academy Awards, won Emmys, and screened content for world leaders. Our films both entertained and activated audiences, educating us all about some of the world’s most pressing issues. It’s been an incredible storytelling journey, and while that journey is coming to an end, filmmakers around the world continue to empower audiences to take action and help make the world a better place.
Thank you to all of our partners.
It’s been an incredible storytelling journey, and while that journey is coming to an end, filmmakers around the world continue to empower audiences to take action and help make the world a better place. We encourage you to follow their work and learn more.
Questions?
If you have questions regarding the status of past and current projects, please contact [email protected]
Stories + Action = Impact
Founded by the late Paul G. Allen and Jody Allen, Vulcan Productions created content across all platforms, with a focus on inspiring change with lasting impact. The team’s award-winning and critically-acclaimed projects include Ghost Fleet, X-Ray Fashion, The Cold Blue, The Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress – The Restoration, Ballet Now, Going to War, USS Indianapolis: Live from the Deep, STEP, The Ivory Game, Unseen Enemy, Racing Extinction, News & Documentary Emmy Nominee Naledi: A Baby Elephant's Tale, News & Documentary Emmy winner and Academy Award®-nominated Body Team 12, Mind of a Giant, We the Economy, We the Voters, Ocean Warriors, #ISurvivedEbola, and Girl Rising. In February 2021, Vulcan Productions closed its doors. If you have questions regarding the status of past or current projects, please contact [email protected] for more information.
- Great storytelling about the real issues of our time
- Innovative, large-scale campaigns that turn action into impact
- Meaningful engagement with audiences to drive change
Latest News
In the News
The Impact Reality Summit Was A Watershed Moment For Social Impact XR
FORBES
About Vulcan
In the News
‘Philharmonia Fantastique’: Mason Bates’s New Concerto Has Animated Future
DEADLINE
About Vulcan
In the News
Exclusive: Vulcan Productions, David Petersen give a “Lift” to dance doc
Realscreen
About Vulcan
In the News
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson will direct “Black Woodstock,” a feature doc about the Harlem Cultural Festival
Variety
About Vulcan
In the News
Sacks has been featured in films before, but this is the first documentary about his entire life.
VICE
Oliver Sacks: His Own Life
In the News
"A tender and thrilling look" at the "poetic neurologist" and "the sacred demons that drove him."
Variety
Oliver Sacks: His Own Life
Meaningful Change
Massive Problems - Extraordinary Solutions
At Vulcan we’re committed to solving some of the most difficult problems the world has ever faced. These are complex issues beyond the ability of most of us to fully comprehend. Climate change, ocean health, animal extinction, human equality - massive problems that demand extraordinary solutions.
Beyond the screen, Vulcan is working to tackle our planet's hard problems by exploring innovative ideas and implementing creative solutions. Driven by the late Paul Allen's desire to make a measurable impact, Vulcan’s philanthropic efforts are tethered to a simple principle: if it has the potential to do good, then we should do it.
Explore the five core problems that Vulcan is engaged in solving, and dig into our film genres that make them accessible and understandable. Together we expose the problems with unsurpassed storytelling and find real-world solutions that everyone can be a part of.
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Wildlife
Through a science-led, data-driven approach, Vulcan provides knowledge about our planet's most imperiled and iconic species. Vulcan jump-starts initiatives to alleviate threats and help secure adequate and healthy habitats. They also use technological developments and storytelling capabilities to drive philanthropic interests, address the current threat of wildlife trafficking, and collect data that will inform long-term strategies to protect endangered species. The Vulcan Productions feature-documentary Racing Extinction supports these efforts with never-before-seen images that transform the way viewers see the planet, and a significant public campaign that gives movie-goers the necessary tools to protect endangered wildlife.
Conservation
Vulcan supports smart solutions for the management, conservation and protection of terrestrial and marine life and their ecosystems. How? Through a variety of measures that include the collection of foundational data; investigative tools; the monitoring of ecosystems; and the sponsoring of voter’s initiatives like Save Animals Facing Extinction (I-1401). Vulcan Productions’ feature documentary Racing Extinction and its global campaign exposes the hidden world of extinction with never-before-seen images that will not just change the way viewers see the planet—it will inspire them to take action to protect it.
Ocean Health
Ocean health is essential to the health of both human communities and wildlife populations. Our oceans are under threat from climate change as well as a range of unsustainable practices that could lead to the collapse of ecosystems and loss of marine species in the very near future. Vulcan is working to improve scientific understanding of ocean health across a wide range of issues. Through films such as Racing Extinction and its social action campaign, Vulcan Productions introduces audiences to the effects of climate change, the harsh reality of illegal poaching, and their combined effects on oceans and key marine species.
Climate Change
Our climate is on an unsustainable path—Vulcan is acting now to change its dangerous trajectory. The projects and programs that Vulcan supports seek to better understand, adapt to, and most importantly, reduce society’s impact on the climate. The researchers and organizations that we work with are focused on providing solutions, tools, policies and incentives to enable people, species and ecosystems to continue to thrive on a verdant and habitable planet. Through films such as Racing Extinction, Strange Days on Planet Earth and Pandora’s Promise, Vulcan Productions uses storytelling and outreach initiatives to help audiences understand the effects of climate change, spark a dialogue about the solutions, and bring about lasting change.
Ebola Program
Vulcan’s Ebola Program is the only one of its kind solely focused on stopping the West Africa Ebola outbreak. Paul G. Allen is the largest private donor, committing at least $100 million to support innovative and impactful solutions. His pledge has funded a diverse set of projects in areas where donations drive truly effective results. Since July 2014, Vulcan teams have been working with government agencies and aid organizations to address the most urgent needs in the fight against Ebola. Want to see progress in action? Watch Vulcan Production’s critically acclaimed film Body Team Twelve and explore the global campaign #ISurvivedEbola.
Storytelling solutions
Global Health
Whether we’re documenting the courageous efforts to fight Ebola or the prevention of pandemics, we act on the premise that were in it together.
Learn MoreScience & Technology
From exploring the human brain, to clean energy solutions, to outer space - our stories document tech and science as tools for global change.
Learn MoreCurrent Issues
From climate change, to economic downturns, to female empowerment, look for the most pressing issues on the planet, and we'll be there.
Learn MoreHistory & Exploration
We seek out stories that play out at the bottom of the deep blue sea, at the fringes of outer space and even in the recesses of the human mind.
Learn MoreArts & Entertainment
Sometimes it's just about joy and wonder. These stories allow our experiences to foster empathy and ultimately broaden our sense of humanity.
Learn MoreImpact First
Measuring Success
Vulcan is tackling our planet's most urgent, most difficult challenges. We will break through with innovative ideas, creative solutions – and measuring all we do. We don't just tell stories that expose valuable truths and activate audiences, we also learn from each project with advanced evaluation programs. Our strategies optimize in real time, and help inform the makeup of future projects.
Partners
Vulcan Productions partnered with the most resourceful and innovative groups. From the top NGOs to documentary filmmakers to government agencies, our partners created impact.
Action & Impact
Martin Scorsese's The Blues
Outcomes:
“Our goal never was to produce the definitive work on the blues. It was, from the start, to create highly personal and impressionistic films as seen through the eyes of the most creative directors around." Martin Scorsese
Awards:
2004 Grammy Award Nomination for Best Long Form Music Video
Awards:
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Cinematography For Nonfiction Programming: Soul of a Man
Awards:
2003 Grammy Awards Best Historical Album and Best Album Notes Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues: A Musical Journey
Outcomes:
“I've always felt an affinity for blues music—the culture of storytelling through music is incredibly fascinating and appealing to me." Martin Scorsese
Meet the Team
Ruth Johnston General Manager
Ruth Johnston is the General Manager of Vulcan Productions. She leads Vulcan Productions’ creative media projects across...
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Rocky Collins Director of Production
Rocky served as exec producer at Science Channel where he worked...
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Ted Richane Director of Impact and Engagement
Ted Richane has spent 15 years consulting on communications campaigns ...
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Matt Milios Creative Director - Emerging Media
Matt Milios manages Vulcan Production's digital strategy ...
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Kim Nyhous Senior Production Manager
Kim Nyhous joined Vulcan Productions in 2014 as Unit Production Manager ...
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David Wulzen Producer
David Wulzen has been working both personally and professionally in the film industry for over a decade...
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Aimee Link Producer
Aimee began her career as a sports and news editor for a live news network ...
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