Wendy Womack and Hans Glasmann
Recorded
April 28, 2025
57:27 minutes
0:00 / 0:00
Id:
mba000493
Description
Wendy Womack (33) and her friend and colleague Hans Glasmann (37) reminisce about their beginnings as filmmakers and reflect on the ethics of science communication and documentary filmmaking, as well as the idea of learning and understanding the world through observation. Throughout their conversation, Wendy and Hans interweave intellectual insight, surrealist humor, and emotional depth, expressing their devotion to—and wonder for—the natural world.Subject Log / Time Code
HG asks WW how she first became interested in journalism and communications. WW recalls getting into filmmaking at age 11 and later majoring in it in college. She reflects on buying a one-way ticket to London and trading her filmmaking skills for housing and food while traveling across Europe for six months.
WW and HG reflect on the idea of transforming films through the filmmaker's personal perspective rather than striving for pure objectivity. HG shares his thoughts on learning and understanding the world through observation.
WW asks HG about his college major. HG discusses the film Chasing Ice and delves into a conversation with WW about the challenges of perspective in science communication and the frequent criticism faced by documentaries.
HG talks about the obstacles in science communication: on one hand, some audiences might dismiss these stories as unimportant; on the other, the attention they draw can sometimes be counterproductive or even harmful to the subject matter.
HG recalls working on a documentary about the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area and shares the humorous creative process that led up to it.
HG discusses a political documentary he made and reflects on how every story we tell inevitably impacts the world. He raises ethical questions about traveling to other places to collect stories.
HG speaks about the increasing impossibility of making environmental films without addressing climate change, and explores the political divisiveness surrounding climate science and climate change.
HG shares his thoughts on the future of science communication and the importance of leading by example in his own life.
HG and WW talk about the lens through which they each view the world.
HG and WW poetically describe their devotion to and wonder for nature.
Participants
- Wendy Womack
- Hans Glasmann