Private Project

Surviving Lies

A Film by Connor Wesson & Jessica Wilson

Synopsis:
After centuries of being hunted out of misunderstanding, Mexican gray wolves are returning to the American West with the support of conservationists who hope to rewrite our misperceptions about their behavior.

  • Connor Wesson
    Director
    The Long Shadow (2022)
  • Jessica Wilson
    Producer
  • Katie Sindewald
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Ciera MacIssac
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Chris Smith
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Mary Katherine Ray
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Karin Vardaman
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Genres:
    Documentary, Wildlife, Environmental, Climate
  • Runtime:
    15 minutes 10 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    June 1, 2023
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Canon C300 Mk 2
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Connor Wesson

BFA Broadcast Journalism and Documentary Production

Born and raised in California, Connor has had the opportunity to travel around the world and experience different cultures. With a lifelong passion for wildlife and a knack for storytelling, Connor has always been on a path towards documentary. One of Connor's favorite experiences thus far includes a summer 2016, student expedition with National Geographic, when he traveled to Ecuador and the Galápagos to research the illegal shark finning industry’s impact on the Galápagos Shark species. In 2022, Connor had the opportunity to take his filming skills abroad, making short documentaries in Hawai’i and Alaska. He is inspired by the life and careers of David Attenborough, Jane Goodall, Sylvia Earle, and many more conservationist filmmakers. Through his own documentaries, Connor hopes to inspire others so that they too become advocates and defenders of our natural world.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

The purpose of creating this film was to inspire audiences to rethink their perspectives of species that modern media has strayed them to think should be feared. Endangered species like the Mexican gray wolf have their conservation efforts halted by human interference, and I hope this film encourages others to try and save these species before they slip away. If you would like to learn more about the project, please visit my website for additional information, images, and more!